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Do you want to specialise in working with babies and young children? Are you looking for a qualification where you can gain experience in a wide range of settings across the children's workforce?
At the University of Reading's Institute of Education, our Postgraduate Certificate in Early Years Practice will give you the skills, experience and knowledge you need to become a specialist in early childhood development.
You will undertake your Postgraduate Certificate in Early Years Practice alongside Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS). EYTS is awarded to graduates who have been judged to have met all of the Teachers' Standards (Early Years) in practice from birth to five years old. EYTS is the only graduate accreditation for the early years workforce.
You will learn from a diverse and experienced community, benefit from modern facilities and well-managed placements, and develop as an early years leader.
Once you graduate, you will be qualified to work in a wide range of settings which include:
“By furthering my study in education, I have begun to achieve excellence in nurturing a child's development, managing behaviour, and I can inspire and influence others in my profession to do the same.”
- PG Cert Early Years Student
There are three pathways into Early Years teacher training available from the Institute of Education:
If you have an undergraduate degree but have no experience in working with young children, you can enrol on our full-time PGCEYP (Postgraduate Certificate in Early Years Practice) course and gain EYTS (Early Years Teacher Status).
Find out more about gaining EYTS through the Postgraduate Certificate in Early Years Practice route
You can enrol on the Graduate Employer Course if you have an undergraduate degree and are employed within an Early Years setting (for example, in a day nursery). You will complete the PGCEYP and gain EYTS whilst continuing working.
Find out more about gaining EYTS through the Postgraduate Certificate in Early Years Practice route
Already teaching but need EYTS? If you are a graduate, have significant experience and need to obtain EYTS (Early Years Teacher Status), our Assessment Only route can help you.
Find out more about gaining EYTS through the Assessment Only route
“Over the year, trainees embrace leaders’ ambition for them, becoming reflective practitioners who can lend a critical eye to their settings, cascade their learning and lead improvement in their sector.”
- Ofsted Inspection Report, May 2024
Applicants will need to apply and submit their application directly through our online application system, RISIS.
Come to a Postgraduate Initial Teacher Education event. These events cover all routes into teaching for Early Years, Primary and Secondary Postgraduate programmes.
If you do not have A levels but work within a related early years (birth to 5 years) or educational (4 to 11 years) setting for at least 2.5 days a week and wish to develop professionally, this is the perfect course for you.
Do you want to develop your skills in the children's workforce with a vocational degree that relates directly to your work?
You must complete the Foundation Degree in Children's Development and Learning before enrolling on the BA course.