1. DEMONSTRATE REFLECTION ON YOUR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT IN RELATION TO OTHERS AND IN THE CONTEXT OF YOUR VOCATIONAL AREA AND APPLICATION TO THEORY
Application
Reflection

2. DEMONSTRATE ACQUISITION OF APPROPRIATE SKILLS FOR STUDY, COMMUNICATION AND ACADEMIC WRITING
Communication
Learning

3. EVALUATE YOUR OWN PRACTICE USING CURRENT RESEARCH ON GOOD PRACTICE AS A BENCHMARK Analysis
Knowledge & Understanding

4. SHOW UNDERSTANDING OF ISSUES UNDERPINNING ETHICAL PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
Knowledge & Understanding

5. DEMONSTRATE PRACTICAL COMPETENCE WHEN WORKING WITH CHILDREN IN AN EARLY YEARS SETTING OR EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENT, INCLUDING HAVING A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF ITS ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
Application
Communication
Enquiry
Knowledge & Understanding
Learning
Problem Solving

Weekly sessions:
Indicative topics to be covered at university include;
• Digital and traditional study skills.
• Professional identity.
• Theories and models of reflection.
• Theories and practical approaches for successful learner engagement.
• Theories and practical approaches for promoting, maintaining and challenging behaviour.
This module requires students to undertake a work placement in the Early Years/Education sector. This will provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate evidence of theory in practice, and both personal and professional work-based skill sets. Students will explore their role within this work setting, whilst reflecting upon their ability to immerse into the team in order to stimulate, engage and maintain learning. Furthermore they will consider wider issues relating to their role, including but not limited to; ethics, professional identity, their own strengths and targets. Students are strongly encouraged to keep a blog/journal on this experience.

Lectures –Formal lectures which will provide theoretical underpinning on key concepts. These will be traditional, fully interactive and often multi-platformed using educational applications.

Tutorials –Opportunity to discuss work-related and academic concerns in small group and individual tutorials.

Flipped Classroom – Whereby preparation is completed at home prior to the group work on problem based learning. For example assigned readings can be discussed informally, questions can be raised and debates conducted.

Guided reading and supported self-study –You will be provided with booklists, reading tasks, and activities to complete in order to enable you to engage with relevant and appropriate materials. 228 hours of independent study will require you to take responsibility for relating the issues addressed in this module to your professional experience.

Blackboard- You will be required to use Blackboard as your virtual classroom. You will find all of the learning materials for the module, alongside signposts to further useful information, and your online placement journal/blog.

The latest and most recent Curricula, Legislative and Best Practice directives will be covered. These can be mostly accessed from www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education

Staffordshire University study tools will be adopted. These can be accessed from www.staffs.ac.uk

Many academic journals will be referred to, including but not limited to; European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, Journal of Early Childhood Research, Teacher and Teacher Education, Educational Psychology, Journal of Educational Technology and Society.

Ewans, T. (2014): Reflective Primary Teaching Northwich: Critical Publishing.

Hall, F., Hindmarch, D., Hoy, D. and Machin, L. (2015) Supporting Primary Teaching and Learning. Northwich: Critical Publishing.

Hayes, C., Daly, J., Duncan, M., Gill, R. and Whitehouse, A. (2014, 2017) Developing as a Reflective Early Years Professional. Northwich: Critical Publishing.

Musgrave, J. Stobs, N. (2015) Early Years Placements. Northwich: Critical Publishing

Vandenbroeck, M. (2016) Pathways to Professionalism in Early Childhood Education and Care, London: Routledge

University teaching sessions
Tutorials
Work Placement
University library, ebrary and website
Materials and Links on Blackboard
Social media e.g twitter @EarlyYearsSU @EdStaffsUni

Formative assessment will take place throughout the module in the form of taught sessions, questioning, discussion and attendance/progress monitoring in partnership with the Placement Supervisor. Tutors will provide tutorial support throughout the modules and students are requested to make appointments if they wish to discuss elements of their work.

Summative assessment:
Practical - Evidence Record - Placement weighted at 0%. Completion of the reflective placement booklet *
Reflection Before Action - A self-assessed skills audit and action plan. 500 words. With accompanying recorded verbal explanation max. 5 minutes. (LO1,2,4) 50%

Engaging Learners - A reflective and evaluative written account of the placement experience. 1500 words. (LO 1,3,4,5) 50%

* A Practice Placement Booklet including observations on practice which is mapped to the graduate competencies. The reflective booklet encourages students to reflect on practice in their placement of 25 days.

This module will require you to undertake a work placement in the Early Years/Education sector. This will provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate evidence of theory in practice, and both personal and professional work-based skill sets. You will explore their role within this work setting, whilst reflecting upon your ability to immerse into the team in order to stimulate, engage and maintain learning. Furthermore you will consider wider issues relating to your role, including but not limited to; ethics, professional identity, their own strengths and targets. You will be encouraged to keep a blog or journal of your experience.