BA (Hons) Early Years Childhood Studies
Aims of the Programme
The principal aims of the programme are to:
- Enable you to develop a strong academic and vocational background for employment in the Early Years sector
- Develop and extend appropriate skills to underpin work in the early years sector
- Enable you to develop as an informed and flexible practitioner able to work across professional boundaries
- Develop critical awareness of current issues within Early Childhood studies and practice
- Enable you to develop as a reflective practitioner and set this in a life-long learning context
Please note: This course is 'Subject to Validation' and has not yet completed the University’s validation process.
Induction: 18 September 2024
Course Start Date: 25 September 2024
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge & Understanding
On completion of the programme successful students will be able to demonstrate systematic knowledge and understanding of:
- Theories and research findings on child development that underpins early years practice.
- A range of pedagogical concepts consistent with professional practice.
- Social policy and legislation relevant to the safeguarding of children.
- Values and attitudes that underpin childcare practice.
- Contextual roles and structures in services for children.
- The design, implementation and evaluation of research.
- The application of numerical skills in the gathering, interpretation and representation of data
- Working with others to achieve collective goals and contribute to the process of allocating responsibility
Cognitive, Intellectual or Thinking Skills
On completion of the programme successful students will be able to demonstrate the ability to:
- Analyse and evaluate theoretical evidence which contributes to an understanding of early years
- Make links between research , theory and early years practice
- Recognise the importance of responsibilities and accountability structures in relation to practice
- Evaluate your skills using supporting evidence
- Generate and classify information in the formation of concepts and principles relating to services for children.
Practical, Professional or Subject-specific Skills
On completion of the programme successful students will be able to demonstrate the ability to:
- Contribute to the safeguarding of children and promote personal sense of care and safety in the child
- Assess and identify ways of providing an enabling environment for children
- Create an inclusive framework for learning
- Work independently and/or as part of a group or team
- Make informed decisions
- Promote effective relationships with parents and families
Transferable, Key or Personal Skills
On completion of the programme successful students will be able to demonstrate the ability to:
- Communicate effectively using appropriate verbal and non-verbal skills
- Communicate effectively in writing with regard to reports, essays and record keeping
- Make use of word-processing functions and use ICT to communicate effectively
- Select procedures to solve problems systematically from a range of possible solutions
- Critically reflect on self-development
- Clearly communicate complex ideas verbally and in writing, and to construct coherent arguments using language appropriate to their programme of study
Full-time
Attendance is required every Wednesday 10.00am – 2.30pm
Part-time
Attendance is required every Wednesday 5.30pm – 7.30pm
On successful completion, you will graduate with a BA (Hons) Early Years Childhood Studies.
- 96 UCAS points. We accept a full range of qualifications that carry UCAS points, including A-levels, BTECs and T levels.
- Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3. Subjects relevant to the study of early years and childhood studies are preferred.
- You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics.
- You'll be required to secure a work placement before the end of semester 1.
- We'll be happy to consider your application if you don't meet the standard entry requirements but have non-traditional qualifications and/or relevant experience demonstrating appropriate knowledge and skills at Level 3.
- This course involves working with children and you must gain an Enhanced Disclosure certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before starting your studies. Charges are payable to cover the cost of the DBS Enhanced Disclosure application and annual registration with the online Update Service.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
- Please note that this course is subject to the University of Bolton's Fitness to Practise procedure.
Our BA (Hons) Early Years and Childhood Studies graduates can enter a wide range of job sectors with an equally wide range of employers, including local authorities, local and national charities, state and independent schools, nurseries and health authorities. The degree is an excellent springboard to roles such as teacher and teaching assistant, nursery practitioner and manager, learning mentor, special educational needs teacher, out-of-school worker, family support worker, and social worker, bearing in mind that some of these roles require postgraduate study or relevant experience.
BA (Hons) Early Years and Childhood Studies graduates often progress to postgraduate study leading to professional statuses such as teaching and social work. The most popular options are the postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) and early years teacher (EYT), so many graduates go on to work as primary or secondary school, early years or special needs teachers.
As a graduate of this course, you'll be able to apply for postgraduate courses in teacher education and other related fields, as well as employment opportunities in the field of education, such as family support workers, teaching assistants and learning mentors. Whilst the course does not lead directly to Qualified Teacher Status, it does allow access to career pathways that require a full honours degree.
Previous graduates have taken up posts through Schools Direct and progressed onto postgraduate courses in teacher education and other related fields. Successfully completing this top-up course can support your career advancement in education and professional development or support your application to postgraduate study, including PGCE and other professional master's programmes.
Our strategy is student-centred, and we use a blended approach to teaching and learning. You'll have face-to-face sessions, sometimes one-to-one, and participate in online learning.
You can expect a mix of seminars, lectures and tutorials, practical demonstrations, critiques, self-directed study, IT and library sessions and guided study. Group-based activities, such as role-playing exercises, workshops, presentations and discussions of case studies and scenarios from practice, also make up some of the teaching time, and there will be practical skills sessions.
Guest lectures and presentations by various visiting speakers from relevant employment areas offer you the chance to develop your knowledge and understanding further.
The University of Bolton's e-learning portal Moodle supports your online learning. You can also use Moodle to communicate with fellow students studying the same modules.
Our assessment strategy helps to organise and develop your learning and evaluates your achievement of the learning outcomes. You can expect time-constrained exams and coursework, such as essays, reports, presentations, and portfolios.
