Training to Teach in primary schools: A practical guide to School-based training and placements

Full of practical help and guidance, this is a must have for primary trainees on school experience, whether they are in a school-based or university-based teacher training programme.  It begins by helping trainees to plan their own journey through training and beyond.  Taking control of their own training in this way supports student teachers to approach the course with confidence, and secure their first teaching job.  The book provides guidance on: 

• adapting to working in school
• observing, planning and evaluating in school
• teaching on placement
• assessing, monitoring and reporting on children′s progress
• self-evaluation and how to pre-empt and resolve issues
• securing the first teaching job and succeeding in the NQT year

For student teachers, the experience of school-based training is exciting but also challenging - this book supports them throughout and prepares them for the journey ahead. 

Student feedback on this book:

"Having been on a variety of teaching placements myself, I know just how daunting and overwhelming experiences in school can be at times – even with a supportive mentor by your side! Hence, I felt that this book can smooth out and rectify those worries one may face during a school placement, and offers the reader a realistic insight into school experiences.  In my opinion, the most useful chapter by far is the ‘Moving On’ chapter near the end of the book. This explains how to conclude a school placement, what to expect from an interview, and even how to set out a CV for a teaching position. This was not something I expected to find in this book however it was very much welcomed and is, in fact, a very important, valuable part of the book. This is the type of book you can buy on your very first day of teacher training and use well into your days as a newly qualified teacher." - Jasmin, Primary Teacher Trainee (University of Northampton)

Jane Medwell taught in primary schools in Cardiff and South Devon, before moving into teacher education. She has lectured at the Universities of Cardiff, Plymouth and the College of St Mark and St John, and is currently Director of Teacher Education and Associate Professor at the University of Warwick. Her research and writing has covered areas such as the teaching of writing and the use of electronic books to teach reading. More recently she has begun a major research programme exploring the teaching of handwriting, and has begun a unique programme of teacher education in primary Modern Foreign Languages. She is fluent in French and Russian, and is learning Chinese.