EYITT Route Summary - Graduate Employment-Based

​This training route summary sets out what you can expect from the Graduate Employment Based route to Early Years Teacher Status - the specialist teaching status for those leading care and education of babies and young children up to the age of five.

The information provided below is not intended to be exhaustive but gives you an outline of what you can expect and what will be expected of you and your employer.

Duration

  • 12 months normal duration - part-time alongside your early years employment

Commitment

  • You will work towards Early Years Teacher Status whilst being employed in an early years setting/school 
  • Your working timetable should be no more than 90 per cent of the full time working hours of an Early Years Teacher
  • Your release time from duties will be used for study, placements in other settings and training days
  • Your employer must be in full support of your application and agree to release/support you to undertake the requirements necessary to achieve Early Years Teacher Status

Content

The content is ‘needs led’, and builds on existing strengths:

  • Knowledge of Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
  • The Teachers’ Standards (Early Years) 
  • The birth to five age range
  • Progression to Key Stage 1
  • Ongoing review and formative assessment

Experience needed by the end of the EYITT programme

  • Experience in at least two settings/schools across the birth to five age range (excluding the KS1 placement)
  • A placement within Key Stage 1 (5-7 year olds) 

Placements

  • Placements will be based on an assessment of individual needs. All trainees will need to be able to demonstrate recent evidence of their good teaching and care of children from birth to give across two settings, plus 10-day engagement with KS1
  • The main placement must be of at least 30 days duration. The 30 days can be split into blocks of no less than 2 weeks if this is more convenient. Additional shorter placements may also be necessary to give a current experience of teaching and care across birth to five

Training days and meetings

  • Training days normally once or twice a month
  • Small group meetings 
  • Progress meetings within the setting/school with your tutor/mentor

Support

  • A personal tutor who will visit and observe you 
  • Support from your employer/ setting-based mentor for day to day support and feedback
  • A virtual learning environment - e-learning modules, a resource bank and forums

Assessment

  • An e-portfolio that you build up gradually
  • Formative assessment from the setting/school and your personal tutor - the employer must agree to contribute to your assessment for Early Years Teacher Status
  • Evidence bundles- evidence to demonstrate your impact child’s learning over a period of time
  • Action plans - reviewed and updated termly
  • Assignments - can be built up during the programme, demonstrate the Teachers’ Standards
  • Observation records - from the settings/schools and your personal tutor
  • Moderation of assessment judgements 

Funding

  • Fees paid by NCTL
  • An employer incentive towards release costs/salary/training needs - £7,000

Key Features of the Graduate Employment Based Route

  1. Fully funded by the National College for Teaching and Leadership
  2. £7,000 employer incentive available to cover release and other costs
  3. Completed over 12 months
  4. Part-time training, whilst employed in an early years setting/school
  5. Experience needed in at least two settings across to birth to five 
  6. Placement within Key Stage 1 (5-7 year olds)
  7. Training days, normally once or twice a month
  8. A personal tutor to support you