Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)

Note: As a subsidiary of Te Pūkenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, UCOL is committed to providing the best learning outcome for you. As part of this, all programmes are currently being reviewed to make them portable, consistent, and closely aligned with the needs of the industry. When published, this course information is correct, but the courses offered may change over time.

Year 1

Year 2

Infants and Toddlers: First 1000 days (15 Credits)
This course will critically examine the requirements for providing education and care for infants and toddlers in early childhood settings.

Equity & Diversity (15 Credits)
This course will help you understand historical and social issues connected to diversity and the achievement of educational equity for infants, toddlers, young children, and their families in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Professional Inquiry in Practice 3: Assessment for Learning and Teaching (15 Credits)
This programme will provide you with the skills and knowledge to assess learning in early childhood settings. 

Professional Inquiry in Practice 4: Personal and Professional Identity (15 Credits)
This course will help you develop a reflective practitioner's professional knowledge, skills, and attitudes within early childhood settings.

Year 3

To be eligible to enter this programme, you must be 17 years of age at the start of the programme, and provide evidence that you meet Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Entry to the Programme requirements.

English language proficiency 

If English is not your first language, you must also demonstrate English language skills equivalent to an IELTS overall band score (academic) of 7.0 in all bands (or equivalent including TOEFL). UCOL is a TOEFL testing centre.

In addition to the Domestic Entry Requirements, the following applies to international student applicants.

The minimum requirements are: 
An IELTS score of at least 7.0 (Academic) in all bands (or equivalent including TOEFL, NZ Certificate in English Language (Academic) L5), achieved in one sitting authorised by the awarding body (i.e. combining scores from more than one test is not permissible). And which is within the preceding two years when the student’s application is received and stamped by Registry. 

As UCOL becomes Te Pūkenga on 1 January 2023, learners enrolling in a programme that is likely to continue into semester 1 2023 or starting in semester 1 2023 will become Te Pūkenga learners. They will receive their qualification from Te Pūkenga on completion.

Safety Check
UCOL will undertake a safety check after you have completed an application for enrolment. The safety check will involve:

• An interview with you.
• Confirming your work history.
• Verifying with two trusted referees.
• Completing New Zealand Police vetting.

Field-Based Experience
You are required to undertake a field-based experience under the supervision of a registered and fully certified teacher and be working in a licensed early childhood centre in an employed or non-employed capacity for a minimum of two days (12 hours) per week throughout the academic year, except when you are on the practical experience placement. 

Practical Experience Placement
In addition to the field-based experience, you will be placed in an early childhood centre other than your regular place of work for a four or five week full-time practical experience placement each year.

As part of the practical experience placement, you may need to travel out of the district. This will be at your own expense.

Selection Criteria
The selection process consists of an interview. Areas considered by the interviewers are:

• Personal qualities.
• Professional qualities.
• Early childhood knowledge and experience.
• Other work and community experience.
  
• Cultural knowledge and understanding.
  

The interview panel will have a UCOL early childhood lecturer, assisted by an early childhood sector representative or another UCOL academic representative.

The interview will be conducted in an equitable, professional manner with every endeavour to make you feel at ease. You are welcome to bring family/whanāu for support.

If the number of applicants who meet the entry criteria exceeds the available places, a waitlist will be created in the date order of completed and received applications.

Recognition of prior learning
Applications for Recognition of Prior Learning, including Cross Credit, Credit Transfer and Assessment of Prior Learning may be made on the Recognition of Prior Learning Form where a student believes all learning outcomes for a course have already been met. Applications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the UCOL Academic Statute and other relavant policies and procedures.

Application checklist
It will make the process easier if you prepare the following before you apply:

• National Student Number (NSN) (If you don't have a NSN, you may request one from NZQA, or you can supply a verified copy of your birth certificate, passport or Whakapapa statement.)
• Evidence of your highest level of academic achievement (and evidence of prior learning, if applicable)
• Evidence that you meet the entry requirements of the programme
• Check if you're eligible for additional support or a scholarship. If you're 19 years or younger, you may be eligible to enrol in one of our free Youth Transition programmes.

Note that you will need to provide any verified documents in person, via post or email (not via the online application form).