Teach First graduates 'should be trained in child development'

New teachers and graduates of the Teach First scheme should be trained in child psychology and development.

This is according to John Coe, chairman of the National Association of Primary Education (Nape), who said this is particularly important where primary school pupils are concerned.

"The area of training that should receive a lot of attention for Teach First entrants should be in the field of child development and psychology. That [should be] allied with careful placing in mainly larger schools that have sufficient staffing levels and a range of staff to permit very active mentoring and training that is really important," he commented.

Teach First, which trains high flying graduates to be teachers, announced earlier this month that it is expanding into primary schools, with its first wave of graduates due to be placed in primary schools from September.

Mr Coe added that Nape will be assessing the situation and discussing with schools how the initiative is going.

Posted by Dolcie Thacker
 

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