As trainees may have had little, if any, recent experience in a Primary school classroom before enrolling on the PGCE (Primary) programme, they spend some time in schools before they begin their first school placement. This time is known as LATiS, Learning About Teaching in School, and involves the trainees spending two or three days each week in a school and the rest of the time in university. The LATiS acronym therefore represents the lattice that is created through the integration of theory and practice as trainees experience first-hand the theory that is covered in university sessions.

Each week our beginning teachers complete a series of activities that are designed to achieve two purposes. Firstly, whilst working collaboratively, they begin to develop a greater understanding of teaching and the role of the teacher. They will begin to experience the classroom environment from a perspective with which they may not necessarily be familiar, that of the teacher. Secondly, in completing the tasks, beginning teachers develop key skills that will support their learning to teach throughout both school placements. These skills include noticing (observing) and reflection and are arguably some of the life-long skills required for the teaching profession.

The activities, known as Professional Development Activities, are organised into themes for each week and further details can found in the Professional Development Journal (PDJ) for Phase 1.

LATiS Timetable and Themes

Week	Dates trainees are in school	Theme for the week
1	23 and 24 Sept.	Professional Behaviours: Becoming familiar with the classroom and children
2	30 Sept. and 01 Oct.	Promoting positive learning behaviours (ITaP)
3	07, 08 and 09 Oct.	Planning and Assessment
4	15 and 16 Oct.	Effective Modelling (ITaP)
5	21, 22 and 23 Oct.	Questioning for Learning (ITaP)
6	04, 05 and 06 Nov.	Progression YR-Y6 (plus the Science Focus Day)