Early Years Sector-Endorsed

Two years full-time one designated day (or equivalent) each week starting in September.

The course provides a sound theoretical and practice related knowledge base for those working with young children from birth to five. To promote and enhance understanding of the importance of children's rights, their family and cultural context and the principles of inclusive practice. To develop students as reflective practitioners capable of analysing and evaluating early years provision and practice.

This Sector-Endorsed Foundation Degree is designed for experienced practitioners in the Early Years sector who wish to develop their knowledge and skills further and may be aspiring to achieve Early Years Professional Status. It is made up of both taught and work-based components through which students apply their developing theoretical and practice related knowledge base to real work contexts.

The course focuses primarily on working with children from birth to five years and their families in a wide variety of contexts, with sufficient understanding of reception and Key Stage 1 to aid transition planning. It takes a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency approach, and this is modelled in the composition of the staff team.

Students undertake a detailed appraisal of the Early Years Foundation Stage, extend their knowledge of underpinning theory and develop their skills of critical analysis and practice evaluation.

Stage one

Modules:

• Professional and Academic Development 1
• Understanding Children's Development
• Health and Community

In recognition of the fact that students are normally experienced practitioners returning to learning, a key focus of stage one is developing academic writing and study skills. These skills are embedded in the module on Professional and Academic Development and additional help is available through the Centre for Academic Practice if needed. This may include support for Maths up to GCSE equivalence standard.

Stage two

Modules:

• Professional and Academic Development 2
• Promoting Children's Learning and Development
• Children's Rights and Safeguarding
• Diversity, Disadvantage and Inclusion

These modules emphasise the collaborative aspects of early years practice with a particular focus on inter-agency co-operation. This includes assessing and recording children's development in an early years context, planning and managing sessions to meet individual and group needs, Individual Education Plans and the Common Assessment Framework.

• Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) sector-endorsed qualification for senior practitioners in Early Years
• Specialist focus on birth to five
• Day release allows you to work while you study
• Employment-based and relevant to your day-to-day work role
• Progression to Early Years Professional Status in just one extra year
• Further top-up possible to a full honours degree in Early Childhood Studies

• Professional and Academic Development 1
• Understanding Children's Development
• Health and Community
• Professional and Academic Development 2
• Promoting Children's Learning and Development
• Children's Rights and Safeguarding
• Diversity, Disadvantage and Inclusion

There is no examination - assessment is continuous. Assignments take many forms, including practical and audio-visual projects and individual and group presentations, as well as essay-style written assignments.

Students may progress to Early Years Professional Status and at the same time achieve an ordinary degree in one additional year. Foundation Degree graduates typically go on to become leaders or managers of nurseries. They may top-up with further study to achieve a BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies Degree. This meets the entry requirements for Teacher Training (Qualified Teacher Status) and for qualifying Social Work training.