Primary Teaching with Early Years

Teaching young children is one of the most formative and consequential acts an educator can undertake. The early years of a child's life, from nursery through the first two years of primary school, lay the cognitive, social, and emotional groundwork for all subsequent learning, making high-quality teaching in this phase genuinely important. At the University of Chichester, the BA (Hons) Primary Teaching with Early Years (QTS) is a three-year, full-time degree that prepares you to teach children aged three to seven, across Nursery, Reception, and Key Stages 1, and qualifies you as a teacher upon graduation.

You will study child development, early years pedagogy, curriculum theory, and inclusive practice, gaining a thorough understanding of how young children learn and what effective teaching looks like in the 3-7 age range. The programme integrates school-based placements throughout, so that the practical realities of the classroom are woven into your academic study from early on. You will learn to plan and deliver lessons, assess children's progress, and respond thoughtfully to the diverse needs of learners, including those with additional educational needs.

Beyond classroom skills, you will develop a broader understanding of educational policy, safeguarding, and the role of families and communities in supporting children's development. You will graduate with Qualified Teacher Status, meaning you are ready to begin your career as a primary teacher in England on day one. Career paths extend into leadership and pastoral roles within primary schools, specialist early years settings, educational advisory work, and further academic study in education or child development.

For those who feel called to the earliest stages of learning, this programme provides a thorough, purposeful, and professionally recognised route into the classroom.