Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)

Summary

Te Paetahi Akoranga Bachelor of Teaching (ECE) is an Initial Teacher Education (ITE) degree. An ITE qualification is the requirement to become a beginning teacher in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Approved and monitored by the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand, this degree is designed for those who would like to pursue a career as a qualified early childhood education teacher.

In addition to class time, students will spend a minimum of 12 hours per week in a licensed early childhood education setting, putting skills into practice.

Besides weekly practical experience in an ECE setting, students will also undertake a block practicum in a different setting from their weekly practice. Students are required to find their own practicum. The block practicum requirements are:

Year one: Three weeks
Year two: Four weeks
Year three: Four weeks

By the end of the programme, students will have learnt how to build and maintain relationships with children and adults, know how children learn, how to teach, and what to teach. Students will also learn vital leadership, planning and organisational skills.

What you'll learn

The Bachelor of Teaching (ECE) will teach students an understanding of a range of valuable skills: from how children learn and what to teach, to building relationships and strategies for advocating for children and families.

Students will also learn:

Professional knowledge

• What to teach
• Learners and how they learn
• Contextual factors
• Influencing teaching and learning
• The unique place of M?ori as Tangata Whenua

Professional practice

• Planning for a safe, high quality teaching and learning environment
• The use of evidence to promote learning
• Inter-relationships between theory and practice

Professional values and relationships

• Development of positive relationships with learners and the members of learning communities
• Being committed members of the profession

Professional leadership and advocacy

• Application of effective leadership strategies
• Strategies to advocate for children, families, society and the teaching profession

Students will also study optional content appropriate for an early childhood teacher.

Career/further opportunities

Graduates will be eligible to apply for registration with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand. This will qualify graduates to teach in licensed early childhood education services.

Graduates may be employed in roles in industry or workplace training, or community education. Example roles include:

• Early Childhood Education Teachers
• New Entrant Teachers (primary school)
• Home-based Education and Care Visiting Teachers
• Senior roles in Early Childhood Education Settings (e.g. Head Teacher, Manager)
• Roles with the Ministry of Education
• Reviewer for the Education Review Office
• Roles with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand
• Teach overseas – ECE, English as a second language
• Roles with advocacy groups – e.g. Parents as First Teachers, Barnados
• Tutor for certificate programmes in tertiary institutes

Graduates may also choose to continue onto further study at postgraduate level.