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Early Years: 0-8 (Professional Practice) Pathway (FT)

  • FdA
  • 2 Years
  • Full-time
  • September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Worcester
More about Heart of Worcestershire College

Course options

2025-20262026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

Are you passionate about the quality of education and care children receive? Do you aspire to have a positive impact on the quality of provision?

The Foundation Degree in Early Years is a new course designed to allow you to work while studying. It enables you to develop your professional knowledge, skills and attributes to enhance your career options in the early years sector.

The Foundation Degree in Early Years Part-Time course has two pathway options:

FdA Early Years (0-8yrs) pathway option is for students joining who have already met the requirements for EYE (Level 3 full and relevant) and wish to extend their knowledge and professional practice.

FdA Early Years (0-8yrs) (Professional Practice) pathway option meets the requirements for Early Years Educator (EYE approved qualification) (including over 350 hours of practice in an Ofsted registered setting which can be paid employment). This enables students to meet the “full and relevant” approved qualification requirement for practice in an early years setting.

Modules

Students on the Full-time course will study the following Level 4 and Level 5 modules over two years:
Year 1:-
• The Developing Child
• Health and Well-Being
• Playful Pedagogy
• Theory for the Early Years Foundation Graduate
Year 2:-
• Childhood: a Global Perspective
• Policy into Practice
• Safeguarding Children’s Welfare in the Early Years & Integrating Our work with Other Agencies.
• Early Educator Small Scale Practice-Based Enquiry

Assessment method

Assessment is all course work based; there are no formal examinations. The assignments link theory directly to practice and aim to develop the student as a reflective practitioner and focus on enhancing the quality of provision for children and families in the early years. There will be an assessed observation of practice in your early years setting in both years of the course.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Worcester

Study options

  • FdA • Full-time • 2 Years

Start dates

  • September 2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
FDEY
Institution code:
H19
Campus name:
Worcester
Campus Code:
W
Points of Entry:
Year 1

Heart of Worcestershire College has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

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:
FDEY
Institution code:
H19
Campus name:
Worcester
Campus Code:
W

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

Heart of Worcestershire College is not a licensed student sponsor for UK student visa's. We are therefore unable to issue student visa's for study in the UK under the Tier 4 UK immigration points based system.

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff
32 points

32 UCAS points to include: a minimum of 1 A Level or Level 3 qualification; for example the CACHE Diploma or EdExcel BTEC National Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Development.

A level
D

Acceptable qualifications include a minimum of 1 A Level or an equivalent Level 3 qualification, for example the CACHE Diploma or EdExcel BTEC National Diploma in Children's Care, Learning and Development

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
PPP

Acceptable qualifications include a minimum of 1 A Level or an equivalent Level 3 qualification, for example the CACHE Diploma or EdExcel BTEC National Diploma in Children's Care, Learning and Development

GCSE/National 4/National 5

  • Minimum of four GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above
  • Evidence of Level 2 Literacy and Numeracy, for example Key Skills/Functional Skills at Level 2 or GCSE English Language and Maths at Grade C/4 or above on entry to the programme is desirable. Where a student does not already hold a level 2 in English and/or Maths qualification, they must present evidence of this before the end of Level 4 to remain on a FdA EY (0-8) (Professional Practice) pathway to achieve the ‘full and relevant’ status.

• Mature applicants are welcome to apply for non-standard entry.
• Minimum of four GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above or alternative qualifications.
• Evidence of Level 2 Literacy, for example key skills / Functional Skills at Level 2 or GCSE English Language at Grade C/4 or above.

All applicants are required to complete an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check. A reference that supports the student’s commitment and suitability for the course is also required
NB : For those taking FdA Early Years (0-8yrs) (Professional Practice) (UCAS Code: FDEY) if you do not have evidence of L2 numeracy or GCSE Maths at C/4, you will be advised about strategies to gain the qualification before the end of the FD in Early Years course as it is a requirement of the ‘full and relevant’/approved qualifications for early years. If a student does not achieve L2 Numeracy or Maths by the end of the FD in Early Years(Professional Practice); they will be transferred to the parallel course FD Degree in Early Years (0 -8) (UCAS Code FEYP) to enable graduation with the Foundation Degree in Early Years Level 5 qualification.
The College has a commitment to widening participation in Higher Education and will, therefore, give careful consideration to prior experiential learning, non-traditional qualifications and qualifications obtained outside of the United Kingdom. We welcome applications from experienced and mature practitioners who do not have the standard qualifications. On the application form, please state “non-standard entry route”.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Additional entry requirements

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)

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

Students are required to pay for DBS checks during the course of the programme.

More information can be found at www. gov.uk/government/ organisations/disclosureand- barringservice

Sponsorship information

Heart of Worcestershire College is offering HE Boost awards of up to £1500 each to all first year full time HE students. The funding will paid in 3 instalments in November, January and May. If you are applying for your first year of your first Higher Education course and have “Firmly” accepted an offer of a place on a HE programme at Heart of Worcestershire College as your first choice (not insurance) you may be eligible. To be eligible you must meet the national criteria: • Normally resident in England • Have a household income of less than £25,000 (as assessed through Student Finance England) • Self funding, not sponsored by an employer, the NHS nor the Training and Development Agency for Schools. Please note that due to the limited nature of these funds meeting the criteria does not equate to an entitlement to the Boost award. Each application will be considered by the panel of senior staff based on the information provided.

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