BA (Hons) Primary Early Years Education with QTS course preparation
To help you feel prepared for your university studies, we’ve gathered together a range of course related activities including suggested reading, useful websites and some great things to do right now. Open the links below to find out more:
Your Launchpad sessions
The Faculty of Education have organised a number of virtual Launchpad sessions. Although not all of these sessions will be relevant to your specific degree, you may find a number of these sessions useful.
Access the Launchpad sessionsSuggested reading
You’ll be given lots of information about which textbooks to read and introduced to the University Library, as well as the many ebooks we have for you to access when you begin your studies in September.
However, you might like to undertake some independent study of some of the key texts on the course. We don’t recommend rushing out to buy texts before you arrive but if you can pick some up second hand, borrow from a library or access online, we suggest the following:
- Allen, S.F., Whalley, M.E., Lee, M, and Scollan, A. (2020) Developing professional practice in the early years. London OUP.
- Atherton F. and Nutbrown C. (2013) Understanding Schemas and Young Children. London: Sage.
- Bruce, T. and Louis, S. (2014) Observing Young Children – London: Sage.
- Bottrill, G. (2018) Can I go and Play Now?: Re-thinking the Early Years. London: Sage.
- Bruce, T. (2015) Early Childhood Education 5th Edition. London: Sage.
- Department for Education (2021) Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage. Setting the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to five. Department for Education.
- Birth to 5 Matters. (2021) London: Early education.
- Dukes, C. Smith, M. (2014) Provision and Progress for Two Year Olds. London: Sage.
- Elfer, P. Goldschmeid, E. Selleck, D. (2012) Key Persons in the Early Years. Building Relationships for Quality Provision in Early Years Settings. London: Routledge.
- Ephgrave, A. (2018) Planning in the Moment with Young Children: A practical guide for early years practitioners and parents. Oxon: Routledge.
- Hodkinson, A. (2019) Key Issues in Special Educational Needs, Disability and Inclusion (Education Studies: Key Issues). London: Sage
- Kanyal, M. (2014) Children’s Rights 0 -8. Promoting Participation in Education and Care. London: Routledge.
- MacBlain, S. (2014) How Children Learn. London: Sage.
- MacBlain, S. (2022) Learning Theories for Early Years Practice. Londond: Sage.
- Nutbrown, C. and Clough, P. (2014) Early Childhood Education. History, Philosophy and Experience. Second Edition. London: Sage.
- Robinson, M. (2014) The Feeling Child. Laying the Foundations of Confidence and Resilience. Abingdon: Routledge.
- Rodd, J. (2015) Leading Change in Early Years – Open University Press
- Simmons, N. and Morris, G. (2017) Planning for Learning in Early Years (2nd Ed): A Practical Approach to Development Matters. Morris and Simmons Education.
- Siraj, I. and Hallet, E. (2013). Effective and Caring Leadership in the Early Years. Sage.
- Thornton, L. Bruton, P. (2014) Bringing the Reggio Approach to Your Early Years Practice. Third Edition. London: Routledge.
- Tucker, K. (2014) Mathematics Through Play in the Early Years. London: Sage.
Useful websites
Keeping up to date with the latest developments in the Education world is a great way to prepare for your course. Here are some websites that you will be useful, you should also try and find some good websites of your own:
- Edge Hill Early Years Blog
- The Times Educational Supplement
- Ofsted website – click on Ofsted publications to read reports online e.g. reviews of National Literacy Strategies (NLS) and National Numeracy Strategies (NNS) practices.
- Department for Education portal for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
- The communication trust – a guide for developing communication skills and the role of a practitioner
- Department for Education
- National Curriculum
- Creativity in the Early Years
- Opinions from an active practitioner
- Opinions from an outdoor play specialist
Things to do over summer
In order for you to start your journey into becoming a professional, reflective Early Years Practitioner, we’ve created three activities that we feel will help you to make a positive start to the programme. We ask that you complete them before starting your programme.
Please keep your responses and notes together in a portfolio of pre-course work that is saved on a pen drive. They will be used in your first sessions, where they will be discussed with your peers and personal tutor.
Meet your programme lead
Additional ways to prepare
Preparing to start
This session examines how to make a successful transition to university. From planning your results day, accommodation and commuting tips, extra support available to you and general advice on uni life.
Watch the session
Find out more about who you are
The following information provides an insight into what to expect when coming to university along with some good advice on how to navigate some of the potential challenges you may face.
Start preparing yourself