PGCE Primary and Early Years – Initial Booklist
To help you begin to get ready for the PGCE programme we suggest that you read the following
list of books. It’s not intended that you read them all – nor that you buy them. Access the ones
you can from a local library instead.
We have separated the list into sections to help you to target your reading appropriately. Please
note that ‘subject knowledge books’ are listed at the end and will particularly useful where
feedback from your interview indicated that you might need to strengthen your understanding of
particular subjects.
Introductions to various key areas:
Adey, P. & Dillon, J. (eds) (2012) Bad Education: Debunking Myths in Education. Maidenhead:
Open University Press (good at challenging basic assumptions about education - introduces the
critical perspective needed at Masters level - but very accessible)
Cockburn, A. (2012) Teaching Children 3 to 11: a student’s guide, London: Sage
Cunningham, P. (2012) Politics and the Primary Teacher, Abingdon: Routledge (discusses the
evolution of primary education policy in UK and engages critically with current political debates again useful for Masters level)
Gray, C. & MacBlain, S. (2012) Learning Theories in Childhood, London: Sage (a basic text for
those who have yet to learn about the key theorists)
Hansen, A. (ed) (2012) Primary Professional Studies, Exeter: Learning Matters (has chapters on
all areas of Professional Studies, liked to new standards)
Moyles, J., Georgeson, J. and Payler, J. (2011) Beginning Teaching, Beginning Learning in Early
Years and Primary Education (4th edition) Maidenhead: OUP. (Good general text)
Phillips, D. K., and Carr, K. (2010) Becoming a teacher through action research: Process, context,
and self-study. London: Routledge (this one is all about action research for trainees and beyond)
Taylor, K. and Wooley, R. (2013) Values and Vision in Primary Education, Maidenhead: Open
University Press
Sewell, K. (2012) Doing your PGCE at M Level, London: Sage (title says it all really!)
Recommended books on teaching, learning and child development:
Arthur, J. and Cremin, T. (2010) Learning to teach in the Primary School, London: Routledge
Canning, N. (2011) Play and Practice in the Early Years Foundation Stage. London: Sage
Desailly, J. (2012) Creativity in the Primary Classroom, London: Sage
Dowling, M. (2009) Young Children’s personal social and emotional development (3rd Edition)
London: Chapman
Hayes, D. (2011) Foundations of Primary Teaching (5th Edition), London: Routledge
Leeson, C. and Parker-Rees, R. (eds) (2010) Early Childhood Studies: an introduction to the study
of children’s worlds and children’s lives,(3rd ed) Exeter: Learning Matters
Shelton, F, and Brownhill, S. (2009) Effective Behaviour Management in the Primary School,
Maidenhead: Open University Press
Smith, P., Cowie, H. and Blades, M. (2011) Understanding Children’s Development (5th Edition),
Oxford: Blackwell
Waite, S. (ed) (2011) Children Learning Outside the Classroom: from birth to eleven, London:
Sage
Subject Knowledge Books
Note that you may wish to audit your current knowledge by looking at the programmes of study for
Key Stages 1 and 2 of the National Curriculum (be aware these are no longer statutory from Sep
2013). You can find these at
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/curriculum/primary
You also need to read the revised Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage,
available at:
http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/e/eyfs%20statutory%20framework%20march%2020
12.pdf
Early in the programme we audit your subject knowledge in the core subjects through a short test¹.
The following books will help you with areas in which you are less secure.
Mathematics
Haylock, D. (2010) Mathematics Explained for Teachers (4th Edition) London: Sage
Mooney, C. (2009) Primary mathematics: knowledge and understanding, (4th edition) Exeter,
Learning Matters Ltd.
Tucker, K. (2010) Mathematics through Play in the Early Years (2nd Edition), London: Sage
English
Medwell, J., Wray, D., Minns, H., Coates, E., and Griffiths, V. (2012) Achieving QTS, Primary
English Teaching Theory and Practice, London: Sage/ Learning Matters
Rose (2006) Independent review of the teaching of early reading (available online via google))
Ofsted (2012) Moving English Forward (available online via google)
Goouch, K. and Lambirth, A. (2011) Teaching Early Reading and Phonics, London: Sage
Wyse, D. Jones, R, Bradford, H and Wolpert M.A. (2013) Teaching English, Language and
Literacy, Oxon: Routledge
Early Years:
Riley, J. (2006) Language and literacy 3-7: Creative Approaches to Teaching, London: Sage
Whitehead, M. (2010) Language and Literacy in the Early Years 0-7 4th Edition, London: Sage
Primary:
Cox, R. (2011) Primary English Teaching: An Introduction to Language, Literacy and Learning,
London: Sage/ UKLA
Waugh, D. and Joliffe, W. (2013) English 5-11 Second Edition, Oxon: Routledge
Science
Bruton, P. and Thornton, L. (2010) Science in the Early Years: Building Firm Foundations from
Birth to Five, London: Sage
Devereux, J. (2007) Science for Primary and Early Years: Developing Subject Knowledge,
London: Sage
Harlen, W. and Qualter, A. (2009) The Teaching of Science in Primary Schools (5th Edition),
London; David Fulton
Johnsey, R., Peacock, G., Sharp, J. & Wright, D. (2012) Primary Science, Knowledge and
Understanding: Achieving QTS (6th edition), Exeter: Learning Matters