Why study this course
The ideal course for TAs who want to continue working while beginning a route into Teacher Training.
Blended learning delivery – small number of days on BGU campus each year, so you can continue to earn a salary as a TA.
Learn from expert primary practitioners at BGU – for ‘overall satisfaction’ with their course our undergraduate Teacher Training students, put BGU 14th highest in the list of 60 Higher Education Institutions offering Teacher Training as an undergraduate subject (NSS 2022).
Reflect on expert practice in your own school and manage your study around your work and family life.
Course summary
Have you ever thought about working towards a degree, but decided against it as you are already in employment or volunteering and don’t want to give that up? Our FdA Primary Teaching Studies course is designed for you if you are a TA who want to continue working while beginning a route into Teacher Training.
Key facts
Award |
FdA |
---|---|
UCAS code |
X121 |
Duration |
2 years |
Mode of study |
Full-time |
Start date |
September |
Awarding institution |
Bishop Grosseteste University |
Institution code |
B38 |
About this course
Are you a TA who wants to train to teach while continuing to work as a TA?
This course is a 2 year foundation degree that is designed for primary teaching assistants working as the first step towards becoming a teacher.
You will need to have a Level 3 qualification, GCSEs in maths, English and science, experience as a TA and be working as a TA for at least 2 days per week in a primary school.
This level 4 and 5 course will then enable you to apply for our BA (Hons) Primary Teaching Studies with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) top-up course which is also delivered through blended learning and will provide you with the opportunity to qualify to teach in a further 16 months after completing this foundation degree while continuing to work as a TA.
Most sessions will be taught online, but there will be a few specific days on campus each year to ensure you are able to become part of our supportive BGU learning community.
Sessions delivered by our primary teaching experts will be focussed around supporting your transition to degree level study and the Initial Teacher Training (ITT) Core Content Framework (CCF) to ensure that you have the ideal preparation to progress to the next stage of your teacher training.
What you will study
Students on this course currently study some or all of the following modules:
This module will introduce you to the core subjects within the Early Years Foundation Stage, Key Stage One and Key Stage Two, and will introduce you to the Primary National Curriculum and Early Years Foundation Stage framework. You will have the opportunity to observe practice and reflect on the implementation of the core curriculum. You will explore effective pedagogy and practice with theoretical underpinning in the Early Years and primary age-phase, and will be encouraged to examine a range of teaching and learning approaches within the core subjects and consider how these can support your practice. You will be introduced to the concept of planning lessons within the core subjects and examine the different ways of planning, based upon the pedagogical approaches considered. The assignment consists of a practical group presentation and individual written coursework. You will have the option to select your own journey, based upon your own identified interests and needs for both assignments.
This module provides an induction to higher education set within the context of your own learning and supports the development of academic literacies. The module introduces well-established traditional and contemporary learning theories in relation to higher education, and also considers newer concepts and theories about children’s learning.The syllabus will include an induction to the range of learning resources available on campus, through the library and CELT to facilitate development of higher education academic literacy skills. You will practice and develop study skills and develop your confidence in all forms of academic literacies that you will be expected to engage in within this programme. Through seminars, discussions and tutorials, you will make use of, for example, discussion boards, groups, collaborate, Padlet, Blogs, and Teams as a means by which you can discuss work-based practices and share your views. Online individual and group support will be available from tutors. You will develop subject expertise, graduate attribute skills and most notably academic literacy, and digital fluency and information literacy.
This module will develop your understanding of the legislation surrounding child protection and safeguarding. You will explore the different types, signs and indicators of neglect and abuse, attachment theory and the function of the assessment framework. You will also explore your role in light of current legislation and regulatory frameworks and understand how to respond to concerns about the safety and welfare of children and young people.
This module will introduce you to behaviour management strategies that help create an effective classroom environment. You will explore a range of popular approaches and theories of behaviour management and critically reflect upon your own experience and professional practice. You will have the opportunity to observe practice and reflect on behaviour management strategies, initiating the crucial link between theory and practice.
This module aims to enable you to construct a greater understanding of both yourself as a developing professional, and your place within a school community. You will expand your understanding of aspects of supporting teaching such as reflective practice and working with others. You will engage in work-based learning that builds on and enhances your current role in school and facilitates a greater understanding of how theory and policy underpin what it means to be a working professional in primary schools. This module will encompass a focus on relationships and wellbeing. It centres around undertaking a reflective and critical review of your professional skills, knowledge and understanding through a personal appraisal of your specific professional role in the context of your institutional setting. It helps you link to existing theories and develops your understanding of the scope of the children's and young peoples' workforce and your role as part of the school workforce.
This module provides you with the opportunity to design a research project. You will be introduced to the broad principles of research design and, by engaging with the process of a literature review, will develop subject knowledge pertinent to the area of inquiry. Ethical issues will be addressed, including the key principles of informed consent, anonymity and confidentiality. You will be introduced to a range of data collection methods and techniques for analysing and presenting research findings and this will be supported through lectures. You will be expected to collect primary data from your fellow students within the class. You will then be guided to write up in scholarly way specific elements of your project for the assessments.
Although matters relating to SEND and inclusive practice are embedded in all modules, this module offers you the opportunity to study the topics in depth and to critically analyse and apply a range of theories. It will build on the values, beliefs and philosophies explored in Level 4 modules and extend your understanding of SEND and appreciation of societal inequality. You will develop awareness of issues relating to SEND, inclusion, participation and entitlement and the role played by the practitioner in advancing inclusive practice. The module provides an opportunity for you to reflect upon and evaluate your own values and beliefs and how these might affect your practice and the practice of others. You will develop an understanding of the key theories, such as related models, through the examination of historical perspectives and analysis of current practice. Exploration of the implementation of education, health and social policies will be undertaken to understand how provision may support participation in its aim to meet a diverse range of needs within society.
This module will provide you with the firm underpinnings of the foundation subjects and associated pedagogical approaches. You will explore contemporary approaches to teaching and learning in the foundation subjects, as well as using work-place training to explore and reflect upon different pedagogical approaches to teaching and learning. Within the module, you will have opportunities to opt into several different routes such as Forest schools and Learning Outside the Classroom, The Global Classroom, Project-based and experiential learning, and Topic-based/thematic learning. As well as core sessions, you will select one of the approaches listed, which will form the basis of your individual presentation.
This module is designed to introduce you to the Core Content Framework and the Primary Teaching Studies with QTS top-up degree. It is a reflective module by its nature, enabling you to identify key teacher trainee priorities for your future development based on their placements. Through the use of the eRPD, you will reflect on the experiences gained over the previous modules and placement experience, drawing up an action plan, underpinned by both practice and theory, for your own professional development.
This module introduces you to the importance of well-being in children, with a specific focus on physical and mental health. You will explore opportunities for supporting children with a range of mental and physical health barriers through a comprehensive range of workshops focusing on nurture groups, sports coaching, and the importance of relationships. You will have the option of selecting three routes from a selection of Nurture groups, Sports coaching, Wellbeing in children, Bereavement, and Trauma-informed schools. This module is designed to help you to better understand and be able to address the surge in mental health and social emotional needs of young people and children. This module will explore the factors contributing towards the mental health pandemic and understand the role of trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in supporting children and young people. The written assignment will then allow you to select two of the routes and discuss key issues relating to you.
This module is designed to introduce you to the Early Years Foundation Stage, with a specific focus on the role of play in teaching and childhood development. You will examine play in a theoretical context, and learn about the history of play in education, as well as analyse the role that it occupies in current teaching contexts / settings.
Entry requirements
Typically, a minimum of one year’s experience in practice with a minimum of two days a week (minimum of 2 days per week working in a relevant role relevant role, either as an employee or a volunteer).
In order to prepare for compliance with current national requirements for the award of QTS, applicants must have GCSE passes in maths, English and science at Grade C/4 (or equivalent) or above.
Further information
In accordance with University conditions, students are entitled to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning, RP(C)L, based on relevant credit at another HE institution or credit Awarded for Experiential Learning, (RP(E)L).
How you will be taught
There is no one-size-fits-all method of teaching at BGU – we shape our methods to suit each subject and each group, combining the best aspects of traditional university teaching with innovative techniques to promote student participation and interactivity.
You will be taught mainly through online teaching – some live online sessions and some asynchronous learning which may include narrated powerpoints, things to read and then reflect on in online debates etc.
On 4 days each academic year, you will come onto campus for a face to face learning day. You will be required to continue working as a TA for at least two days per week, and this will allow you to continue to learn from your home school setting
Assessment
Assessments for modules will be a balance of both practical and coursework approaches. For example, students will participate in assessments such as on-line discussions, group presentations, assessed tutorials as well as written assignments.
Collaborative presentations, utilising online software, will also be used as an assessment mode for students ,The use of group work will enable students to select their own reasonable adjustments in terms of how they contribute to the overall design of group-assessed projects, enabling them to maximise opportunities within each assessment mode, as well as enabling them to be fully included.
Careers & Further study
Our FdA Primary Teaching Studies, is designed to enable students to work towards meeting the requirements of QTS (in a subsequent programme), and specifically builds on students’ unique role as teaching assistants who are training to teach.
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Support
Studying at BGU is a student-centred experience. Staff and students work together in a friendly and supportive atmosphere as part of an intimate campus community. You will know every member of staff personally and feel confident approaching them for help and advice, and staff members will recognise you, not just by sight, but as an individual with unique talents and interests.
We will be there to support you, personally and academically, from induction to graduation.

Fees & Finance
A lot of student finance information is available from numerous sources, but it is sometimes confusing and contradictory. That’s why at BGU we try to give you all the information and support we can to help to throughout the process. Our Student Advice team are experts in helping you sort out the funding arrangements for your studies, offering a range of services to guide you through all aspects of student finance step by step.
Undergraduate course applicants must apply via UCAS using the relevant UCAS code. For 2023 entry, the application fee is £27, and you can make a maximum of 6 choices. For 2024 entry the application fee is £27.50.
For all applicants, there are full instructions at UCAS to make it as easy as possible for you to fill in your online application, plus help text where appropriate.
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