Why choose the School of Education
In the NSS 2025, our education courses scored student satisfaction rates of 90% and over for teaching; learning opportunities; assessment and feedback; academic support; and organisation and management.
They rank in the UK top 20 for student satisfaction (Complete University Guide, 2026).
They rank UK 4th (tied) in their subject field for career prospects (Guardian, 2026).
About the course
If you are a teaching assistant or work in a similar educational role, this flexible Foundation degree can give you the professional qualification you need to put you on the path to a career in teaching. Combining academic study with practical experience, this part-time course builds on the experience you have gained in the classroom to develop the knowledge, skills and expertise you need to work with pupils, adults and teachers. The course offers degree-level study, delivered within a partner college.
Industry links
This Education Practice FdA is delivered by a University/college partnership. Your degree will be awarded by the University of Bedfordshire.
As one of the largest providers of teacher education in the eastern region, the University of Bedfordshire has well-established partnerships with more than 500 schools and other associated organisations, a network that puts us at the forefront of educational developments.
Student experience
The course is delivered by the Bedford College Group, in both Bedford and Kettering, and the Buckinghamshire College Group at their Aylesbury campus. Studying an FdA at a local college centre supports you to undertake University study while remaining close to home, family and work.
University lecturers work closely with college staff to support and enhance your provision and student experience.
Study is part-time and encompasses one evening per week for the duration of the course, at your chosen college centre.
Benefit from a robust induction to University processes and receive regular online sessions with University support staff; student services; careers advice and guidance; and study-skills support.
You are welcome on the University campus throughout your degree to join a larger group of students for specific study sessions, such as Forest School and Sensory Centre experiences.
with Professional Practice Year
This course has the option to be taken over four years which includes a year placement in industry. Undertaking a year in industry has many benefits. You gain practical experience and build your CV, as well as being a great opportunity to sample a profession and network with potential future employers.
There is no tuition fee for the placement year enabling you to gain an extra year of experience for free.
*Only available to UK/EU students.
with Foundation Year
A Degree with a Foundation Year gives you guaranteed entry to an Undergraduate course.
Whether you’re returning to learning and require additional help and support to up-skill, or if you didn’t quite meet the grades to pursue an Undergraduate course, our Degrees with Foundation Year provide a fantastic entry route for you to work towards a degree level qualification.
With our guidance and support you’ll get up to speed within one year, and will be ready to seamlessly progress on to undergraduate study at Bedfordshire.
The Foundation Year provides an opportunity to build up your academic writing skills and numeracy, and will also cover a range of subject specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree.
This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will need to successfully complete the Foundation Year to progress on to the first year of your bachelor’s degree.
Why study a degree with a Foundation Year?
- Broad-based yet enough depth to give you credible vocational skills
- Coverage of a variety of areas typically delivered by an expert in this area
- Gain an understanding of a subject before choosing which route you wish to specialise in
- Great introduction to further study, and guaranteed progression on to one of our Undergraduate degrees
The degrees offering a Foundation Year provide excellent preparation for your future studies.
During your Foundation Year you will get the opportunity to talk to tutors about your degree study and future career aspirations, and receive guidance on the most appropriate Undergraduate course to help you achieve this; providing you meet the entry requirements and pass the Foundation Year.
Course Leader - Karen Siddons
I joined the University of Bedfordshire following 20 years working within the Early Years and Education sector.
I started my career working in a residential school for children with profound and multiple educational and health care needs.
My experience within Early Years and education spans a wide range of provision to include Nursery manager, Child minder, classroom assistant and lecturer.
I have extensive experience within the classroom and have worked in both HE and FE, delivering Early Years study programmes.
Course Leader - Karen Siddons
I joined the University of Bedfordshire following 20 years working within the Early Years and Education sector.
I started my career working in a residential school for children with profound and multiple educational and health care needs.
My experience within Early Years and education spans a wide range of provision to include Nursery manager, Child minder, classroom assistant and lecturer.
I have extensive experience within the classroom and have worked in both HE and FE, delivering Early Years study programmes.
Studying our Educational Practice FdA course aims to equip you with the knowledge, skills and abilities required by teaching assistants in areas of classroom practice and curriculum. You will have the opportunity to develop your understanding around core subjects in our units in Developing English and Mathematics, Developing Mathematics and English: Theory and Practice. By drawing links from theory and practice, you will examine how English and Mathematics studies have developed across all phases of education. You will investigate mathematical thinking, processing and problem solving among children in classrooms, as well as how they develop these processes. Furthermore, you will explore the various pedagogical approaches to the teaching and learning of mathematics. This will complement your study of the theories on the teaching of language, where you will be introduced to concepts such as genre theory and synthetic phonics that inform current practices in schools.
Curriculum is an essential part of child development, and you will be able to explore this connection in our Developing Learning unit where you will examine research, theory and pedagogy that informs child development, its policies and practice. Another crucial area of education is inclusivity, especially within special educational needs and disability (SEND). This is where our unit in Inclusive Practice and SEND will make you question to what extent education is inclusive, while also exposing you to the existing barriers to inclusive education, and how to support children with SEND within the education sector. Furthermore, you will learn to create safe and stimulating environments for pupils that maximises their opportunities and are rooted in mutual respect in our Environments for Learning unit.
As you go along the course, you will also engage with our Reflections on Practice unit where you will be supported in identifying your strengths and areas for improvement in your academic and practical work for your long-term professional and personal development. Similarly, our Introduction to Higher Education Study unit will introduce you to the academic processes and study skills needed for you to reach your academic potential through independent and proactive behaviours and approaches.
Assessments will help you to reflect upon your practice and that of your workplace. This course aims to provide a range of assessment methods to support the diverse needs of all learners. Assessments include essays case studies portfolios presentations reflections on work-based learning. The assignments will build directly on the teaching sessions and you will be supported by lecturers to develop your individual assignment through tutorials and in class activities. Developmental assessment opportunities are offered in the form of peer assessment and individual/group tutorials. Substantial guidance is provided on how to complete the assignments on the university virtual learning environment (BREO) and in assessment handbooks workshops seminars and assessment Briefs. Throughout the course you will be able to use your workplace setting as a source of information and context for assessments and be able to undertake research that will contribute to other assessments.
Careers
This course is your first step to following a Primary PGCE, School Direct or SCITT route to Qualified Teacher Status (if you have the required GCSE grades in maths, English and science). There will be a transition programme of events and activities to help you prepare for this.
For those who do not wish to progress on to the full degree, you have various options in employment in education - for example, as a teaching assistant or higher-level teaching assistant; SEND support; or teaching and learning support within a school in Reception or key stage 1.
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
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