Course summary

Unlock your potential and be part of a workforce which can truly shape the lives of young children and families. This dynamic and forward-thinking programme is your gateway to a rewarding career dedicated to the holistic development of children from birth to eight years. Key Course Features:

Join a Foundation Year focused on personal, study and career development.

Explore the link between study and practice and start to develop transferable skills key to gaining successful employment

Experience an inclusive and flexible learning environment, supported by a friendly and experienced staff team committed to your growth and success.

Following successful completion of your Foundation Year you will:

Explore a range of contemporary topics relevant to working with children from birth to eight years and key to gaining employment in the early years sector. Early -Childhood Studies draws on the domains of psychology, sociology, education and health and wellbeing.

Gain practical experience through diverse placements in schools, nurseries, local authorities, third sector organisations, and the private sector. Contextualise your learning and build valuable employment relationships.

Benefit from additional training and qualifications to enhance your CV such as Outdoor Learning, Makaton and Paediatric First Aid.

Modules

Foundation Year The Foundation Year is an integrated year where you will study core modules with a broad range of students from across the Faculty of Social and Life Sciences, giving you access to different perspectives and networking opportunities. The modules will equip you with key skills needed for Higher Education and beyond. They will give you the chance to explore your subject area and available careers, allowing you to adapt your reading and assessments to be relevant to your degree pathway. Alongside teaching from the broader faculty staff, you will be able to meet with staff and other students from your main degree pathway and get involved with events and opportunities that they are running. Study Skills for Success (core) Resilience in Higher Education and Beyond (Core) A Day in the Life (core) Life and Work in the Welsh Context (core) The suite of optional modules are designed to enhance your skills base in relation to your career development. Your personal tutor from your degree will meet with you to help you decide which one of the available optional modules would be most suitable for you. The optional modules are: Welsh for First Time Learners Professional Communication in the Workplace Maths and Experimental Design There are a variety of assessments across the foundation year – presentations, portfolios, electronic scrapbooking, and learning logs are just some. Year 1 (Level 4) Level 4 offers you the opportunity to build strong foundations in the field of education studies. You will learn how to be a degree level student and prepare for and undertake your first 6 week placement. MODULES Play and Outdoor Learning (Core) Contemporary Debates in Childhood and Education (Core) Psychology of Childhood (Core) Professional Practice for Childhood and Education (Core) Skills for Study and Employability (Core) Year 2 (Level 5) Level 5 builds on the skills and knowledge you developed at level 4 by further specialising in the field of education. At level 5 you are introduced to authentic work-based research and you will engage with your extended 8 week placement. MODULES Speech and Language Development in Early Childhood (Core) Social Action – Supporting Children and Families in Society (Core) Children’s Rights and the Law (Core) Practice Informed Research (Core) Year 3 (Level 6) At level 6 the aim is to successfully complete your degree and move into employment. You will explore the role of leadership in practice and plan for your own professional development whilst out on a three week placement. You will also further develop your independent study skills by completing your final year dissertation. MODULES Critical Perspectives of Health and Wellbeing (Core) Exploring Expressive Arts (Core) Leadership and Professional Development (Core) Dissertation (Core)

Assessment method

As a full-time student you will attend campus for up to 3 days per week which will include a mixture of classroom and online based learning. Classroom sessions provide you with an opportunity to learn alongside your fellow students and are based in activity and discussion. Online materials are used to prepare you for the classroom sessions and to provide follow-on work/research for you to complete in your own time. A range of assessment methods will be used throughout your Foundation Year to allow you to practice the academic skills required of a degree level student. On successfully completing your Foundation Year, placements will start in the first year (level 4) of your main degree programme. Placement in practice forms an important part of your degree studies. During your studies you will undertake 3 placements: Level 4 - Professional Practice for Childhood and Education (40 credits). You will attend placement for 2 days per week for 6 weeks (84 hrs). At level 4 the purpose of the placement is for you to explore and experience professional competencies in practice. Level 5 - Practice Informed Research (60 credits). You will attend placement 3 days a week for 8 weeks (168 hrs). At level 5 the purpose of the placement is for you to engage with authentic research ideas and to collect primary research data. Level 6 - Leadership and Professional Development (40 credits). You will attend placement 3 days a week for 3 weeks (63 hrs). At level 6 the purpose of the placement is for you to observe leadership skills and to consider your own professional development in relation to future employment. Our placements include (but are not limited to) schools; nursery settings; local authority settings, for example the Child Prevention and Support Service and Flying Start; third sector organisations, for example Home Start, Action for Children and Save the Family; and the private sector, for example Residential Homeless Support for Families and Residential Family Assessment Centres.

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:: FYEC

Institution code:: G53

Campus name:: Wrexham (Main Campus)

Campus code:: W

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - 48 - 72 points

Our general entry requirement for the foundation year is 48-72 UCAS tariff points but all applications are considered individually and we consider work experience, vocational training/qualifications as well as motivation and potential to succeed. The programme welcomes applications from anyone who can demonstrate a commitment to the subject and the potential to complete their chosen programme successfully. This can be established by showing appropriate academic achievements or by demonstrating that they possess the knowledge and ability equivalent to the academic qualifications.

A level - EEE - DDD

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - PPP - MPP

Access to HE Diploma

Scottish Higher

AS

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - MP - MM

Scottish Advanced Higher

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)

Extended Project

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

Leaving Certificate - Ordinary Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

Wrexham University takes into account a variety of qualifications and experience when considering applications to our programmes. If you are unsure if the qualifications you currently hold will be accepted for entry, or if you're not sure you'll achieve the required UCAS Tariff points, please contact us at [email protected] for further advice and guidance.

Student Outcomes

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England	£9250	Year 1
Northern Ireland	£9250	Year 1
Scotland	£9250	Year 1
Wales	£9250	Year 1
Channel Islands	£9250	Year 1
Republic of Ireland	£9250	Year 1

Additional fee information

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.

Degree level: Undergraduate

Awarded by: Wrexham University (Prifysgol Wrecsam)

Early Childhood Studies (with Foundation Year)

Course options

Open days