Top Up - Early Childhood Development and Learning BA (Hons) Degree

" Top Up - Early Childhood Development and Learning 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 year’s 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 year’s 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?

This 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 high 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). It 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.

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?

• 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 todemonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• 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 andfamilies. 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 reflecton 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 casestudies, seminars, discussion forums and peer-to-peer learning.

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?

Assessments will take the form of individual and group coursework, whichis 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.

"