During the module, trainees will develop their ability to:

Create positive learning environments and build effective relationships with pupils

Set high expectations which inspire, motivate and challenge pupils

Apply rewards, rules and sanctions consistently, in line with school policy

Plan lessons which take into account pupils’ prior knowledge

Develop an awareness of common misconceptions and begin to address these in their teaching

Use concrete and abstract examples in their teaching

Develop their use of a range of question types to challenge pupils’ thinking

Understand that pupils learn at different rates and require different level of support to succeed

Take responsibility for pupil progress

Reflect on their own practice and use these reflections, along with feedback from experienced colleagues, to develop their practice

Build effective relationships with staff in their own class and understand the impact that effective working relationships between staff have on children in the class

Demonstrate the required professional behaviours

Satisfactory completion of all components of the placement booklet.



Due to the professional nature of the course this is a pass/fail module. This module must be passed for trainees to progress to Placement 2 in Level 5.

Responsibilities will increase during the course of this placement. Initially, trainees observe experienced teachers, focussing on how they establish high expectations in their classrooms. At this stage, trainees work with groups of children under the direction of the teacher. As the placement goes on, trainees take responsibility for whole class responsibilities such as taking the register and reading to the class. Trainees then take charge for planning activities for groups and the whole class across a range of subjects, culminating in them teaching the whole class for at least 20% of the timetable by the end of the placement, based on lessons they have planned themselves. Trainees are given feedback on their practice from the school based mentor on a weekly basis in order to help them continually develop their practice.



Throughout the placement, trainees are involved in weekly professional discussions with their mentor, covering areas such as behaviour and high expectations, rules & routines, school approaches to teaching maths and English, classroom practice, how pupils learn, adapting teaching to meet the needs of individual children, assessment and professional development. In this way, they learn from experienced professionals about many aspects of classrooms practice.

On completion of this module, you will be able to demonstrate through your practice that you are making satisfactory progress towards the Teachers’ Standards as evidenced through your practice in placement and your ability to teach effectively for 20% of the timetable.

Knowledge & Understanding

Learning

Enquiry

Analysis

Problem Solving

Communication

Application

Reflection

Learners will find the following specifically useful for this module:¿

Burnett, C and Cremin, T. (2018) Learning to teach in the primary school (Open University Press, Maidenhead)
Creasy, M. (2022) Independent Thinking on Primary Teaching: Practical Strategies for working smarter not harder (Independent Thinking Press, Carmarthen)

Robinson, C. (2015) Your primary school-based experience: a guide to outstanding placements (Critical Publishing, Northwich)

University teaching sessions
Academic Mentor tutorials
Weekly placement meetings with school mentor
Observation/s of teaching from university representative

University library
Materials and links on course Blackboard site

Placements allow trainees to train in real-life situations and are invaluable for trainees in developing their professional abilities and behaviours. Each trainee will work closely with a school-based mentor and will observe experienced teachers in their day-to-day role and collaborate with them in planning, delivering and reviewing lessons. By the end of the Level 4 placement, trainees should be teaching the class for at least 20% of the timetable.