Early Years Initial Teacher Training: Assessment Only Route

You must have GCSE grade C / grade 4 or above, or be able to demonstrate equivalence, in English language, mathematics and a science subject

You must hold a degree of a United Kingdom higher education institution or equivalent qualification

Original certificates must be available, in order to progress your application

You must have evidence of competent practice in at least two different early years settings. [Candidates who have worked only in their employing early years setting will need a placement of at least four weeks duration before they can be accepted onto the assessment stage, in order to demonstrate that they have met the Teachers’ Standards (Early Years) in a second setting

The Assessment Only is a route to EYTS only. Candidates who have withdrawn from, failed or been turned down for other EYTS routes will not normally be considered for the AO route.

We also accept equivalency tests by Equivalency Testing, A Star Teachers or other appropriately accredited providers if the testing arrangements have been approved by the ITT team at Middlesex. We cannot accept functional skills or key skills.

Further requirements

You must have significant teaching experience (typically 2-3 years) with clear evidence of continuing professional development, with children from birth to the end of the EYFS: Babies 0-20 months; toddlers 16-36 months and young children 30-60 months.

You must have the support of the early years setting that your teaching practice will be observed in for the assessment stage

You must spend 10 days engaging ‘with the educational continuum of expectations, curricula and teaching of Key Stage 1 and 2′ on placement in a Primary school.

Eligibility

Only UK, EU and overseas students who are entitled to work and study in the UK or hold a visa which covers the full training period are eligible to apply for this course

Academic credit for previous study or experience

If you have relevant or work experience, academic credit may be awarded towards your Middlesex University programme of study. For further information please visit our Accreditation of Prior Learning page.

Interviews, entrance tests, portfolios and auditions

At the interview stage, your suitability for teaching will be judged, including your subject knowledge for teaching and potential to demonstrate proficiency with fundamental English and mathematics. If any shortfall is identified, you may be required to complete some additional work before starting the programme. During the programme, your subject knowledge and fundamental English and mathematics will be developed and assessed to ensure you reach the required level.

Teaching experience

All relevant teaching experience may be taken into account; voluntary/unpaid work as well as employed teaching experience. Relevant teaching experience typically includes practice with individuals and groups of children across the EYFS age ranges taking account of the needs of all. The location of prior experience is less relevant than ensuring that the candidate has enough experience to be able to demonstrate the Teachers’ Standards (Early Years) fully for babies, toddlers and young children without the need for further training and that they meet all other relevant entry/assessment requirements.

Evidence

We would normally expect a significant proportion of evidence to be recent (within the last 12 months). However, evidence from teaching in a second setting could be older. There are no hard and fast rules about the age of evidence. We will make a professional judgement in individual cases.

Role of early years setting

It is important that your early years setting is committed to you undertaking this route and the candidate must seek the permission of the manager/head teacher to support the application.

Having the early years setting’s commitment to provide a mentor who is willing to undergo Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT) mentor training will also be a condition of acceptance on to the route. The role of the mentor is to provide a written report based on regular observations of the candidates practice and to meet the candidate regularly to support the candidate in addressing any professional development targets established at the selection stage, including portfolio development.

Early years setting representatives who can verify your practice with babies, toddlers and young children will contribute to all stages of the process and be available for feedback and interview when the University EYITT tutor visits.

All early years settings will be asked to sign the partnership agreement, which is drawn from elements of our existing ITT partnership agreements.

For fees and funding options, please visit website to find out more