The PG Diploma level of the International Teaching Diploma covers everything in the Diploma — Montessori, Nursery, Pre-Primary and ECCE — and adds behaviour management, special educational needs awareness and child psychology for more advanced, well-rounded preparation. In essence, the PG Diploma keeps the full breadth of the Diploma and layers on the skills that help you teach a wider and more diverse range of learners with confidence. The PG additions are chosen to reflect the real diversity teachers meet in everyday classrooms.
The foundation it builds on
The PG Diploma includes the full Diploma curriculum, so you still cover Montessori principles, nursery and pre-primary teaching and early childhood care.
This ensures a complete grounding before the additional, more advanced material is introduced.
Behaviour management
The PG level adds structured approaches to classroom behaviour: setting expectations, positive reinforcement, routines and responding to challenging situations calmly and consistently.
These skills are valuable across every age group and setting.
Special educational needs awareness
You study how to recognise and support common additional needs, make reasonable adjustments and work inclusively, as an introduction rather than a full SEN specialism.
This awareness helps you support a wider range of learners in mainstream settings.
Child psychology
The programme introduces how children develop emotionally, socially and cognitively, and how that knowledge informs teaching decisions.
Understanding development helps you plan lessons and respond to behaviour with more insight.
Why the extra PG topics matter in practice
Behaviour management, SEN awareness and child psychology are included at PG level because real classrooms are rarely uniform. Teachers routinely support children with different needs, behaviours and emotional states, and these topics give you a more complete toolkit for doing so.
The additions also strengthen your profile for roles that expect a broader outlook, such as positions in diverse or inclusive settings, while still resting on the solid early years and primary foundation the Diploma provides.
Applying the PG topics in a mixed classroom
In a typical class, a teacher may support a child who finds focus difficult, another who is anxious, and others at different stages, all at once. The PG topics — behaviour, SEN awareness and child psychology — speak directly to this reality.
Behaviour management offers structures that keep such a class productive, SEN awareness helps you adapt for additional needs, and child psychology helps you read what lies behind behaviour.
Together they make the PG Diploma holder better prepared for diverse, inclusive settings, which many modern schools are. This is why the level appeals to those aiming at more demanding or varied roles.
What to check
- Entry requirement for the PG level
- The additional modules beyond the Diploma
- Total study hours at PG level
- How assessment works at this level
- Whether you want a dedicated SEN course later
- Whether you need the broader PG topics
- How the extra topics match your target setting
Important distinction
The SEN content at PG level is awareness and introduction, not a full special-education qualification. For specialist SEN roles, consider a dedicated special-education programme.
Related quick questions
What makes the PG level different from the Diploma?
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Is the SEN content enough to specialise?
Is the PG Diploma harder than the Diploma?
Does the PG level include teaching practice?
Will the PG level prepare me for SEN roles?
Why add these particular topics?
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Related LCT pathway
The International Teaching Diploma pathway at London College of Teachers is the most directly related programme.
Explore International Teaching Diploma