One of the best ways student teachers can improve their skills is by putting their learning into practice in a real early childhood education (ECE) centre.

This is often done through the more traditional teaching blocks but many courses are now offering Field Based Teacher Education (FBTE) - the chance to complete sustained practicum where the student works either paid or voluntarily in the same centre, known as the home centre, for the duration of the course.

One example is:

• While a placement in a poor quality centre was an issue for any student teacher it was deemed to be potentially more harmful to a student on sustained practicum because they would be exposed to the lower standards for a long period of time and may align themselves with the poor practice they experienced at their home centre.