Young Children's Learning and Development

This course combines study and practical work experience to equip you with a combination of technical abilities, academic knowledge, and transferable skills that are highly desirable to employers. You’ll undertake a placement where you will be able to put your learning in the classroom into practice and boost your employability.

Many practitioners will already have a range of rich and varied experiences of working with children and families. This course will help you become more aware of developmental approaches to learning and to reflect on your own practice, which will extend your professional competence and effectiveness in supporting the well-being of children.

This course is seen by the Government as making a significant contribution to the ladder of lifelong learning, providing opportunities for students to progress to further professional qualifications such as our BA (Hons) Early Childhood Education and Care (Top-Up) course.

Sessions involve a range of learning opportunities including: group work, formal lectures, workshops, case studies, and practical activities. Along with the structured sessions, you will engage in directed and self-directed study. As such, a high level of personal commitment is expected.

Full-Time hours:
9 hours of delivered lessons per week, plus 18 hours of self-directed study per week. Students are also able to access 3 hours per week of tutorial support for study at Level 4 and 2 hours support for Level 5.

Part-Time hours:
6 hours of delivered lessons per week, plus 12 hours of self-directed study per week. Students are also able to access 3 hours per week of tutorial support for study at Level 4 and 2 hours support for Level 5.

Please note: the above hours are additional to the placement hours.

You will study a range of theoretical and work-related components which will enhance your understanding of working with children in early years and primary education. You will have the opportunity to choose a topic for a research project which will contribute to your knowledge of a specific area.

You will also have the opportunity to choose an optional module (subject to student numbers) based on your future career goals.

Level 4 modules:

Child development theory and practice
Safeguarding children
Employability
Study Skills
Understanding children’s behaviour
Holistic development in early childhood
Level 5 Modules:

Play-based learning
Children and society
Research Project in Young Children's Learning and Development
Health Issues in Childcare
Current Issues
Primary education policy and practice

Knowledge is assessed by means of assignments, reports, portfolios and assessed presentations.

You will also have the opportunity to demonstrate your competence in your workplace or placement and you will have the opportunity to choose a topic for a research project that will contribute to your knowledge of a specific topic.