Early Childhood Studies

This rich, academic course is grounded in practice and reflection. You’ll develop your understanding of how children learn, and enhance your interactions with them. This is a child-focused top-up degree, designed by Bath Spa University to enable you to continually develop your professional practice.

You’ll learn about:

• Social, cultural, historical, political and economic contexts of early childhood
• Approaches to working with babies, young children, families and communities
• Global issues and debates, such as young children as active participants in the lives and practices of families, societies and cultures
• The processes that shape early childhood and young children's lives, including ethical principles and children's rights
• Educational research and enquiry methods
• Skills that support participation, critical engagement, and intellectual independence.

In addition, you’ll learn to present your ideas confidently in a variety of forms, use ICT for various professional purposes, and work collaboratively.

Assessment is based entirely on coursework. This could take the form of essays, presentations, reflective portfolios and independent research. There are no unseen exams on this course.

You'll be taught via a combination of lectures, seminars, skills practice, presentations, case studies and group workshops.

All of your taught sessions will be condensed into one day, to enable you to work around your studies.

You’ll benefit from the expertise of incoming guest lecturers from Bath Spa University, who visit once or twice a year to present on their current research in early childhood education and care.

You’ll already be working in an early years setting, and you’ll have the opportunity to apply the theories explored on the course in your professional practice. This is particularly true of your dissertation, which is an independent project that you'll undertake with our guidance and support. You’ll choose a dissertation topic that interests you and feeds into your aspirations.

Students who pass this course are eligible to apply for postgraduate study, such as MA Education (Early Childhood Studies) at Bath Spa.

Graduates can also take other paths into education, such as initial teacher training with a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

As a graduate, you'll also be qualified to progress to managerial roles in settings such as nurseries, childrens' centres, and community and family projects.

This course is taught at New College Swindon's recently updated Student Education Centre, which offers contemporary learning facilities and IT resources. You'll also have access to Bath Spa's Library Services, including our digital resources and dedicated Library staff.