Education & Care Foundation

Education & Care Foundation Degree

This Degree has been developed for Early Years Workers and Teaching Assistants who would like to move into Higher Education but cannot afford to give up paid employment. This course will improve practice and professional development. The programme explores subject knowledge, develops skills of reflection and evaluation and addresses professional accountability and understanding of professional practice.

This course focuses on the relationship between theoretical understanding and practical knowledge to strengthen subject skill and gain a wider perspective on the development of learning, building on existing understanding and knowledge.

Two routes are currently available:

ROUTE 1 - Early Years Practitioners
ROUTE 2 - Teaching Assistants

With both core and optional modules, the course can be made relevant to students in their particular work areas allowing them to pursue their specialist areas of study.

How will I be taught?
A combination of lectures, seminars, group work, case studies, presentations and directed independent study.

When will I attend?
2 evenings per week 6:00pm - 9:00pm or
1 day per week 9.30am - 4.30pm

How will I be assessed?
Formal written tasks, group presentations, independent learning, poster presentation, portfolio building, reflective diary and debates.

What do I need?

• CACHE CTA Level 3 or
• Childcare & Education CACHE Diploma or
• Early Years BTEC National Diploma or
• Relevant NVQ Level 3 or
• Access to HE Diploma
• 4 GCSEs Grade A*- C (including English & Maths) or equivalent by the time your studies are completed

Students must be employed or engaged in activities relevant in the sector and have a senior qualified member of staff to act as a workplace mentor.

What can I do with this?

Route 1 - Final stage of a BA (Hons) Early Childhood at the University of Sunderland

Route 2 - Final stage of a BA (Hons) Education and Curriculum Studies at the University of Sunderland