Early Years Education

BA (Hons) Early Years Education
Mode: full-time

Students explore ideas, theories, arguments and analysis using written, visual and oral media. Early Years Education embraces the whole range of academic thinking and research that leads to an understanding of the development and the construction of young children’s lives.

The course currently includes the following units of study.

Level 1

• The Young Child
• Social Constructions of Childhood
• Understanding Education and Schooling
• Child development

Level 2

• The Early Years Foundation Stage
• Every Child Matters: Inclusive Education
• Creativity and the curriculum
• Research and skills in education
• Living and learning in different communities

Level 3

• Supporting early learning
• Dissertation
• Early Years education in practice
• 21st Century childhoods
• Early years management

Why choose this course?

• Well-stocked library with up-to-date journals and other materials; resource centre with a range of materials for staff to use to enhance the study of this phase of care and education
• Provides students with opportunities to interact with staff who have specialist expertise in early years education
• Opportunities for students wishing to extend their development into employment
• The School of Education boasts, in many cases, a 100 per cent graduate employment rate
• The University moved up six places in the teacher training league tables to 30th in the UK

Career Opportunities

Graduates will have gained an initial qualification that equips them to work in areas such as community and social care settings with young children, educational welfare, nursery work and management, senior playworker/coordinator roles, playwork managers. Some careers may require a further post-graduate qualification.

The degree can also be used as a progression route into teaching via the Reception/Key Stage 1 or Primary PGCE courses (subject to interview and entry requirements). Fast track progression to Early Years professional Status (EYPS) may also be available.

Teaching/learning methods and strategies

Teaching is delivered through a variety of methods including lectures, seminars, workshops, group work, work placement, the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (BREO) and individual tutorials.

Assessment

Students will be expected to undertake a wide range of assessment strategies such as essays, case studies, group presentations, progress logs, seminar papers and exams.