Early Years - Primary Education (3-7) with QTS

Early years and primary education is a field concerned with the development and learning of children from birth to the age of seven, a period that is increasingly recognised as the most consequential in shaping lifelong outcomes. Working with young children requires deep knowledge of how children develop physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially, as well as strong practical skills in creating environments, relationships, and experiences that support that development. This three-year full-time programme at the University of Chester leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which means you will be eligible to teach in schools across England on graduation.

You will study child development theory, early years pedagogy, curriculum design for the early years and Key Stage 1, safeguarding, inclusion, and the professional frameworks that govern teaching in this phase. School-based placements are central to the programme, taking you into nurseries, reception classes, and Year 1 and 2 settings throughout your training. You will plan and deliver lessons, assess children's learning, work alongside experienced teachers, and develop the reflective practice habits that good teaching requires.

Chester's close relationships with schools in the local area ensure that your placement experiences are varied and well supported.

Qualified early years and primary teachers are in consistent demand across England, and the combination of QTS with a specialist understanding of the birth-to-seven phase makes graduates well suited for a range of settings including nurseries, children's centres, reception classes, and primary schools. Many teachers in this phase develop particular expertise in areas such as language and literacy, mathematics in the early years, or SEND, and the programme provides a foundation for all of these specialisms. Career progression routes include subject leadership, early years coordination, deputy and headship, and advisory roles.

Postgraduate study in early childhood education or educational leadership is an option for those who want to develop further.