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Early Years Leadership Foundation Degree (HTQ)

Course details
  • FD
  • 2 Years
  • Full-time
  • 09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Horsforth Campus

Course summary

Are you a practitioner, working with babies and young children from 0-8 years and their families? Do you want to develop your career in early education, aligning with the specific and specialised remit of early years sector qualifications?

This work-based learning foundation degree provides you with the opportunity to develop in-depth knowledge of early education, reflective leadership and therapeutic interventions, while applying these within your practice to shape the lives of children and families within your care.

The FdA Early Years Leadership will provide you with the knowledge, behaviours and skills required to work effectively within the early years sector and lead its ongoing professionalism.

You’ll investigate the role of early education and care in the creation of a fair and inclusive society, including how early years practices can impact the life chances of children and their families.

The modules you'll study cover themes and subjects that are at the forefront of research-informed early years practice, challenging the inequalities of childhood and developing sustainable outcomes that make positive change. Specific areas of interest are built throughout each year of the programme.

This is a DfE-recognised ‘full and relevant’ qualification, which means on completion of this Foundation Degree you are qualified to be included within staff:child ratios within early years settings.

This foundation degree will connect your work-based experiences with the skills, behaviours and knowledge needed to gain a full degree (after progression to a Level 6 ‘top-up’ Professional Practice programme), continuing your career progression.

This degree is studied alongside your existing work commitments. The course is full-time for two years, during which time you'll attend University for one afternoon/evening per week (Tuesdays 1:00- 6:00pm) in addition to a minimum of two days (12 hours) per week in work-based practice.

This qualification is an IfATE approved Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) aligned to the Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner standard.

Modules

The module details given below are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

Year 1: During your first year, you'll study four core modules.

Reflective Practitioner

Children's Health, Care and Relational Wellbeing

Supporting Children’s Learning and Development

Diverse Childhoods

Year 2
During your second year, you'll study four core modules.

Safeguarding and Child Protection

Sustainable Leadership

Equitable Inclusive Education

Reflective Research Informed Practice

Assessment method

A variety of assessment methods are used, matched to the learning outcomes for your programme, allowing you to apply and demonstrate the full range of knowledge and skills that you have developed.

This includes negotiated assessment topics between student and academic tutor as well as summative assessments methods such as presentations, live professional discussions, collaborative groupwork, formal essays, practical skills assessments and reflective e-portfolios.

For more details on specific assessment methods for this course contact hello@leedstrinity.ac.uk

How to apply

This course is not accepting applications at this time. Please contact the provider to find out more.

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:
L24
Campus name:
Horsforth Campus
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

This course is not available to students on a Student Route Visa.

Open days

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

For our foundation degree, you must have:

  • At least one year of relevant work experience or volunteering
  • A Level 3 qualification, such as BTEC, CACHE qualifications, A-Level, or if you do not hold one of these, you could be asked to complete a Level 3 entry essay if you have significant previous relevant work experience
  • GCSE English Language or English Literature at Grade C or 4 or above (or accepted equivalent such as level 2 Functional Skills in English)
  • Support from your workplace to join the programme and a written reference from your employer which will also confirm whether you already have a DBS check. The Employer Support Form should be completed and submitted at the same time as your online application form. The application link, Employer Support Form and further information can be found here: https://www.leedstrinity.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/early-years-leadership/

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Additional entry requirements

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
We require support from your workplace to join the programme and a written reference from your employer which will also confirm whether you already have a DBS check

English language requirements

GCSE English Language or English Literature at Grade C or 4 or above (or accepted equivalent such as level 2 Functional Skills in English)

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted 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

LocationFeeYear
England£5000Year 1
Northern Ireland£5000Year 1
Scotland£5000Year 1
Wales£5000Year 1
Channel Islands£5000Year 1
Republic of Ireland£5000Year 1

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

UK Home Students:
Tuition fees cost £5,000 a year for this course in 2025/26.
Depending on government policy, tuition fees may change in future years.
Leeds Trinity offers a range of bursaries and scholarships to help support you while you study.

Additional costs
We advise students that there may be additional course costs in addition to annual tuition fees. These include:

Books - Recommended and required reading lists will be provided at the start of your course. All the books and e-books are available from our Library to borrow but you may choose to purchase your own.
Print costs - The University provides students with a £6 printing credit each academic year which can be topped up either on campus or online.

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