A group of primary-aged learners in a classroom sitting at desks. A White teacher is giving a Black learner a high-five.

Teaching English in primary

Discover how primary children learn and apply this understanding to your classroom practice. Explore the role of assessment in the primary classroom and learn engaging, age-appropriate strategies for learner evaluation.

Enrolment for Teaching English in primary is closed. Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll keep you updated when enrolment will open next. In the meantime, if you’re interested in learning more about Teaching English in primary, you can view helpful resources here.


How will the course help you?

By the end of Teaching English in primary, you’ll be able to:

  • identify how primary learners learn, and apply this to classroom practice
  • support primary learners in developing cognitively and deeper processing
  • develop assessment for learning (AfL) strategies for your primary learners.

What resources can you access any time?

  • A free workbook with extra learning content and resources connected to the course contents
  • A dedicated Facebook community of course participants with up-to-date insight, resources and innovative teaching ideas for you to try out (Facebook account required)
  • Learning content related to our courses on Facebook and YouTube
  • Live events and recordings with course tutors and language teaching experts on Facebook and YouTube
  • Sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date on when our courses open.

What are the self-study modules?

Module 1 – Understanding how primary children learn

The aim of this module is to explore theories of learning and relate them to the characteristics of children and the stages of their development. You will describe how children learn, discuss the characteristics of children and the implications for primary classroom practice as well as describe strategies to keep your primary classes learner-centred. 

Module 2 – Understanding thinking skills for primary 

The aim of this module is to help you support learners in developing cognitively and learning effectively. You will explain the meanings of 'concept’ and 'cognitive development’, select questions that promote deeper thinking skills as well as describe how to extend and scaffold classroom tasks that develop thinking skills.

Module 3 – Understanding assessment for learning for primary

The aim of this module is to explore what’s meant by assessment for learning. You will distinguish between different types of assessment, explain the benefits of informal assessment as well as relate knowledge of informal assessment to your teaching context.


Course reviews

What have other teachers said about how Teaching English in primary helped them?

"I’ve gained new insights into how the pupils in primary school learn, how the skills are being developed in different ages, new inspiring ideas for the activities, and valuable knowledge in assessment strategies."

Course participant, Bosnia and Herzegovina

"I got to learn many new assessment forms which I am very much excited to apply in my classes from now on. It has given me a great opportunity to assess my learners and their learning outcomes in every possible way. Plus I got find out that how fun learning and teaching can be!"

Course participant, Pakistan

"It helped me understand better that children learn by doing. And now I have many ideas on how to assess young learners."

Course participant, Sudan


Do you have more questions?

Please see our FAQs or access further support through our Help button.


Log in or register to post comments

Will this course be opened again in the future?

Hi!
The course will open again at some point, but I'm afraid that at the moment I don't have a date.
Please sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date with our latest courses, or you can take a look at our courses calendar.
https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/subscribe-our-newsletter
https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/2026-01/Trainin…
You can download the course workbook at any time https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/Teaching_Englis… - this includes resources, tips and useful information related to the course content.
I hope that helps :-)
Jo (TeachingEnglish team)

I've already enrolled, and a couple of units are left to finish. It shows an updated end date now. Will I be able to complete it by the updated end date?

Hi!
Our courses actually end two days after the official date - this is to allow for time zone differences. Please ensure you finish everything today as the course closes at 12pm UK time on 2 October.
Once the course has ended you won't be able to access the course content and your progress will not be saved. The free course workbook is always available for download.
I hope that helps,
Jo (TeachingEnglish team)

could you please enroll me for he course ?

Hi!
Unfortunately enrollment for this course has now closed. You can access the course workbook any time: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/Teaching_Englis…
However, we have lots of other great courses starting very soon. I hope you'll find one that's useful for you. You can find all the details here:
https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/2026-01/Trainin…
I hope that helps :-)
Jo (TeachingEnglish team)

Hello,
Could you please allow me to enrol today, although the deadline was yesterday? I beg you!!! Thanks a million!

Hi!
I'm sorry to say that it's not possible! The system won't allow us to do this.
But we have lots of other great courses starting soon. Hopefully one of the them will be useful for you. You can find them all here: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/professional-development-for-teacher…
And you can access the course workbook at any time: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/Teaching_Englis…
Jo (TeachingEnglish team)

Hi

I attempted to enroll into this course however it does not show up on my list of open courses to enroll into.

Thank you

Hi!
Unfortunately enrollment for this course has now closed (there are just a few days remaining for people who are already enrolled to complete it). You can access the course workbook any time: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/Teaching_Englis…
However, we have lots of other great courses starting very soon. I hope you'll find one that's useful for you. You can find all the details here:
https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/2026-01/Trainin…
I hope that helps :-)
Jo (TeachingEnglish team)

Hi,
I am unable to register in this course. It is giving an error.

Hi!
Unfortunately enrollment for this course has now closed (there are just a few days remaining for people who are already enrolled to complete it). You can access the course workbook any time: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/Teaching_Englis…
However, we have lots of other great courses starting very soon. I hope you'll find one that's useful for you. You can find all the details here:
https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/2026-01/Trainin…
I hope that helps :-)
Jo (TeachingEnglish team)

How can I access module 2 when am done with module 1

Hi!
Go to 'My courses' and click/tap on the course. You'll see a Menu along the top (just under the picture). It says 'Introduction; Module 1; Module 2; Module 3'.
Click/tap 'Module 2', then scroll down to Unit 1 and click/tap 'Details'.
Click/tap 'Continue' and your course content will appear.
I hope that helps :)
Jo (TeachingEnglish team)

What happens if I miss the course deadline and haven't finished yet?

Will it be possible to finish this course if I don't have a facebook account?

Hi!
You don't need a Facebook account to do the course.
However, please note that this course closes on 30 September. Courses usually take around 12 hours to complete, so be sure to start in plenty of time to be able to complete it!
I hope you enjoy it :-)
Jo (TeachingEnglish team)

Thank you. I did enjoy it, it was both interesting and useful.

Thank you

How I complete this course?

Hi!
If you'd like to join the courses, tap/click the button 'Enrol on this free course'.
You'll see a page with all the courses that are currently available or starting soon. Choose the course you want, and tap/click 'Enrol in activity'.
Then go to 'My courses' and 'Start course'.
Please note that this particular course ends on 30 September - it takes around 12 hours to complete, so be sure to enrol in time to complete it!
I hope that helps :-)
Best wishes,
Jo (TeachingEnglish team)

Thank you for useful ideas.

Thank you

Thank you

Thank You!

Help me

Hi,
Do you need help with the course? Please give us details of what you need help with and we'll try to assist you.
Best wishes,
Jo (TeachingEnglish team)

Tens thousands give thanks to British Council.

Thank a lot

Thank you so much

Thanks a milion

Its a very good initiative to guide the english teachers.

Registered, please give me an opoortunity

I am really loving and enjoying this course.so organised

Amazing

I'm registering myself to teaching English to primary school atudents. I have been in the teaching field for over 35 years but in all my career I have never experienced teaching primary school pupils. Upgrading my career is of paramount importance.

Why isn't my comment added here?

It helps me with teaching Young Learners and teens

Hello ,help to join this course

Hi @Fari Amin

To join this course, just click/tap the purple 'Enrol on this free course' button above. This will take you to our courses platform. Once you have enrolled, every time you log in to TeachingEnglish you can access the course by clicking on 'My Portfolio - my courses' or by going to your profile and clicking on 'My courses'.
If you have any problems, please let us know - enjoy the course :)
Cath – TeachingEnglish team

The system is static...I cannot complete..Mis/Mrs/?
I am used to Moodle platform
I prepared the 3 modules.I want to go ahead with Stephen but 0 portfolio..can you check your default?

Please help me, I can't enrol this course

Hi Loreta Lukluk
Thanks for your comment - yesterday we launched our new-look site so you might have had some issues - can you try to enrol again (clicking the button above). Please let us know if you are still having problems - thanks :)

Cath – TeachingEnglish team

Will this course be opened again in the future?

Hi klas

We are currently finalising our courses programme for next year (starting in March 26) - and that will be published on our training page. At the moment we don’t have a date for when this course will run again.

Upcoming courses until March can be found here: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/2025-08/2025-2026_TeachingEnglish_training_course_calendar_links.pdf

You can download the course workbook above, which has lots of useful resources and link for Teaching English in primary.

Thanks,

Cath

TeachingEnglish team

they open it now