CREC partner with Teach First to offer SCITT with early years specialism

CREC and Teach First join forces to offer a specialist early childhood route into teaching (QTS) in the West Midlands from September 2024.

The CREC Early Years Partnership SCITT, since it established in 2015, has trained more than 75 specialist teachers to work in early years and early primary (3-7 years). Nationally, we are one of a few teacher training providers that focus solely on this early childhood phase and, with our extensive knowledge, research and experience to back us up, as well as our network of placement schools, mentors and a strong community of practice, we believe that we are in a unique position to shape future leaders of the early childhood profession that comes from a place of understanding the sector, its needs and challenges. Unfortunately, when the DfE decided that all ITT providers need to seek reaccreditation for delivery from September 2024, CREC decided that is was not feasible for it to continue in its current guise – we were however committed to remaining involved in ITT and in ensuring that there was still a place for primary teachers to train with an early years specialism.

Having engaged in discussions with accredited providers, large and small, over the past 9 months we are today delighted to confirm that we have agreed to work with Teach First from September 2024. Teach First is a charity that develops teachers and school leaders and supports schools facing the toughest challenges. They have been training teachers for 20 years and are the largest Initial Teacher Training provider in the country. With CREC as a delivery partner, they will now offer a specialist early childhood route into teaching (QTS) in the West Midlands, with school partners across Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire.

Professor Chris Pascal, CREC Director, said “We are pleased to be able to forge this new partnership with Teach First whose commitment to tackling educational disadvantage through developing highly qualified teachers aligns with our own. We’re incredibly excited about this new venture and about joining forces to develop the early years and primary workforce which can only improve outcomes for the youngest children.”

Liz O'Mara (Head of School Partnership – SCITT at Teach First) said “We are delighted that CREC have joined up with Teach First for Initial Teacher Training, not only to deliver an outstanding primary (3-7) QTS offer in the West Midlands, but also to work with us to ensure our national programme is informed by the latest early years research and effective practice”.

Anyone interested in starting their teacher training with CREC in September 2024 can find out more at: www.crec.co.uk/itt.

Applications are made through the DfE ‘Apply’ portal using our course code 2MZV: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/.

Any school interested in becoming involved in the ITT partnership can contact us on: ITT@crec.co.uk