Early Childhood Studies

Early Childhood Studies is an exciting multi-disciplinary programme designed for those who wish to pursue a career working with children and/or their families.

The degree takes a multi-disciplinary and holistic approach to childhood studies providing you with the opportunity to consider and evaluate education, health, welfare, psychology, sociology, legal, philosophical, political and economic issues from a range of different perspectives as they relate to children and childhood.

You will study child development theory, sociological aspects of childhood, children’s health and wellbeing, safeguarding, early years education, effective leadership in the early years, working with children and families, childhoods across the globe and the digital age amongst other subjects.

The work placement element of this programme will provide you with valuable opportunities to develop your own skills in early years practice and contextualise the theories that you are learning in class. Work experience increases your employability and helps you to make useful links within the early years sector.

The work placements run alongside practice-based modules, at Level 5 Early Years Practice and at Level 6, Working with Children and Families. Assessment for these modules' links to students’ placement experiences e.g., reflective diaries and final reflective accounts.

Placement requirement:

15 full working days at Level 5 (year 2)

15 full working days at Level 6 (year 3)

Students may also wish to undertake completion of the Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies. This certification is optional for students studying the BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies (ECS) degree. All ECS students will complete mandatory work placements at Levels 5 and 6. However, the Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies certification requires an additional work placement at Level 4 and a higher number of placement days at Levels 5 and 6.

Students who wish to be awarded the Graduate Practitioner Competencies are required to build a portfolio of practice over the three years of their degree that effectively evidences the competencies. There is also an end point assessment.

To complete the Graduate Practitioner Competencies ECS students must meet the following criteria:

Be completing a full time (3 year) work-based Early Childhood Studies degree

Must have achieved Level 2 English and math's qualifications at grade 4 or above or hold a formally recognised equivalent (this can be done alongside the degree/competencies).

Placement requirement for Graduate Practitioner Competencies (optional):

80 days of work-based assessed placements in a range of Early Childhood settings and/or schools, health, or social care settings, across the 0-8 age range:

Level 4 - 25 days (Students with a full and relevant Level 3 qualification in the Early Years can map it to 5 days of placement at Level 4)

Level 5 - 30 days

Level 6 - 25 days

Level 4:

Child Development
Children’s Health and Well-being
Sociological Aspects of Childhood
The Role of the Early Years Educator
Children and Families
Introduction to Study and Research

Level 5:
Safeguarding Children
The Role of Play in Childrens Development
Research Methods
Supporting Childrens Learning Outdoors
Early Years Practice (Placement Module)
Psychological Perspectives of Childhood

Level 6:
Effective Leadership in the Early Years
Working with Children and Families (Placement Module)
Childhood in the Digital Age
Childhoods Across the Globe
Dissertation

A range of assessment methodologies are utilised and designed to enable you to explore the discipline, your career aspirations and the development of professional networks.

Assessment methods include both formative and summative submissions.

The formative assessments focus on theoretical underpinnings, ethics and frameworks, practical application of theory to practice and development of practitioner resources applied to different settings. In the main, formative assessments provide opportunities for group work, peer to peer support and feedforward to support the completion of summative assessments.

A variety of summative assessment methods are used, including review papers, production of health promotion leaflets, essays, presentations, child observation and analysis, case study analysis, play activity planning and written reflective accounts.

Students completing the Graduate Practitioner Competencies (optional) will build an e-portfolio to evidence their progress of competency completion and professional development. They will also complete an end point assessment at Level 6.