Early Childhood Education (Graduate Practitioner)

This programme is the natural progression for students who have completed Lincoln Bishop University’s Foundation Degree in Early Childhood Education (Graduate Practitioner). It is also open to applicants with other, similar qualifications from Lincoln Bishop University or other institutions. The BA (Hons) Early Childhood Education (Graduate Practitioner) degree offers a flexible route to gaining a bachelor's qualification while continuing to work or volunteer regularly in a setting that supports learning. It may appeal to those working not only in schools but also in wider community, support, or care roles where teaching and learning are a core focus.

The BA (Hons) degree is a blended, work-based programme that combines practical learning with live online teaching and occasional campus sessions. You will attend online classes twice a week in real time, along with five in-person teaching days across the academic year. This format is designed to make it possible to continue working or volunteering while you study.

Throughout this one-year programme, you will build on your prior study and professional experience to deepen your understanding of current issues, practice, and practitioner research in early childhood education. The BA (Hons) Early Childhood Education (Graduate Practitioner) is open to applicants from a wide range of learning contexts, including primary and secondary education, the lifelong learning sector, and other roles supporting learners of all ages. The programme also integrates the full and relevant criteria set by the Department for Education and meets the Graduate Practitioner Competency requirements of the Early Childhood Studies Degree Network (ECSDN). Upon successful completion, you will have the opportunity to gain sector-recognised Graduate Practitioner status.

The modules will encourage you to critically reflect on your own practice, analyse key systems and policies, and explore professional challenges through topics such as leadership, contemporary social and political issues, and critical approaches to pedagogy. You will have the opportunity to develop your understanding of the complex factors that contribute to children’s learning and development. Building on the knowledge and understanding gained from your foundation degree, this course aims to stretch and deepen your insight into how to support children by exploring alternative perspectives on child development.