Jane Medwell taught in primary schools in Cardiff and South Devon, before moving into teacher education. She has lectured at the Universities of Cardiff, Plymouth and the College of St Mark and St John, and is currently Director of Teacher Education and Associate Professor at the University of Warwick. Her research and writing has covered areas such as the teaching of writing and the use of electronic books to teach reading. More recently she has begun a major research programme exploring the teaching of handwriting, and has begun a unique programme of teacher education in primary Modern Foreign Languages. She is fluent in French and Russian, and is learning Chinese.
The majority of ITE students in Scotland are postgraduates with only one year to grasp the vast skills and knowledge required to become a primary teacher. Therefore, for many, school placement is a source of stress and worry. This book combines the information and support that students need to help them prepare for, enjoy and maximise the benefits of teaching placements for their professional development. It has been specifically written for the education system in Scotland, taking full account of the differences in practice and terminology that make English books of little use to trainees in Scotland.
