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This course is dedicated to producing quality graduates ready to take up employment across the early childhood education sector, including teaching children aged 0-3 years, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, pre-primary and years 1-3 in a primary school. Dealing specifically with children aged 0-8 years, Early Childhood Studies focuses on the care and education of children in this age group in partnership with families and communities. A variety of flexible admission options is available to suit applicants with different needs, all of which are required to demonstrate competency in literacy and numeracy, as teachers require these skills to support the development of students. The course also includes the opportunity to complete a fast tracked final year and achieve eligibility for employment in schools from term 4 of that year. A key feature of this course is the equal emphasis given to both the theoretical groundings of early childhood education and the practical application of knowledge and skills in a wide range of early childhood settings. A coordinated program of professional practice experiences at key points throughout the course allow students to make the connection between theory and practice, while building both professional and generic employability skills in real care and education environments. In addition, students have the opportunity to tailor their learning experience by specialising in curriculum areas of particular interest.
This course information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester. In particular please check the course requirements and the unit and unit set offerings, as these differ according to course delivery location.
In each year of the program, students undertake compulsory Professional Practice and in the final year, students undertake an Assistant Teacher Program (ATP) comprising of one term of approximately 10 weeks of continuous teaching practice. The Assistant Teacher Program is conducted during the final year of the course in the second term of the school year.
To undertake a Professional Practice in a school or childcare setting, all pre-service teacher education students must have supplied ECU with evidence of a valid National Police History Check from the Department of Education WA. In addition, all teaching students 18 years of age and over must have supplied ECU with evidence of a valid Working with Children Check from the Department of Child Protection WA. Further information and application forms can be found at www.det.wa.edu.au/screening/detcms/portal/
All Professional Practices are undertaken on a full-time basis and teaching students are required to give a full-time commitment to the school during the scheduled Professional Practice periods.
The Professional Practice Rules and Procedures and Code of Professional Conduct for ECU Pre-service Teachers can be accessed at www.ecu.edu.au/schools/education/professional-practice.
All Professional Practice units are designated as a fundamental course requirement and may only be attempted once, unless otherwise determined by Board of Examiners.
This course has been Approved by: Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).
Students will need to graduate to be eligible to register with the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia (TRBWA). Registration with the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia (TRBWA) is required to practice in the profession.
Graduates must meet the Teacher Registration Board of WA (TRBWA) literacy and numeracy proficiency requirements prior to graduation for teacher registration in Western Australia. Further information is available at http://trb.wa.gov.au
Academic admission standard for the following entry pathways:
Students must attain an Academic IELTS with an overall band minimum score of 7.0 (no individual band less than 7.0).
Applicants from the Seychelles:
For equivalent test requirements refer to ECU English Standards Policy.
Students have the opportunity to complete a fast-tracked final year and achieve eligibility for employment in schools from Term 4 during the same year.
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| AED1240 | Drama Arts in Early Childhood Education | 15 |
| ECS1240 # | Becoming an Early Childhood Educator | 15 |
| ECS1250 | Learning and Learners | 15 |
| LAN1009 | Communication Skills for Teaching and Learning | 15 |
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| ECS1265 | Young Children's Learning and Development | 15 |
| LAN1265 | English 1: Oral Communication | 15 |
| ECS2245 | Play and Pedagogy | 15 |
| IPP1260 # | Inquiry in Professional Practice (Child Care) | 15 |
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| ECM2260 | Early Childhood Mathematics 1 | 15 |
| ECS2240 | Guiding Children's Behaviour in Positive Learning Environments | 15 |
| MUE2240 | Music Arts in Early Childhood Education | 15 |
| SCE2240 | Early Childhood Science and Technology Education | 15 |
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| ECS3260 | Assessing and Evaluating Young Children's Learning | 15 |
| HPE2260 | Health and Physical Education for Young Children | 15 |
| LAN2266 | English 2: Literacy Learning in the Early Years | 15 |
| IPP2260 # | Inquiry in Professional Practice (K/PP) | 15 |
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| AED3245 | Visual Arts in Early Childhood Education | 15 |
| EDS3240 | Including Children with Special Educational Needs | 15 |
| LAN3246 | English 3: Literacy in the Junior Primary Years of School | 15 |
| SSE3260 | Social Science Education in Early Childhood | 15 |
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| ECM3260 | Early Childhood Mathematics 2 | 15 |
| EDF3201 | Teaching Indigenous Australian Students | 15 |
| LAN3260 | English 4: Planning and Differentiating the English Curriculum in Early Childhood | 15 |
| IPP3260 # | Inquiry in Professional Practice 3: Junior Primary | 15 |
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| IPP4240 # | Assistant Teacher Program | 45 |
| Unit from Specialisation | x 1 | 15 |
| OR | ||
| Elective Unit | x 1 | 15 |
Students are required to select one of the following four options:
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| ECS4330 | Leading in Early Childhood Settings | 15 |
| Unit from Specialisation | x 3 | 45 |
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| Students may wish to diversify their elective choices and develop a broad body of knowledge relevant to early childhood education. If this option is preferred, students must complete ECS4330 and ECS4261 as well as any two (2) units from any of the five areas of specialization, or from the additional electives listed below. If students select this option, no specialisation will be recorded on the academic transcript. | ||
| LAN4228 | Literacy Coaching in Junior Primary | 15 |
| LIT4260 | Children's Literature in the Classroom | 15 |
| SCE4270 | Teaching Integrated Science in Junior Primary Years | 15 |
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| EDU4226 | School-based Project | 60 |
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| EDU4227 | Internship | 60 |
# Designated Unit - a Unit or Unit of Competency which a School has designated as a fundamental course requirement and may only be attempted once unless otherwise determined by Board of Examiners.
For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.
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