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