This summary will help give you an understanding of our primary course. You can also visit our comprehensive ‘easy-read’ Primary Programmes page here.
As a local provider with a proven track record in training great teachers, we treat each of our trainees as an individual. The NESTT team will work with your placement school to get to know you very well. This allows us to personalise aspects of the course to meet your needs. As a provider, your wellbeing is important to us. We have a range of support systems embedded throughout our programme to enable you to thrive during your training.
Our inspiring, face to face training programme consists of three complementary strands of Professional Studies, Curriculum Studies and School Placements. These elements interlink to give you the knowledge and skills you will need to be a highly effective teacher.
You will learn about educational theory and practice in your Professional and Curriculum Studies training sessions held at our bases in Wickford in Essex, Ipswich or Norwich depending on where you live. In these sessions, you will engage with the latest research about how pupils learn, how to help them overcome barriers to learning, and how to motivate and engage them. You will develop skills to work as part of a team, build relationships and understand your legal responsibilities in relation to safeguarding children and young people.
You will spend the majority of your time in schools, gaining hands-on experience and putting theory into practice with the support of dedicated mentors. You will start by watching expert teachers and build up your skills and confidence. In your weekly mentor meeting, you will receive formative feedback from lessons observations and reflect on the impact of your teaching on the pupils’ learning, progress and engagement. During the course we will gather a range of evidence to enable us to recommend you for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). This includes your lesson planning, subject knowledge development, feedback from observations of your teaching and your reflections which allow us to continuously assess your progress. There is a formal review at the end of each term, with the final assessment and recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status taking place in the third term.
You also have the opportunity to study for a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) supported by lectures at our training base. If you choose this option, you will submit two assignments, one on Special Educational Needs and one research-based assignment developed from your own classroom practice. You will also deliver an oral presentation on an area of current educational research. The PGCE is validated by the University of Suffolk and is worth 60 Master’s credits.
You’ll also read widely, submit written tasks and prepare oral presentations on aspects of education that interest you. Assessment is continuous throughout the course. We make sure that assignments are evenly spread throughout the course and our weekly newsletter reminds you of deadlines. We operate an ‘open door’ policy so you can discuss any issues or worries.
You also have the opportunity to study for a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) supported by lectures at our training base. If you choose this option, you will submit two assignments, one on Special Educational Needs and one research based assignment developed from your own classroom practice. You will also deliver an oral presentation on an area of current educational research. The PGCE is validated by University of Suffolk and is worth 60 Master’s credits.
