Course summary

What will I learn? Demand for high quality childcare and education services requires highly skilled, well-educated Early Years Practitioners. Our two-year FdA Early Years programme is designed to prepare you for a formal leadership role within an early years setting or a role that focuses on training, mentoring or supporting staff in the workplace. The course will offer you an opportunity to review the various disciplines that contribute to our understanding of early childhood and aims to support practitioners working in a variety of settings. You will be expected to recognise the role of play and its importance in the curriculum. You will carry out observations and, through the analysis of the observations, be in a position to contribute to curriculum and environment planning which reflects the age and stage of development of every child. With the need to complete independent research, career aspirations, and inspect services and mentor trainees, the role and demands of an Early Years practitioner are constantly increasing. That is why higher level study in this field is becoming more and more essential. During the course you will study modules that will relate directly to your workplace, and allow you to put your learning into practice. You will understand the process of learning for children and young people, study language and literacy development, and fully understand safeguarding, welfare, and wellbeing of young people. Once you have completed this course you will be a well-equipped practitioner to take on either a formal leadership role within the setting or a role which focuses on training, mentoring or supporting staff in the workplace. You may also choose to study further to top-up your degree to gain a BA (Hons) Professional Studies in Learning and Development.