A blog for students on the FDLT and BALT courses at the University of Northampton

at Leicester and UON

September 1, 2023
by Jean
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Questions about your first day?

Some reminders about the first day on the FDLT course.

Where should I come to on the first day?

The first day of the FDLT  Y1 course is in week beginning September 9th:

Monday 9th September 2024: UON group at Waterside Campus, Northampton.

You will be told which room to look for at enrolment and induction on Saturday 7th September.

What will happen on the first day?

On your first day you will meet one of the FDLT tutors, Adam Chapman. You will have met me on Saturday. I will guide you through the day which comprises of three sessions, the morning sessions (9am-11am and 11am-1pm) and the afternoon session from 2pm until 4pm.

What should I bring?

You must bring your university ID badge and lanyard that will have been given to at enrolment on Saturday 9th September – this will allow you to access the rooms you need to find. You should also bring a pen, something to make notes in, your laptop and the reading and other paperwork that we gave you at the induction on Saturday 7th September.

You might like to bring a drink and snacks although there are a wide range of refreshments available to buy at Waterside if you prefer.

What if I have any worries or questions?

It is natural to feel nervous when you are embarking on a new part of your life. Starting at university is a big step but you have all applied for and been offered a place on the course because it is the appropriate next step for you right now. There will be lots of people supporting you at home and at school and you will find that there are lots of people here at university to help you too, both as part of the course and in the wider organisation.

If you have any immediate concerns or questions ask us at enrolment and / or email the Admissions Tutor, Adam Chapman, Adam.chapman@northampton.ac.uk or the programme leader, Abbie Deeming, abbie.deeming@northampton.ac.uk

Made with Padlet

We are looking forward to meeting you and working with you on the FDLT course.

August 29, 2023
by Jean
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About your school

When you begin to take part in discussion about your setting and begin to write assignments you will need some basic information about your school to provide contextual background. It would be useful if you could collect this information and have it to hand over the opening weeks of the course.

This includes:

Type of School (LA / Academy etc)

Location of school (rural, suburban, urban)

Age of pupils

Number of pupils on roll

Number and type of staff

% of pupils with SEND

% of pupils learning EAL

% of pupils receiving support from Pupil Premium funding

Any unusual or distinctive features of the school

Details about your own role

August 22, 2023
by Jean
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Introducing yourself

Before you start the FDLT course we’d like you to introduce yourself to the group on this Padlet: Introductions Padlet 

There is no need to have a Padlet account of your own to post onto the Padlet. All you need to do is click on the link above to open the Padlet and click on the plus sign in the bottom right hand corner to open a box to type into.

You will be asked for a password and this was emailed to you earlier today.

You should also upload a photo by clicking on the upload arrow at the bottom left below the text box. 

Add some text to tell us which venue you are studying at, what your role is and anything else you’d like us know. If you use another version of your name (eg Jo instead of Joanna) add this too.

Here is an example:

Hello, I’m Jennifer and people call me Jenny. I work as a TA in a school in Leicester and I’m attending the Leicester group. I’ve been a TA for five years now and I mainly support in Key Stage 1. I work in the classroom and support some specific groups with interventions in phonics, mathematics and social skills. Outside my job I like running and yoga. In the long term I would like to be a teacher or SENDCo. I’m looking forward to starting the course and a bit apprehensive about it too. 

If you want to comment or ask a question you can do this below the posts.

Please make sure that you have done this by Thursday September 7th.

If you need any help with this you can email jean.edwards@northampton.ac.uk 

August 8, 2023
by Jean
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Exploring curriculum documents

Throughout the FDLT and BALT courses you will often need to read and refer to curriculum documents. 

These are some of the key documents:

For Early Years:

This is a link to the page where you can access and download the Statutory framework for the Early Years.

This is the reference that you will use in assignments:

DfE (2021) Statutory framework for the early years. GOV.UK [online] Available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/596629/EYFS_STATUTORY_FRAMEWORK_2017.pdf [Accessed 12/07/21]. 

For primary and secondary:

This is the link to the full national curriculum for all key stages and subjects. It is this document that you should use in assignments.

This is the reference that you will use in assignments:

DfE (2014) National Curriculum in England: framework for key stages 1 to 4. GOV.UK [online[ Available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/381344/Master_final_national_curriculum_28_Nov.pdf [Accessed: 15/07/2020].

It would be useful for you to save the relevant links, download the documents and read through the pages relevant to your age group.

You should also all read pages 1 to 13 of the national curriculum as this underlies the subject programmes of study. 

July 31, 2023
by Jean
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Preparing to study: your workspace

As you begin university you will need to consider where you are going to study at home and begin to prepare this space so that you are ready to use it from the beginning of September.

There are some hints and tips here that you might find useful. 

When you begin in year 1 you will be studying these modules:

PDT1065 Pupil Engagement and Assessment

PDT1066 Introduction to SEND, Diversity and Inclusion

PDT1068 English and Mathematics: Core Subjects

PDT1076 Using Digital Technology to Inspire and Support Learning

PDT1077 Work Based Reflection*

PDT1078 The Practitioner’s Role*

* (If you have chosen to take exemption from the work-based modules because you have HLTA you won’t study these modules)

If you are coming directly into year 2 you will be studying these modules:

PDT2016 Using experiences outside school to inspire and support learning

PDT2017 Planning and professional development

PDT2018 SEND, diversity and inclusion: school-based project

PDT2019 Work-based practice: reflective practices

PDT2020 English and mathematics: cross curricular approaches 

If you are starting in the BALT year you will be studying these modules:

PDT3007 Personal perspectives in professional practice

PDT3008 Interdisciplinary perspectives in professional practice

PDT3009 Education beyond boundaries 

PDT3010 Culture and identity in education

PDT4002 Research methods and dissertation

July 24, 2023
by Jean
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Exploring contemporary educators

As students about to start studying in Higher Education it is useful for you to know about people who work in the field of education. A useful way of beginning this is to listen to radio programmes such as The Educators. This is available on Radio 4 at here.

You might listen to the episode about mathematics educator, Jo Boaler and then try the episode about educational researcher, John Hattie and then just browse to listen to what takes your interest.

As you listen consider how what you are hearing relates to your own educational experience both as a pupil and as a student, and your professional experience in schools.

July 21, 2023
by Jean
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Preparing to study at university: resources to help you

A screenshot of the Skills Hub part of the UON website.As you begin to study in Higher Education you’ll find that there are lots of sources of support. The Skills Hub at the University of Northampton is one of these. When you have enrolled as a student you will be able to access all of the resources but until then you can access the content under Academic Skills, How to Study and How to Research. You can find the Skills Hub here.

You might also wish to buy a study skills book such as The Study Skills Handbook by Stella Cottrell. This is a useful book in your first year, but also has useful sections to use in the second and third years. There is a supporting website here. Having said this there are many useful study skills books so you could have a browse and choose one that you like the look of.

As you begin in the course you will find plenty of study skills support available to you through your tutors in taught sessions and resources and people available to you through the university face to face and online.