Early Childhood Studies

This course combines work-based practice with academic study. You'll attend lectures and undertake a work placement in a suitable early years setting, leaving you well-placed to either embark on your career immediately or continue your studies on a related Honours Top-up degree.

You’ll gain a grounding in the key theories of child development and learning, alongside studies in regulations including the English Early Years Foundation Stage and Safeguarding. The programme’s distinctiveness also stems from its discussions on ethical, environment and holistic learning considerations in a childhood context.

Many students on this course aspire to further and postgraduate study and teaching roles, and you’ll also undertake a substantial individual project on a topic of interest to develop your higher academic research and writing skills.

Foundation degrees are Level 5 qualifications equivalent to the first two years of a full Honours degree.

Year one

• Curriculum and pedagogy: linking theory and practice
• Introduction to early child development
• Reflective practice in action
• Supporting young children’s holistic health and wellbeing

Year two

• Contesting childhood
• Research in early childhood
• Supporting children with additional needs
• The child, family and society

You'll be assessed via a combination of practical exams and coursework, with an assessment breakdown of 10% practical exams and 90% coursework. There are no written exams on this course.

You're also taught via a combination of lectures, seminars, workplace practice, presentations, case studies and group workshops. UCW’s Higher Education Library Plus (HE.LP) team also delivers a series of sessions on degree-level research and academic writing to all first-year students.

This course also has a work experience element totalling 250 hours.

You’ll be invited to attend optional day trips and longer residential visits at an additional expense. Students from this course recently visited The Gambia.

Work-based learning is central to studying at UCW, and this course features a compulsory work experience element totalling 250 hours.

You'll also benefit from the expertise of expert guest lecturers. Students from this course were also recently invited to attend an Early Years Research Conference at UCW.

Students who pass this course often choose to progress to the one-year BA (Hons) Top-up degree in Early Years Education at UCW.

Graduates of this course are also qualified to seek management positions in the early years sector and may also pursue related careers in areas including child protection, community projects, family liaison or play therapy.

This course is taught at UCW’s Knightstone Campus in the centre of Weston. Students on this course also have full access to the brand new learning facilities and extended opening hours on offer at the Winter Gardens on Weston seafront.