NCT Perinatal Education and Practice CertHE

Teaching

We will enable you to learn through a combination of experiential and interactive face-to-face (both in-person and virtual) seminars and tutorials, asynchronous online learning, and guided independent study. Interactive tutorials and seminars are intended to develop knowledge, skills, and understanding and the application of learning through small group activities, practice facilitation, discussion and debate, and modelling.   

Alongside the modelling and practice of facilitation, practice scenarios, case studies and inquiry-based learning will also be used to develop skills and knowledge. 

Synchronous (timetabled) and asynchronous (not timetabled) online learning, along with self-directed study will give you the opportunity to deepen your understanding of the topics and concepts and further develop both skills and knowledge. 

You will have a personal academic tutor who will be available to support you throughout the course. 

Practice placement

Whilst studying on the CertHE, you will also begin your placement element of the training to gain your practice experience. This forms part of your learning in the workplace on the CertHE. 

You will be allocated a Placement Practitioner who will guide you through a portfolio of competencies that you will be required to achieve.

You will begin this element with observing our antenatal courses with parents and through your learning and practice eventually run a course within your local area (subject to availability).

Your learning will also map directly into certain assignments of the modules on the CertHE.

As this element is competency based, we anticipate that this could take up to 18 months to complete. On successful completion of the practice placement element and the CertHE you will then gain your NCT Licence to Practise

The University places emphasis on enabling students to develop the independent learning capabilities that will equip you for lifelong learning and future employment, as well as academic achievement. A mixture of independent study, teaching and academic support from Student Services and Library Services, and also the personal academic tutoring system enables you to reflect on progress and build up a profile of skills, achievements and experiences that will help you to flourish and be successful.

Contact time

This course will be delivered across two semesters with 20 weeks of teaching per semester; students can choose to study full or part-time.

The delivery patterns are laid out in the course handbook. Students will complete 6 hours contact time per week if studying full-time, or on average 3 hours contact time per week if studying part-time.

Students will complete approximately 40% of these taught sessions in person at an NCT regional location and approximately 60% online as face-to-face synchronous virtual. Taught sessions take place on weekdays - each group will have a specific day for their group.

Independent self study

In addition to the contact time, you are expected to undertake approx. 22.5 hours of guided independent personal self-study per week.

Typically, this will involve completing asynchronous online activities, reading journal articles and books, undertaking research in the library and online, preparing coursework assignments and interactive sessions, and preparing for examinations.

Independent learning is supported by a range of excellent learning facilities, including The Hive and library resources, the virtual learning environment, and extensive electronic learning resources. 

Resources can be accessed in other universities and colleges via SCONUL for those students not local to Worcester.

NCT provide excellent resources, up to date research and information for all students and practitioners via their intranet babble and the main website.

Duration

1 year full-time - 2 semesters of 20 weeks

Timetables

Timetables are normally available one month before registration. Please note that whilst we try to be as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week; and some sessions or observations may be scheduled in the evenings.

Teaching staff

You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes senior tutors, academics and professional practitioners with on the ground experience. All tutors have registered lecturer status at the University of Worcester.

Experienced, qualified practitioners may also contribute to the overall learning by providing mentoring for observations during the course.

Teaching is informed by research and consultancy. Historically NCT tutors have gained the skills and experience needed through the NCT internal system which includes a level 6 module in Adult Learning. All NCT tutors have this training and in addition around 50% have a higher education qualification and are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy.

You can learn more about the staff by visiting our staff profiles.

Assessment

The course provides opportunities to test understanding and learning informally through the completion of practice or ‘formative’ assignments.   

Each module has one (for 15 credit) or two (for 30 credit) formal or ‘summative’ assessments, which are graded and count towards the overall module grade. Assessment methods include a written examination and a range of coursework assessments such as essays, case study, practical interactive facilitated sessions and reflective journals. 

The typical summative assessment pattern for the year of the course is: 

2 x practical interactive sessions 

2 x individual presentations of session plans 

1 x essay 

1 x examination  

2 x written reflective pieces  

You will receive feedback on practice ‘formative’ assessments and on formal ‘summative’ assessments. 

Verbal or written feedback is given for all formative assessments. Students doing practical formative work at tutorials or study days receive immediate verbal feedback from tutors and their peers. Tutors feedback on written formative work directly to each student individually. 

All summative assessments receive written feedback.  

Feedback is intended to support learning and you are encouraged to discuss it with personal academic tutors and module tutors as appropriate. 

We aim to provide you with feedback and grades on formal course work assessments within 20 working days of submission.    

Programme specification

For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and the means by which these are achieved through learning, teaching and assessment, please download the latest programme specification document.