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Early Years Development and Education with Integrated Foundation Year

Course details
  • BA (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time including foundation year
  • 14 September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Royal Leamington Spa College

Course summary

This course provides a broad foundation of knowledge and skills required to work with young children. It is designed to provide students with a 'licence to practice' in an early years setting.

This course is written to support the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework from birth to reception class. Knowledge and skills will also cover up to 7 years 11 months (Key Stage 1). The course relies heavily on work-based learning and therefore students complete work placements where they will apply and practise theory and use their workplace experience in a range of assessment tasks.

On successful completion of the BA (Hons) Early Years Development and Education course, you will be able to practice at the DfE approved Level 3 ratios in an Early Years setting.

All BA (Hons) Early Years Development and Education students must undertake 600 hours of work based placement learning. Students will normally undertake 200 hours per year and are required to complete a minimum of 150 hours (minimum) at Level 4 in order to progress to Level 5.

In order to complete the placement, students will be required to obtain a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which will be paid for by the placement provider.

Students can normally expect to undertake a study pattern of 2 days in work placement, 2 days in college and one day focused on independent study. The college supports flexible approaches to completing these hours including during evenings, weekends and holidays.

The course is designed for full-time students and as such, there is a great deal of support for students who are new to study at this level.

Depending on applicant numbers for Rugby College, it may be necessary to consolidate the course for delivery at our Royal Leamington Spa College.

This course is delivered and awarded by Warwickshire College and is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS).

For our Higher Education Terms and Conditions please visit https://wcg.ac.uk/page/701/terms-and-conditions

Modules

Modules may include:

Years 1 & 2 - Level 4

Academic Study Skills, Employability and T-Shaped
Communication, Language and Literacy
Understanding the World
Physical Development Expressive Arts and Design
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Effective Early Years Practitioner 1

Year 3 - Level 5

Diverse Childhoods
Children's Health and Well-being
Supporting Children's Mathematical Understanding
Safeguarding Children
Effective Early Years Practitioner 2
Effective Leadership and Management in the Early Years

Year 4 - Level 6

Research Theory and Design
Social Policy and Childhood
Global Childhood
Informed Educational Practice
Capstone Project/Dissertation

All students must complete 600 hours of WBPL across the duration of the course.

Students will normally undertake 200 hours per year and are required to complete 150 hours (minimum) at level four in order to progress to level five.

For further details about this course, please refer to the programme specification here: https://blob.wcg.ac.uk/pdf/definitive-programme-specification-ba-hons-early-years-development-and-education-v2-acc-580fc9f0e5d396ac7908bbc465c85243.pdf

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated, please contact us for the latest information.

Assessment method

All units are assessed by coursework and students will need to complete a range of assignments based on theory and professional and reflective practice. Some assignments will be completed within the workplace during work placement.
There are no exams associated with this course.

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
X400
Institution code:
W25
Campus name:
Royal Leamington Spa College
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff
32 points

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Applicants would normally have four GCSEs including English Language and Mathematics at grade 4/C or above.

Progression for a L3 Early Years Educator or CPLD qualification will be considered.

Qualified Teaching Assistants or Early Years practitioners who have experience of working with children aged 0-5 years and up to 7 years 11 months - those working in schools and can afford time in the Early Years sector who meet the requirements for assessments, are welcome to apply.

Additional entry requirements

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
In order to complete the placement, students will be required to obtain a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which will be paid for by the placement provider.
Interview
All applicants will be asked to provide a personal statement and a supportive reference from their current or recent tutor, or employer indicating readiness to study a degree in Early Years. Successful applicants will then be invited to attend an application meeting.

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Years 1 and 2 £5,760 per year (United Kingdom)
Years 3 and 4 £9,790 per year (United Kingdom)

Years 1 and 2 £11,950 per year (International including EU)
Years 3 and 4 £11,950 per year (International including EU)

The following course-related costs are not included in the tuition fees:
Printing
Cost of books that you might wish to purchase
Cost of electrical equipment such as laptops, notebooks and stationery for your personal use

Accommodation and living costs not included in the fees:
This information can be obtained from our Accommodation webpage (https://wcg.ac.uk/accommodation).

Sources of financial support
If you receive funding from Student Finance you may be eligible to apply for additional benefits. Details can be obtained from our HE fees and financial support webpage (https://wcg.ac.uk/page/2428/he-fees-and-financial-support).

Bursaries
WCG also provides bursaries for undergraduate students, for which you may be eligible to apply. You can check your eligibility for these types of financial support, along with their value and application deadlines, at our HE fees and financial support webpage (https://wcg.ac.uk/page/2428/he-fees-and-financial-support).

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