You will develop your understanding of the ways in which teachers teach, the curriculum that guides children’s learning, the activities that children do, and professional decision-making in schools. The module will provide you with insights into approaches for supporting children's learning across the entire primary curriculum, including the importance of play, creativity, and talk. You will also focus on learning and teaching in the curriculum areas of English, maths and science.
Through studying the module, you will acquire:
If you are not currently working or volunteering in a school, we strongly recommend arranging between 5 and 10 days in a school for children aged 3–12. During this time, you should observe teaching and learning processes and gain exposure to a practical educational context. If you cannot visit a school, the module materials provide examples of children’s learning across a range of phases and contexts.
Note: Access to schools will require you to meet the ‘fit person’ criteria in your country to work with children. You and your setting are responsible for ensuring you meet these requirements, not the OU.
This module will provide you with a sound foundation for further study relevant to a range of roles relating to primary education. It is also relevant to other careers within childcare, health, education, playwork and working with families and young people. It will develop your understanding of practices and policies that affect children, and introduce you to a range of aspects relevant to education in the primary years.
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
Print and online study materials, including 18 study topics presented in two books and online; interactive online tasks and materials; a website to structure and guide each week of study through resources including audio-visual material, an online module guide, online forums and the module Assessment Guide.
You can study this module on its own or use the credits you gain towards an Open University qualification.
E103 is a compulsory module in our:
E103 is an option module in our:
Learning and teaching in the primary years (E103) starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2031.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
There are no formal academic or experiential requirements to study this module.
If you’re not sure you’re ready, talk to an adviser.
This module is suitable if you are based outside the UK, but if you are not already working or volunteering regularly in a school, we strongly recommend arranging time during the module in a school for children aged 3–12 (for example, in a voluntary capacity) to observe teaching and learning and gain exposure to a practice context.
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone, and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying E103 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our Disability support website.
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There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If your income is not more than £25,000 or you receive a qualifying benefit, you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If your personal income is £25,000 or less, or you’re on certain benefits, you could qualify for a grant and OU top-up funding to cover 100% of your course fees. Apply online at the same time as you register on your module.
For more information on how to apply, visit our Part-Time Fee Grants for students in Scotland page.
The Open University Student Budget Accounts Ltd (OUSBA) offers a convenient 'pay as you go' option to pay your OU fees, which is a secure, quick and easy way to pay. Please note that The Open University works exclusively with OUSBA and is not able to offer you credit facilities from any other provider. All credit is subject to status and proof that you can afford the repayments.
You pay the OU through OUSBA in one of the following ways:
Joint loan applications
If you feel you would be unable to obtain an OUSBA loan on your own due to credit history or affordability issues, OUSBA offers the option to apply for a joint loan application with a third party. For example, your husband, wife, partner, parent, sibling or friend. In such cases, OUSBA will be required to carry out additional affordability checks separately and/or collectively for both joint applicants who will be jointly and severally liable for loan repayments.
As additional affordability checks are required when processing joint loan applications, unfortunately, an instant decision cannot be given. On average, the processing time for a joint loan application is five working days from receipt of the required documentation.
Read more about Open University Student Budget Accounts (OUSBA).
Studying with The Open University can boost your employability. OU courses are recognised and respected by employers for their excellence and the commitment they take to complete. They also value the skills that students learn and can apply in the workplace.
Over 30,000 employers have used the OU to develop staff so far. If the module you’ve chosen is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could approach your employer to see if they will sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees.
You can pay part or all of your tuition fees upfront with a debit or credit card when you register for each module.
We accept American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Visa Electron.
We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may wish to pay part of your tuition fee with a debit card and pay the remainder in instalments through an Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA).
We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may get support from your employer to pay part of your tuition fee and pay the remainder by credit or debit card.
For more information about combining payment options, contact an adviser.
Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and, therefore, the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2026. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
