Early Childhood Studies (with Foundation Year)

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
Explore a range of contemporary topics relevant to working with children from birth to eight years. Drawing on the domains of psychology, sociology, human rights, education, and health and well-being, acquire skills to help you gain employment in the early years sector
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 such as Outdoor Learning, Makaton and Paediatric First Aid to enhance your employment potential
Make a unique contribution to the field of early years sector through authentic work-based research on a topic of your choice
Experience an inclusive and flexible learning environment, supported by a friendly and experienced staff team committed to your growth and success

YEAR 1 (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)
• Welsh for First Time Learners (Optional): This module provides an introduction to the Welsh language for those taking their first steps.
• Numeracy (option)
• Professional Communication in the Workplace (Optional)
• Maths and Experimental Design (Optional)

YEAR 2 (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
• Contemporary Debates in Childhood and Education
• Psychology of Childhood
• Professional Practice for Childhood and Education
• Skills for Study and Employability

YEAR 3 (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
• Social Action – Supporting Children and Families in Society
• Children’s Rights and the Law
• Practice Informed Research

YEAR 4 (LEVEL 6)
At level 6, the aim is to successfully complete your degree and apply your knowledge to practice. You will explore the role of leadership in practice and plan 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
• Exploring Expressive Arts
• Leadership and Professional Development
• Dissertation

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

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.