Early Childhood Development and Learning HNC/HND/BA (Hons) Degree

" Early Childhood Development and Learning HNC/HND/BA (Hons) Degree OVERVIEW

The Early Years sector is undergoing radical and rapid change. The 0-5 age range is an area in which a well qualified workforce has been identified as the key to raising the quality standards of early years’ provision and has been highlighted as a government priority. Reforms state everyone who works with children and young people must have common core skills and knowledge to help them work better together, communicate better and have a firm basis on which to build their career in children’s services. This recognition demands that the early years’ work force is fully equipped and trained to meet the holistic needs of young children. Therefore, this course is designed to prepare knowledgeable graduates with the ability to work towards the changing requirements for Early Years Practitioners in light of the developments within the Department for Education (DfE) (2013) More Great Childcare.

WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?

Childhood Development and Learning HNC

The HNC provides a child-centred approach, as well as a framework for academic and professional skills development, that meets the roles within the sector for those working with children and their families. The course develops your essential understanding of the key concepts and principles of the common core of skills and knowledge for the children and young people’s workforce specified with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). You will gain a depth of understanding about childhood and the holistic influences and factors that impact on development and learning from 0 – 7 years. It supports those looking to progress academically and those wishing to support or broaden their work based skills and learning.

Childhood Development and Learning HND

The HND provides a child-centred approach, as well as a framework for academic and professional skills development, that meets the roles within the sector for those working with children and their families. The course continues to develop an in depth understanding of the key concepts and principles of the common core of skills and knowledge for the children and young people’s workforce specified with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). You will critically examine the diversity of how childhood is perceived and the role of statutory guidance for early years practice and legislation and its ability to support children and their families. It supports those looking to progress academically and those wishing to support or broaden their work based skills and learning. The course is tailored to prepare you for the employment market by ensuring that foundations, for entering graduate professions in the early year’s field, are laid.

Childhood Development and Learning BA (Hons) Degree

The BA (Hons) provides a child-centred approach, as well as a framework for academic and professional skills development, that meets the roles within the sector for those working with children and their families. The government want more graduates to work in the early year’s sector so they can plan, organise and run a wide range of learning and play activities for young children in safe and supportive settings, leading best practice for their organisations.

The course supports you to develop acritical awareness of the key concepts and principles of the common core of skills and knowledge for the children and young people’s workforce specified with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

You will be able to take advantage of a range of opportunities to work with children, families and support agencies in early year’s settings. For some, this is an opportunity to progress into the teaching profession through graduate teacher training; whether into primary school teaching (primary PGCE); the new early year’s specialist teacher (ITT) or through graduate teacher training programme (GTTP).

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

Childhood Development and Learning HNC (year 1)

• Collaborative and supportive relationships in early years
• Promoting children’s health and wellbeing
• The child and the family
• Learning and developing through play

On successful completion of the programme you should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• The social context of the child – you will be introduced to the historical, social and cultural context of families, the construction of the modern family, and the impact of parenting styles and families on childhood development and learning;
• Working in early years settings – you will develop an understanding of the importance of play for children’s learning and implementing a range of effective physical and play activities safely with due regard to legislation, health and safety and safe guarding including organising the learning environment and the importance of observation;
• The importance of collaborative working and positive relationships working with children – you will develop an appreciation of the importance of the collaboration of agencies that work with children and establishing positive supportive relationships with children and safeguarding. You will develop team working skills and reflect on the positive nature of relationships in promoting effective practice;
• Theoretical and practical concepts relating to children’s learning and development – you will look at how the importance of play and activities to promote children’s learning and development from 0 – 7 years;
• Values and principles working with children and families – you will develop an appreciation of positive supportive relationships with children and families and the role of confidentiality, trust and safeguarding, reflecting on your own values and principles and their relationship with positive early years practice;
• Assessing and promoting children’s healthy development and learning –you will develop an understanding of the methods used for assessing and supporting teaching and learning and relevant theoretical explanations.

Childhood Development and Learning HND (year 2)

• Early years curriculum and practice
• Theoretical perspectives on child development
• The social context of childhood
• International perspectives of childhood

On successful completion of the programme you should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• The social context of the child – you will critically examine how childhood is constructed, including international aspects and diversity of how childhood is perceived and experienced historically and socially;
• Working in early years settings – you will learn about the principles of effective teaching of children up to 8 years in contemporary UK, to promote children’s learning and development;
• The importance of collaborative working and positive relationships working with children – you will develop an understanding of the social and international construct of childhood and how this impacts on educational polices and practice and relationships with children and families to promote children’s learning and development;
• Theoretical and practical concepts relating to children’s learning and development – you will examine children’s development from 0 – 8 years and analyse the major theoretical perspectives that explain and account development and learning;
• Values and principles working with children and families – you will develop a critical appreciation of a variety of principles and values nationally and internationally and important legislation to promote safe effective practice with children and families;
• Assessing and promoting children’s healthy development and learning –you will examine the holistic factors affecting children’s healthy learning and development and a range of theoretical perspectives on influences on child development.

Childhood Development and Learning BA (Hons) Degree (year 3)

• Collaborative and supportive relationships in early year’s
• Promoting children’s health and wellbeing
• The child and the family
• Learning and developing through play
• Early years curriculum and practice
• Theoretical perspectives on child development
• The social context of childhood
• International perspectives of childhood
• Researching and assessing children and families
• Leadership and management of an early year’s environment
• Special educational needs
• Research project

On successful completion of the programme you should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• The social context of the child – you will cover the historical, national and international context of childhood. You will also develop a critical appreciation of refection of societal influences on how childhood is constructed and analysis of how this impacts on healthy childhood development and well-being;
• Working in early years settings – you will examine the legislation, safeguarding, health and safety, team working and management involved in childhood development. You will also develop a understanding of managing and leading in an early years setting;
• The importance of collaborative working and positive relationships working with children – you will look at the role of multi-agency working and positive supportive relationships with children. You will also develop a critical appreciation of the range of education, health and welfare provision to promote children’s health and wellbeing and continue to develop their awareness of the role of team and partnership working;
• Theoretical and practical concepts relating to children’s learning and development – you will explore a range of theories and practical aspects relevant to children’s learning and development. You will also develop your awareness of children’s learning and healthy development with application to diverse children including those with special educational needs;
• Values and principles working with children and families – you will develop an understanding of the effective practice with children and families. You will also explore researching children and families and ethical considerations that must be included;
• Assessing and promoting children’s healthy development and learning– you will develop the skills to assess and promote healthy development and learning. You will also critically examine and reflection own potential contribution to promoting children’s healthy development and learning and analyse a range of factors that impact of health and wellbeing and assess how they can be addressed to diverse range of children.

HOW WILL THIS COURSE BE TAUGHT?

This course will be taught through a variety of methods – lectures, tutorials, self-directed learning, textbooks, module webs, scenario-based learning sets, professional libraries and resources, journals and case studies, seminars, discussion forums and peer-to-peer learning.

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?

Assessment will take the form of individual and group coursework, which is vocationally relevant. The wide range of assessment techniques used at Coventry University Scarborough Campus will ensure that you have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills and knowledge in full.

There are no traditional final examinations to worry about. Instead, we will assess your learning through course work and phase tests. Assessments take place during and at the end of each six-week block.

TEACHING CONTACT HOURS

As a full-time student a normal learning block will mean that you get 18 hours of teaching each week in groups of approximately 25-50 students. Depending on the course you have chosen, you will attend morning (9.00-13.00) or afternoon (14.00-18.00) sessions. You will also need to attend one two-hour tutorial each week.

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