Primary Education (3-7) (With QTS)

Our education courses rank in the UK top 5 overall in their subject field (The Guardian University Guide, 2026).

This course is designed to help you become a creative, innovative and reflective teacher, specialising in working with the youngest children in primary schools (aged 3-7), while gaining Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Through taught sessions and supported placements, this course develops your confidence in applying theory to Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Key Stage 1 teaching practice, giving you the knowledge and skills to lead learning and initiate change in educational settings.

Course accreditation

This course is accredited by the Department for Education (DfE) and meets the requirements for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

Facilities and specialist equipment

• Mock classrooms with specialist technology so you can watch and assess your lesson

• Forest School where you can deepen your understanding of the long-term educational benefits of outdoor learning opportunities.

• Specialist Early Years and Sensory Centre to support your understanding of how teachers teach and children learn, within early years and SEND contexts.

• Multimedia space for webinars and podcasting.

Career-powered links

As one of the largest providers of teacher education in the eastern region, we have well-established partnerships with more than 500 schools and other associated organisations, including lead training partnership agreements for closer collaborations.

You also benefit from our regular, on-going collaboration with the local education authorities for Bedford and Central Bedfordshire, and the National Association of Primary Educators (NAPE).

This network puts us ahead when it comes to national priorities, issues and developments in educational practice.

Our lead training partners have regular, on-going involvement with our students including contributing to placement, course delivery, and on-campus visits, talks and masterclasses.

We also work closely with Martin Bacon Academy, a special education school in Northstowe; Bedford Inclusive Learning and Training Trust (BILTT); and Trauma-Informed Schools UK, who provide training in creating settings where people feel safe, understood and are able to thrive.

Your student experience

Gain skills, knowledge and understanding of early-years child development; special educational needs and disabilities (SEND); behaviour management; digital learning; and practice beyond Key Stage 1.

Learn from an experienced teaching team that includes previous early years and primary teachers as well as middle and senior leaders within schools and early years settings.

Learn through taught sessions, supported teaching practice and independent learning, applying theory to your teaching practice.

At the University, you benefit from the support of your own personal tutor as well as a unit and course coordinator.

On placement, mentors and University partnership liaison tutors support you in teaching individuals, small groups and classes.

Benefit from conference days with guest speakers talking on subjects ranging from employability to SEND provision, wellbeing to lesson planning.

Take learning outside the classroom with our on-site Forest School as well as trips to places of educational interest such as local museums.

Course modules

Year 1
Child development and theories of learning – Through observing children learning, explore how they develop over time - physically, mentally, emotionally and socially. Early literacy and reading – Prepare to be a teacher of early literacy with good subject knowledge across grammar and punctuation, reading and systematic, synthetic phonics. Mathematics and science – Develop your subject knowledge of maths and science alongside your practical teaching skills. Professional studies: multi-dimensional classrooms – Learn the core skills and knowledge of a reflective, resilient teacher delivering dynamic classroom practice.

Year 2
Further mathematics and science – Continue to develop your subject and teaching knowledge of maths and science within the early years foundation stage (EYFS) curriculum. Meeting the needs of individual children – Explore inclusion and the opportunities it offers to promote good progress and outcomes across all pupils. Early literacy and communication – Use your knowledge of the subject and how children learn to plan effective teaching activities for early years communication and literacy. Professional studies: the creative curriculum – Prepare to teach foundation subjects including physical education, art, computing, music, RE and the humanities.

Year 3
Research for teaching – Research an area of personal educational interest and run a small-scale project designed to enhance your teaching and improve pupils’ learning. Professional studies: the 21st century classroom – Develop the skills to be an autonomous, reflective and adaptive long-term professional. Exploring the EYFS and National Curriculum core subjects – Continue to develop your teaching skills, subject knowledge and theoretical understanding in English, maths and science at early years foundation stage. Leading high-quality teaching in the early years - Consider aspects of leadership and management and how they are applied in early years settings.

We make every effort to ensure the information here is accurate; however, for the most up-to-date information, visit our website.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• National College for Teaching and Leadership

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

• Has qualified teacher status