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What will I learn on this module?
You will:
• Explore, reflect upon and analyse issues and implications of education that start with the young child.
• Develop your reflection and analysis of the key elements and debates surrounding the notion of an early years and primary teacher in a range of educational and social contexts.
• Reflect upon a range of theories, philosophies and ideologies about early years and primary education, starting the process of developing your own ideas.
• Ground discussions in your reflection upon both relevant and recent literature in early years and primary education from some historical, national and international perspectives, your experiences and emerging philosophies.
• Explore implications for practice from your reflections upon the contexts and perspectives of a variety of early years and primary settings.
• Analyse the issues surrounding the roles and responsibilities of the early years and primary teacher in relation to your own developing practice.
• Deepen your understanding of the progression in development of the whole child, recognising the experiences up to three years of age and through education into Key Stage 2 and the implications this has for practice.
• Explore, reflect upon and analyse the issues and implications of collaborative engagement with the child’s primary carers and other agencies for the education of the young child.
How will I learn on this module?
You will learn through university-based sessions which aim to underpin professional learning with academic knowledge and critical understanding. Lectures, seminars and tutorials will provide you with opportunities to develop an appreciation of the importance of integrating practice and formal theory. Your learning will be situated in a distinct ‘community of practice’ where experiential, collaborative and individualised strategies will enable you to develop the personal, professional and transferable skills associated with outstanding newly qualified teachers. In addition to tutor led sessions you will be directed and supported in your individual study as you seek to develop a critical and well-informed understanding of the nature of early and primary education in contemporary society. You will be encouraged to make full use of established social and professional networking tools in addition to the online resources provided by the University to enhance your learning and support your academic and professional development, a central aspect of this will be the utilisation of the eLP.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
Successful academic achievement requires a system of robust support and guidance to help you focus on your learning needs. In addition to the pastoral support you will receive, the tutors involved in delivering this module will provide guidance and academic counselling to ensure that you are able to confidently engage with the academic rigour of this module. This dialogue will be face to face in lectures, seminars or tutorials and is an essential aspect of the programme’s assessment for learning strategy. Extensive support is also accessible online as part of the University’s commitment to technology enhanced learning. This employs the use of the e-learning portal (Blackboard including Pebble+) and social networking and collaborative tools.
A central feature of the academic support available to you is the service provided by the University Library. This 24/7 service caters for all your learning needs, has extensive access to electronic texts and tutorials that will directly support the development of academic skills aimed at improving your critical thinking and analytical writing.
What will I be expected to read on this module?
All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.
What will I be expected to achieve?
Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Explore, reflect upon and analyse the key elements, issues and debates surrounding the notion of an early primary or primary teacher in a range of educational and social contexts.
2. Explore implications for practice from your reflections upon the contexts and perspectives of a variety of settings across the relevant age phase(s) to; analyse the issues surrounding your role and responsibilities in relation to your own developing practice.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. Ground discussions in your reflection upon both relevant and recent literature from some historical, national and international perspectives, your experiences and emerging philosophies across the relevant age phase(s).
4. Deepen your understanding of the progression in development of the whole child, and the implications this has for professional practice across the relevant age phase(s).
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Reflect upon and analyse a range of theories, philosophies and ideologies about education, starting the process of developing your own ideas surrounding the education of the young child across the relevant age phase(s).
How will I be assessed?
Summative Assessment
2 components of equal weighting:
Component 1: Draft Research Proposal
Identify an issue, drawn from your placement experience, which would be a potentially interesting area to research, and draft an ‘Initial Project Proposal’
(1500 words)
Component 2: Annotatated Bibliography
You will submit an annotated bibliography where you select 10 references which would provide a theoretical background to the research question/aims identified in component 1.
You would identify such things as why you have selected this source? How might it be relevant to your potential study? What are the implications of what you’ve read for practice?
(1500 words)
Pre-requisite(s)
N/A
Co-requisite(s)
Educational Placements 2
Professional Studies 2
Curriculum Studies 2
Enhanced Curriculum Studies 2
Module abstract
The aims of this module are to develop both your knowledge and understanding and your reflection and analysis of the key elements and debates surrounding the notion of an early years and primary teacher in a range of educational and social contexts.
The module develops your understanding to enable you to start articulating your own emergent philosophies and key principles of early years and primary education. You will reflect upon and analyse major principles behind child development, teaching and learning. Specific systems and early years and primary environments will be analysed for their effectiveness in child development and progression across the full primary age range. Further consideration of the range of contexts and agencies involved in the development of the whole child will be debated. You will be developing your understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the early years and primary teacher by combining elements of your understanding gained from your practical experience with your emerging philosophies and your reference to literature in the field.
Course info
UCAS Code X120
Credits 20
Level of Study Undergraduate
Mode of Study 3 years Full Time
Department Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing
Location Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria University
City Newcastle
Start September 2025
All information is accurate at the time of sharing.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
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