Primary: enhanced 3-7

In the dynamic realm of early years primary teaching (ages 3-7), every day sparks with boundless opportunities to nurture young hearts and minds. From introducing the magic of letters and numbers to fostering foundational skills in literacy and numeracy, you’re embarking on a journey where each moment is a chance to inspire curiosity and growth. On a daily basis you will support to mould young minds, fostering academic prowess and social growth. Collaboration is at the heart of primary education, where teamwork flourishes, and mutual support propels you towards excellence. Together with passionate colleagues, you’ll continuously evolve your practice, believing fervently in the enduring adventure of learning throughout your career.

Our primary with enhanced 3-7 route is a specifically designed programme for people who are embarking on their teacher training and have a keen interest in supporting pupils in Early Years and Key Stage One.   It is an ideal preparation for people who are keen to pursue a career either in a nursery or infant school or as an Early Years specialist within a primary school. The programme has been designed by and includes significant input from Early Years specialists so that you will be able to engage with and learn about the specific provision and curriculum requirements for our youngest pupils in school.  

What are the key concepts that underpin our approach to developing subject knowledge for primary teaching?

• Developing an understanding of the richness of the primary curriculum
• Considering in depth the core areas of early reading, writing and mathematics as essential building blocks to other areas of learning
• Exploring the big ideas of each subject, its relevance and place within the wider context of the curriculum
• Understanding learning progression in subjects across the Early Years Framework and National Curriculum
• Considering the pedagogical approaches within and across subjects including assessment and identifying barriers to learning
• Developing knowledge of how pupils develop as learners in different subjects and how teaching might be adapted to meet individual needs
• Ensuring commitment to and enthusiasm for the whole curriculum, ensuring teaching is inclusive and engaging all learners

I have really enjoyed learning on the 3-7 route alongside the primary route. I feel so well prepared heading into my new KS1 teaching role, and I even feel confident that I could happily teach in KS2 in the future!

This course is built on an extensive research base in teaching in the primary 3-7 phase and it is closely interwoven with our Central Curriculum Sessions as part of our overall Integrated Curriculum approach. Each year we review all aspects of our courses to ensure that they cover the most relevant components of the subject as well as introducing you to the most commonly taught ideas and concepts. Mentors and specialist teachers in our partnership schools also play a crucial role in reviewing the programme to ensure that it gives the very best preparation for becoming a great early years or primary teacher.

Our carefully designed curriculum is structured so that you will have approximately one Subject Curriculum Session a week across the 2024-25 academic year. Alongside this, subject specificity is carefully woven throughout all aspects of the course, including the ongoing assessment process and the optional PGCE assignments, so that all content is relevant to you and your teaching. Subject Curriculum Sessions will develop on the ideas and theory raised in your general Central Curriculum Sessions so that you have expert guidance on how best to deliver strategies and techniques in your specific subject area. 

As an enhanced programme this route carefully sequences the primary curriculum, including all subject areas of the National Curriculum so you will be well equipped with the phase expertise and subject knowledge requirements to teach across the full primary range. The school placements will also support the deep contextual understanding of the knowledge and skills required to be a highly effective teacher of all pupils regardless of their circumstances.

Alongside these strands you will also undertake a calendar of additional sessions and visits that include a wide range of input on all aspects of early years provision led by expert practitioners working in the sector. These enhanced days are carefully sequenced and include visits to nursery settings to ensure you gain insight into the range of provision in our schools.  

We believe the enhanced 3-7 programme structure will provide you with a clear overview, knowledge and understanding of provision and best practice and will provide you with the opportunity to observe a range of excellent teaching, early years pedagogy and subject knowledge throughout the programme in addition to developing your teaching, subject knowledge and expertise in primary education, giving you the opportunity to go on to a teaching career in the setting of your choice. 

This innovative programme has been designed by the OTT SCITT team in conjunction with the Ace Centre, a lead school in the Oxfordshire Teaching School Hub and an outstanding provider of early years education and childcare. 

• Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework

As well as introducing you to a wealth of relevant books, articles and research papers you will be introduced to a number of individual subject associations and organisations which support each area of the curriculum. We make use of a number of nationally recognised organisations, associations and networks to support your development alongside our curriculum. We are also fortunate to be joined over the year by a range of visiting experts who work with the SCITT team to enhance the provision with specialist knowledge in areas such as Computing, Physical Education and Music.

Computing

As part of our primary subject programme we are delighted to work with the Bucks, Berks and Oxon Computing Hub and STEM Learning to offer the Empowering Trainee Teachers: Introduction to Primary Computing course.  Delivered by experts from the Computing Hub, alongside our Primary Subject Specialist, this ensures that all our Associate Teachers have a good grounding in the fundamentals of Computing in primary, and are able to access further training offered by STEM learning and the National Centre for Computing Education, such as the Teach Primary Computing Certificate.

Science

In addition to our subject sessions on Primary Science, we also offer the optional Primary Science Enhancement Award with the Primary Science Teaching Trust.  This award aims to support trainees to start their careers with increased competence and confidence to teach science and to be confident to take up a position of school leadership in science.  It is supported by the Association for Science Education, the Primary Science Quality Mark and the Ogden Trust, meaning there is no cost attached for Associate Teachers who wish to complete this award.

Previous OTT SCITT Associate Teachers who have completed the award have commented:

“The confidence I gained doing this course encouraged me to run an all (primary school) ages science club at my school and I am really looking forward to it.”

“I feel inspired to continue to build upon this love of science and will strive to complete further CPD throughout my ECT years. I am already considering the impact that I could have upon science within my new school!”

On the primary 3-7 course you benefit from the expertise of our primary subject specialist and an additional Early Years Specialist. 

Linda, our Primary Subject Specialist, has been a primary teacher and leader in Oxfordshire for 24 years, including a number of years as an Advanced Skills Teacher and nearly 10 years as a Headteacher.  Her enthusiasm and passion for the primary curriculum is infinite, with a background in History and working in Museums, many years as a Mathematics Subject Lead and Specialist Teacher and experience in every year group across the primary phase.  Along with this passion for curriculum, Linda’s other main interest is professional development at all levels, and in sessions Associate Teachers are encouraged to reflect on their own observations and experiences in school alongside the evidence and expert viewpoints to focus always on effective learning.