Education, Early Childhood & Youth

Successive governments have shown a commitment to developing the early childhood care and education workforce into a graduate profession and first-class professional body, equipping those at the frontline to support and enhance children’s development and learning.

You develop relevant and specialist knowledge within sociology, psychology, education, health, legislation and policy. And you develop theoretical and practical skills that can be applied to leading early years practice, supporting learning and further training in various disciplines including social work, nursing and teaching.

Your studies include child development, understanding how practitioners support children's learning and language development, and developing transferable professional skills. This programme introduces you to ideas about teaching and develops emerging skills as a critical and reflective practitioner.

How you learn

We provide you with a range of opportunities to develop the skills and understanding you need for working in early years settings. You study relevant, contemporary material, applying theory to practice.

How you are assessed

You demonstrate achievement through a combination of written and oral assignments, seminar and poster presentations, and case studies which show your development of professional skills and reflective practice.

Professional experience

We encourage you to take every opportunity to gain practical experience through either voluntary or paid employment in the sector. This enables you to understand the range of working roles and the contribution graduates can make to the workforce. In addition you will have the opportunity for direct experience of working with children and families, particularly in Year 2. This work allows you to develop an understanding of the theoretical learning and apply it in practice. Prospective employers are impressed by graduates who have relevant and recent experience of life in the workplace as you leave the University.

Career opportunities

Graduates are likely to enter careers with families and young children in a range of different roles. For example as support workers and assistants in education and care settings; working in school nurseries, daycare centres and children's centres; supporting families through parenting classes; health and well-being sessions and developing the skills of parents to support their own children; roles in registration and inspection, and multi-agency work which assists social work and community care.

With a good honours degree, some students may continue in higher education to gain further postgraduate qualifications such as a PGCE for Primary or Early Years, qualifying as a teacher. With sufficient early years experience, graduates can gain the Early Years Professional Status (EYPS), a postgraduate certificate which demonstrates professional ability to lead practice, train others and provide first-class environments for children. Some recent graduates have progressed into the fast track MSc Social Work to develop their careers.

Entry requirements

A typical offer is 220 tariff points from at least two A levels (or equivalent). You must have five GCSEs including English at grade C (or equivalent). And, if you intend to progress into teaching, you must have a grade C in science and maths. We recommend an Access course if you're a mature student.

You also need an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau disclosure.

ENTRY TO YEAR ONE
STANDARD APPLICATIONS
For entry to year one applicants must have:
• 220 points to include a minimum of 2 A’levels
• English at GCSE grade C or above (or equivalent)
AS levels are accepted as part of the points offer. AS qualifications accepted within the offer must be in a different subject to the A’levels included in the application.
Or
• Equivalent qualifications detailed in UCAS documentation (including access courses)

NON STANDARD APPLICATIONS
For entry to year one applicants must:
• Be over 21;
• Have some academic qualifications (these don’t necessarily have to meet the standard entry requirements);
• Provide evidence of experience of working with children aged 0-8 and/or knowledge and understanding of early childhood.
All non-standard applications will be referred to the admissions tutor. The admissions tutor may decide to interview you depending on your application profile.

OTHER APPLICANTS
The university is keen to encourage students into higher education. If you do not fit the above profiles but are keen to make an application please contact the admissions team at the university.

WHEN AN APPLICANT HAS PRIOR H.E. CREDITS FROM A NON-UK INSTITUTION
Here, the qualifications will be referred to the university’s international office, which will be able to provide a decision as to their transferability. The admissions tutor will make a decision based on advice from the international office alongside agreed admissions criteria for the point of entry.

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