Routes Into Education Teaching and Early Ye a R S in Kent and Medway Introduction
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Routes into Education Teaching and Early Ye a r s in Kent and Medway www.ahkandm.ac.uk Introduction Do you have a lot of patience, enthusiasm and a desire to help others learn and grow? If so, a career in education might be for you! Whether it is teaching science at secondary school, Portuguese at primary school or helping toddlers take their first steps, there are many options within teaching and early years worth exploring. In this booklet you will find information about the opportunities available in Kent and Medway to get the qualifications you need. Many of the courses are flexible and even family friendly. The government has recognized the Some students choose to take a year or two growing need for teachers, especially out before taking a second, or even a third in areas such as science, maths and course. Of course this means you’re always languages; and there may be special improving your career and pay prospects as incentives available in these areas. well. Take a look at the progression maps enclosed at the back of this booklet: one gives a route into teaching and the other into early years and educational support. The maps indicate which courses are available where and what type of employment or further courses they can lead on to. Please seek advice before enrolling on a course to make sure it is the best one for you. www.ahkandm.ac.uk 1 Which Career? There are many different jobs in the primary and secondary education sectors as well as in early years. The following are just a few examples of jobs in this field to get you started: WORKING IN EARLY YEARS AND CHILD CARE Please see Early Years and Education Support map in the back of this booklet to get started Childminder Cares for children in the carer’s home- may involve multiple families at once. Maternity Nurse Helps new mothers in all aspects of caring for the newborn, ranging from advice on breast feeding to establishing a routine and bathing, and helping mum get back on her feet. They are usually very experienced nannies and are on duty 24 hours a day, 6 days a week. Nanny Cares for children in children’s home – may be a live in position. Nursery Nurse Works in child care centres and hospitals, working directly with babies, toddlers and children. Nursery Officer Part of a team involved in the preparation and delivery of a variety of stimulating activities for babies, toddlers and pre-school children. Officer in Charge Responsible for the care centre including childcare, finance, staffing and liaising with parents and professionals. Playgroup/ Organises play programmes for children in playgroups, crèche, Creche Worker breakfast clubs, holiday schemes and out of school care. 2 www.ahkandm.ac.uk Which Career? WORKING IN SCHOOLS and with School-age Students Please see Teaching and Early Years & Education Support map in the back of this booklet to get started Classroom Assistant Supports the teacher in the classroom. Works with small groups and individuals. Supervises at break times and helps on school trips. Connexions Provide information, advice and guidance for 13 to 19 year olds in Personal Advisor areas such as careers, training and employment, difficulties at home or school, and personal problems. Head Teacher Provides leadership and management for the school and may also teach a few upper-level classes. Learning Mentor Provides support and guidance to children, young people and those engaging with them by removing barriers to learning in order to promote effective participation, enhance individual learning, raise aspirations and achieve full potential. Lecturer Teach adult students in a specific academic or vocational subject which they have studied to an advanced level. They are usually also conducting their own research. Music Teacher May teach a general music class in a school or teach a particular musical instrument in the home. Seminar Leader Lead student discussions and clarify information taught in the lecture in an area in which they are becoming or already are an expert. Teacher Educates students in the school environment. They can teach a variety of subjects at primary and secondary level. Secondary school level requires focus on a minimum of one subject area. Teaching Assistant Prepares classes, organises and plays games with the children, helps students with their work. Youth Worker Plans and organises sports programmes and other activities in youth centres. They promote the personal, political, educational and social development of young people. www.ahkandm.ac.uk 3 Case Study 1 I left school at 16 with very few AKALIZA qualifications as I wanted to start working. I got a job in a primary school and since my English was ok, I managed to get work as a teaching assistant. Two years later, the experience I had gained made me consider the possibility of primary school teaching. I talked to my local university and found out about Foundation Degrees. I did my Cache Level 3 Diploma in Early Years and was then offered a place on the Early Years Foundation Degree. It’s really good because I can continue working whilst I study. I haven’t made up my mind what to do next. I could take this qualification and get a higher paid job in a nursery or other education setting, or I could go on and get my BA in Early Years. If I did that, I could do teacher training and become a primary school teacher. All these options are so exciting, I feel really confident about the future and my future employment options. The case studies in this booklet are fictional examples based on the experience of real students. 4 www.ahkandm.co.uk Apprenticeships Early Years employers are looking for candidates with practical experience and skills and apprenticeships are a great way to achieve this. Apprenticeships are work-based training programmes with the opportunity to earn money, gain qualifications and learn new knowledge and skills all at the same time. What do you learn on an apprenticeship? An apprentice follows a training programme based on a framework developed by the industry. It defines the content of learning and this will vary for each industry. However, all frameworks have three parts: 1. NVQ (National Vocational Qualification): developing skills in a work-based learning environment. 2. Technical Certificate: learning the theory behind the work-based learning experience. 3. The development of key skills, including communication, IT, problem solving, number and personal skills. Apprenticeship (Level 2) - equivalent to 5 GCSEs A-C grade. There are no set entry requirements. Check with your provider. Advanced Apprenticeship (Level 3) – equivalent to A-Levels/HNC/BTEC. You will need 5 GCSEs at grade A-C, or you can progress from the Apprenticeship programme (above). How to Apply Apprenticeships are open to anyone aged 16-24 who is not already in full-time education. There are different ways to apply: 1. Call the national Apprenticeships helpline on 08000 150 600 2. Apply by going direct to an employer who offers apprenticeships 3. Contact your local learning provider or training provider to see which apprenticeships they offer. Contact details for learning providers are found in the back of this booklet Private providers such as KEITS (www.keits.co.uk) and KEY Training Services (www. keytrainingservices.org.uk) through Kent County Council are also good sources to explore. For more information, check out www.apprenticeships.org.uk or ask your advisor about the National Apprenticeships Vacancy Matching Service. www.ahkandm.ac.uk 5 What is that? In the world of teaching, there are so many terms mentioned, it can be a bit confusing. So, we’ve tried to make it a bit less complicated by explaining some of the more common ones. Golden Hello This is a one-time financial bonus for postgraduate home and EU trainees teaching priority subjects. GTP Graduate Teacher Programme- on-the-job training allowing graduates to qualify as a teacher while they work. It’s often a good choice for mature students who want to change to a teaching career, but need to continue earning while they train. GTPlus An employment based route into secondary teaching for graduates in Maths, Science and Design & Technology. It follows a similar pattern to the secondary GTP, but with additional subject specific training and support that continues into the NQT year. ITT Initial Teacher Training- This is the overarching term for all training programs that prepare students to become teachers. National Curriculum Art and Design, Citizenship, Design and Technology, English, Geography, Subjects: History, Information and Communication Technology, Mathematics, Modern Foreign Languages, Music, PE, Science, Religious Education, Careers Education, Work-related Learning, Personal, Social and Health Education. NQT Newly Qualified Teacher-a teacher who has just achieved QTS and is usually in their induction year. PGCE Post Graduate Certificate in Education- one of the most common routes into teaching for recent university graduates. Priority Subjects These are subjects the government has recognised as being in greater need of teachers. This list changes frequently, but at the time of publication included: mathematics, science, modern languages, design and technology, English and drama, ICT, music and engineering. QTS Qualified Teacher Status- achieved through successful completion of Initial Teacher Training. RTP Registered Teacher Programme-provides a blend of work-based teacher training and academic study, allowing non-graduates with some experience of higher education to complete their degree and qualify as a teacher at the same time. SCITT School-Centered Initial Teacher Training- designed and delivered by groups of neighbouring schools and colleges for graduates that want to complete their training in a school environment. Programmes are taught by experienced, practising teachers, and often tailored towards local teaching needs.