Undergraduate

Learning through enquiry in primary schools

On this page

• What you will study
• Entry
• If you have a disability or additional requirement
• Study materials
• Teaching and assessment
• Professional recognition
• Students also studied
• Future availability

This work-based learning course is relevant to a wide range of primary school professionals who support children’s learning – teaching assistants, cover supervisors, learning mentors, volunteers and additional classroom staff. You will develop your skills as an enquirer and researcher in primary schools, extend your theoretical knowledge and reflect on your workplace practice. It’s the second compulsory Level 1 module in the Foundation Degree in Primary Teaching and Learning (G02) and Diploma of Higher Education in Primary Teaching and Learning (E59), which builds on your previous study and professional development by returning to the themes and topics in Supporting learning in primary schools (E111).

Course facts

Register for the course

This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.

What you will study

This course promotes student learning in the workplace. You will substantially update and extend the topics studied in Supporting learning in primary schools (E111) such as safeguarding, creativity, technology and environments for learning. Through a series of mini-research projects, you will develop your knowledge, understanding and practice in supporting children’s learning. You will use a range of enquiry methods that are appropriate to your work, such as observing and interviewing, as you plan and carry out small-scale investigations linked to course topics. You will develop your skills in questioning, information-gathering, evaluation and reflection. You will also consider issues of ethics and inclusion as you explore your professional practice and children’s experiences in primary school.

You will receive a Course Reader covering small-scale research in primary classrooms and the role of classroom support staff in promoting children’s learning. It will provide scope and inspiration for your own enquiries and professional development.

You will learn

By the end of the course you will have:

• updated your knowledge and understanding of how primary-age children learn, through small-scale enquiry in a practical, work-based context
• developed your knowledge and understanding, through small-scale research, of how key principles and theories influence your practice in relation to children’s learning and development
• developed skills in observing and evaluating children’s learning and in supporting pupils who may experience barriers to learning
• presented evidence of developments in your professional practice.

Vocational relevance

This course has a specific vocational relevance. It is the compulsory Level 1 work-based module in the Foundation Degree in Primary Teaching and Learning and Diploma of Higher Education in Primary Teaching and Learning, aimed at teaching assistants and learning support staff (including volunteers) working in primary schools throughout the UK. Following successful completion of the Foundation Degree or Diploma of Higher Education you may choose to progress to study at degree level. If you are thinking about training to be an early years or primary teacher, you can choose your optional module to support this goal. For more information on careers in teaching please see our booklet Becoming a Teacher.

Entry

This course is a compulsory module of the Open University Foundation Degree in Primary Teaching and Learning and the Diploma of Higher Education in Primary Teaching and Learning. Before you register for this module, you must have:

• registered for either of these qualifications
• completed the first Level 1 module, Supporting learning in primary schools (E111).

In order to study and successfully complete E101 you must:

• have at least one year’s experience working directly, in a paid or voluntary role, with primary children following the National Curriculum for England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland
• be working directly with primary children in a suitable setting for a minimum of five hours per week in a paid or voluntary role throughout the module
• have permission to carry out work-based learning tasks in your work setting (you will need to submit a Permission Agreement Form that has been signed by your employer with your registration application)
• have a named, suitable person who is willing to offer you informal mentoring and support throughout the module; this person will confirm that the work you submit is based on your practice within the school setting. Your mentor should be an experienced member of staff in the school, e.g. Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) or other subject coordinator, class teacher, head teacher or deputy head teacher. We will provide guidance for your mentor outlining the role and expectations, and we will also offer, at no cost, an online OU course designed to promote the professional development of workplace supervisors and mentors
• have regular and frequent access to a suitable PC with access to the internet
• be competent in using the internet and office applications (e.g. word processing).

To work in a primary school setting you will need to meet the ‘fit person’ criteria for doing so, including obtaining the necessary criminal record clearance required for the setting and country in which you are working. It is the responsibility of you and your employer to ensure you meet these requirements, and not the OU. You should contact the relevant agency in your country for more information if you are in doubt about your eligibility, or to find out more. For who to contact in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales see Criminal Record Clearance document on the Childhood and Youth Studies website.

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service or see the Frequently asked questions on our Childhood and Youth Studies website.

Outside the UK

This course is available in the United Kingdom and to students working in English-medium primary settings in Europe and British Forces schools.

Preparatory work

You must have completed Supporting learning in primary schools (E111) to register for Learning through enquiry in primary schools (E101). 

You must also have ready access to your E111 study materials as you will to refer to these throughout E101.

You will need to present your Permission Agreement Form with your registration application. 

You should identify your school-based mentor prior to the start of the course. Mentoring is a voluntary role that will involve approximately seven hours of support across the entire course. We will provide a booklet Guidance for school-based mentors. You can download and print our information sheet, Information for schools and mentors for E101 and E207, from our Childhood and Youth Studies website.

If you have a disability or additional requirement

Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific, foreign language or diagrammatic materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Other alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.

This course includes a website and the use of tools such as online forums.  If you use specialist software or hardware to assist you in using a personal computer or the internet and have any concerns about accessing this type of material you are advised to talk to the Student Registration & Enquiry Service about support which can be given to meet your needs.

If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.

You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.

Study materials

What's included

The study materials include three study guides, guidance for school-based mentors, a reader and access to the website for an online guide to your enquiries, assignments and assessment.

You will need

The study materials from your study of Supporting learning in primary schools (E111).

You will need access to the internet to use the website and take part in online forums. Discussions with other students through the online forums are a very important form of additional support, so everyone is strongly encouraged to participate.

Computing requirements

This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave. Some of your course software will be provided on disk.

You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note that you cannot use an Apple Mac or Linux computer unless it is running Windows using Boot Camp or similar dual-boot system.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will be allocated a tutor who will guide you through the study materials, assess and comment on your written work, and advise and support you where necessary. Your tutor is particularly concerned with helping you with your study methods and providing feedback on your assignments. You will be expected to communicate with your tutor and will have the opportunity to meet at a number of face-to-face tutorials that you are strongly recommended to attend. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of the students taking the course in your geographic area.

From the beginning of this course, you will gain support from your peers through moderated online forums. In addition, you will have the opportunity to benefit from updates about changes to relevant policy and/or the requirements for the Foundation Degree in Primary Teaching and Learning and Diploma of Higher Education in Primary Teaching and Learning, via the website.

Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.

You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.

Professional recognition

If you are working towards Higher level teaching assistant (HLTA) status in England or Wales, your study on this course can help you to gather and organise the relevant evidence.

Students also studied

Students who studied this course also studied at some time:

• Supporting learning in primary schools (E111)
• Subject knowledge and professional practice in primary schools (E207)
• Child development (ED209)
• Equality, participation and inclusion: learning from each other (E214)
• Research with children and young people (EK310)

Future availability

The details given here are for the course that starts in October 2012. We expect it to be available once a year.

Fees 2012

See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.

Study explained

Financial support

- find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.

Study explained

- all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.

Your questions

We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.

Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35

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