Course summary

With a focus on understanding children and childhood, this course has a strong emphasis on research and employability. You will explore early childhood in a variety of contexts and prepare for a range of careers working with children from birth to five years old. Please note that there may be some changes to the modules on offer on this course for the 2024/25 academic year. Check bcu.ac.uk/courses for the latest information. You will experience the value of a work placement in helping you to practically apply what you learn to the development, learning and wellbeing of babies and young children. Successful completion of placement will also enable you to meet the criteria for Early Years Educator, the professional qualification that means you can work with babies and young children as a qualified member of staff. You will acquire a working knowledge of key documents, policies and procedures relevant to a broad range of professional settings working with babies and young children in Early Years. Study topics include children and childhood, child development, exploration and play, and working with families. This course considers inclusive practice, developing communication skills, and children and family social policy. If you have already completed FdA Early Childhood or Early Years, or equivalent, and want to top up to a full Honours degree, you could be offered entry to the course in Year 2 or Year 3, depending on the previous course studied and individual mark profile (for entry at Year 3, a 60% grade average is required at Level 5). Foundation Year The foundation year is designed to give you the opportunity to develop your academic and interpersonal skills while developing your subject knowledge further to support you to success on your academic path. By studying a foundation year, your first year will be spent learning a wide range of broad subject areas which then open up opportunities for you to specialise further in your next year – which would be the first year of a full degree programme. Upon completion of your Foundation Year, if your chosen course is regulated by a professional body such as the Department for Education, you will be required to successfully complete the University’s selection process for the specific programme which will include an interview in order to proceed onto year one of the full degree programme. Entry onto year one of the degree programme will also be subject to a satisfactory DBS and Occupational Health Assessment.