Education, Children and Teaching

Careers and connections

Education is about more than the classroom.

Our graduates go on to become primary teachers, early years practitioners, education officers, SEND specialists, family support workers and learning mentors. Others progress into leadership, policy, postgraduate study or specialist areas such as mental health and sustainable education.

Through strong regional partnerships, you’ll gain experience in diverse settings, from early years environments to primary schools and community organisations. These placements allow you to apply theory in real situations, understand different learning needs and build the resilience and adaptability employers value.

We encourage reflective practice, curiosity and research-informed teaching – helping you develop as a confident educator who can respond to the realities of modern education.

Work placements

Professional practice is central to your development. You’ll complete high-quality placements across a range of early years settings, schools and alternative learning environments.

We work with more than 50 partner institutions locally and across the region. If you’re an aspiring teacher, you’ll have a mix of university sessions and work in schools. We know our partner schools very well and can match your development needs with your placements.

If you specialise in early years, you could be gaining experience in roles as diverse as safeguarding support and speech and language interventions.

Previous students have also taken part in international visits and placement opportunities abroad, broadening their understanding of global education systems.

By the time you graduate, you’ll have substantial real-world experience – not just theory.

Spotlight and events

Our students regularly engage with schools, community projects and enrichment initiatives that bring learning to life.

From outdoor learning on our on-campus nature reserve to curriculum innovation projects and international study visits, you’ll see education in action beyond the lecture theatre.

Open Days give you the opportunity to meet staff, explore facilities and understand the route to Qualified Teacher Status or wider education careers.

Facilities

Learn in environments designed to mirror professional practice.

You’ll benefit from specialist teaching spaces and digital learning tools that support lesson planning, curriculum development and innovative teaching approaches. Outdoor learning also forms part of the experience, including access to our on-campus nature reserve and Forest School activities.

Combined with extensive placement experience, these facilities help bridge university learning with classroom reality.

Woodlands Day Nursery and Forest School

Our Woodlands Day Nursery and Forest School puts sustainability and the natural world at the heart of children’s learning. Read more

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Woodlands Day Nursery and Forest School

Education Settings

You will have the chance to train within a variety of education settings across the region, working with a range of practitioners, children, other professionals, and parents. Placements will aim to be arranged to minimise travel as much as possible.

School Settings

You will be placed within a range of different schools, working across the primary age range. You will have the opportunity to work within diverse contexts, within a variety of classrooms with experienced school-based mentors and university tutors.

Early Years Settings

You will have the opportunity to train within a variety of early years settings across the region, working with a range of practitioners, babies and young children, other professionals, and parents.

Outreach

Our Education provision includes a range of partnerships with organisations across the city and beyond which will give you work-based learning opportunities with volunteer and charity groups.