EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDIES - BA (HONS)

Are you passionate about providing children with the very best start in life? Our Early Childhood Studies BA (Hons) course seamlessly combines theory with practical experience, so that you can achieve your career goals and make a positive impact on young children’s lives.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS COURSE?

The well-being of babies and young children is at the heart of this degree, which will prepare you to become a confident and competent advocate for children from birth to 5 years. Studying at our recently extended state-of-the-art £71 million City South Campus, you will have access to excellent facilities to enhance your understanding and knowledge.

You will gain a complete understanding of young children’s needs, how they learn, develop and grow and how their early experiences are so fundamentally important. You will also explore wider concepts to support your understanding such as social justice, social mobility and social responsibility.

As you progress through the course, you will develop your personal and professional skills so that after university you should be influential in developing practice, provision and policy, as well as resilient and self-assured as you progress in your career.  

This course should present many rewarding opportunities for you to explore once you have graduated in many different UK institutions, such as schools, nurseries and charities. Our staff are dedicated to preparing you for the world of work and will help you to decide which role you want to pursue after graduating.

There will be opportunities for you to work, and learn, alongside a variety of professionals delivering services that support the wellbeing, development and learning needs of babies and young children, with this in mind you will have placement opportunities throughout the programme.

Essential Requirements:

• 96 UCAS tariff points from A/AS Level

GCSE: 

• 4 GCSE's including English Language and Mathematics at grade C/4 or above
• Equivalent level 2 qualifications can be accepted
• Must have been achieved at the point of enrolment

IELTS:

• 6.0 overall with 5.5 minimum in all bands.

A BCU Graduate is expected to be professional, work-ready, creative problem solver, enterprising, and global-oriented. The BA Hons Working with Children, Young People and Families programme provides the necessary skills and knowledge to meet the needs of vulnerable children, young people, and their families. The programme emphasizes transferrable skills and the Gradate+ scheme, offering opportunities for credit for developing employability skills. The commitment to learning for life encourages students to develop research skills and pursue their learning journey by building on their first degree to Masters level and beyond.
Placement is an integral part of the programme, offering opportunities to explore and learn about various Early Childhood settings and shadow professionals working there. This helps develop professional skills and explore the wide range of professional careers within the field. In the first year, students will have a block period in an Early Childhood setting to develop observation skills and experience how an early years curriculum is planned, delivered, and assessed. Successful completion of the second year module 'Reflecting on Play, Learning and Pedagogy' will help students meet the criteria for Early Years Educator, a level 3 qualification that allows them to be employed in an Early Years Setting as a qualified member of staff.
In the third year, there is no scheduled placement, but students may conduct their enquiry in an early years setting depending on their chosen topic. The BA Hons Working with Children, Young People and Families programme is designed to equip graduates with the necessary skills and knowledge to meet the needs of vulnerable children, young people, and their families.