Pre and primary teacher training covers how children develop and learn, how to plan and deliver lessons, and how to manage a classroom. It also includes teaching early literacy and numeracy, assessment, and supporting children across the preschool and primary stages. It spans development, planning, methods, management, assessment and the teaching of early literacy and numeracy.
Child development and learning
You study how children grow and learn from the early years into the primary stage, which informs age-appropriate teaching.
This grounding shapes planning and expectations.
Planning and teaching methods
Training covers lesson planning, varied teaching strategies and engaging children of different abilities.
You learn to structure learning clearly and keep it active.
Literacy and numeracy foundations
A key focus is teaching early reading, writing and mathematics, which are central to primary education.
You learn methods for building these foundational skills.
Management and assessment
The course includes classroom management, behaviour strategies and assessing progress to guide teaching.
These skills keep the classroom productive and learning on track.
How the components build a capable teacher
The course is sequenced so that understanding development underpins planning, teaching methods bring plans to life, and management keeps the classroom productive.
Literacy and numeracy foundations give the specific subject knowledge primary teaching demands, while assessment closes the loop by showing what children have learned.
Seen together, the components are designed to make you a rounded, classroom-ready teacher rather than a specialist in any single element.
How the training prepares you for real classrooms
The programme is designed to be practical, so each topic connects to decisions you will make daily — how to plan a lesson, settle a class or check understanding.
By linking child development to teaching methods and assessment, it helps you see why particular approaches work, not just what to do.
This grounding aims to make you classroom-ready and confident across the preschool and primary stages rather than expert in one narrow area.
From theory to a real classroom
The course links child development to practical decisions — how to plan a lesson, settle a class and check understanding — so learning translates into everyday practice.
Covering both the preschool and primary stages, it aims to make you adaptable and classroom-ready across the early-to-primary years.
What to check
- Child development across early and primary stages
- Lesson planning and teaching methods
- Early literacy and numeracy teaching
- Classroom management strategies
- Assessment of progress
Important distinction
Curriculum depth varies by level. Certificate, diploma and PG diploma cover these themes in increasing depth; confirm the syllabus for your chosen level.
Related quick questions
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Related LCT pathway
The Pre and Primary Teacher Training pathway at London College of Teachers is the most directly related programme.
Explore Pre and Primary Teacher Training