Program Overview

Early Years Sector Endorsed FdA

Overview

This part-time programme is a foundation degree for early years' practitioners. You will be at least 18 and have experience of working with children in a variety of contexts. It comprises two years of part-time study at one of the University’s partner colleges. This enables you to progress on to the final year of the BA (Hons) Young Children and Early Childhood (Top-up).

Course Details

Course Structure

Year 1 Core Modules

• Early Years Policy and Practice
  • This module investigates social policy and its links to early years practice. The module explores how policies about professional practice enable us to work effectively with children and families. Social policies about early years are considered within the module. You are encouraged to reflect on and critique the processes that make policies about early years. The content examines the impact that policies have on professional practice. The module considers how policies influence children through the ages of 0-3, 3-5 and 5-8.
• Professional Development Portfolio
  • You explore the relationship between professional development and academic reflection in early years. You reflect on your professional practice to identify future skills development.
• Protecting Children in the Early Years
• Understanding Children’s Development

Year 2 Core Modules

• Approaches to Pedagogy
  • This module explores pedagogy within early years and looks at how children learn and how they can be taught to learn. Learning and teaching are central themes of the module, which explores how children are educated. Educational strategies employed within early years including play are considered and discussed and you consider how pedagogy influences children through the ages of 0-3, 3-5 and 5-8.
• Learning and Best practice in Early Years
  • This module explores how learning can be enhanced within early years. The content analyses ways of maximising children's learning. Good practice within learning and teaching are central themes of the module. The content investigates learning strategies within early years by considering how children learn from the ages of 0-3, 3-5 and 5-8 years.
• Professional Development Portfolio
  • You explore the relationship between professional development and academic reflection in early years. You reflect on your professional practice to identify future skills development.
• Research for Early Years
  • This module applies the research process to early years and looks at understandings of professional practice in early years via research findings. Models of research that can be applied to the early years context are considered and explored.

How You Learn

You will be taught through seminars, lectures, interactive workshop sessions and our virtual learning environment with allocated tutorial support which focuses on study skills. Research-based findings on study skills will be used within the learning strategy. You will access self-study resource materials - media and internet. You will receive written and oral feedback to help you improve your future work.

How You Are Assessed

The programme is assessed through coursework which includes essays, reports, case studies, research reports and portfolio work.

Entry Requirements

• In order to access the programme individuals must be working (paid or unpaid) in an appropriate early years setting (for example a school, nursery, children’s centre, Sure Start setting, childminding setting) and have professional access to children between the ages of birth to eight years for the duration of their studies.
• Be 18 years or over by 31 December in their first year of study
• Have a Level 3 childcare qualification or equivalent
• Have experience working in the early years sector
• Have a commitment to continuing professional development in the early years sector
• Attend an interview prior to joining the programme
• Have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (formerly an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check)

For entry to level 5/year two, applicants must:

• Have 120 credits at level 4 in a Child Care FD or equivalent
• Have experience working in the early years sector
• Have a commitment to continuing professional development in the early years sector
• Have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (formerly an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check)

Employability

Gaining a degree in childhood studies enables career progression within all aspects of professional childcare.

Fees

• £4,020 (120 credits)

Duration

• 2 years

Attendance

• College dependent

Start Date

• September

Semester Dates

• Available upon request

Choose Teesside

• Study at the top North East uni for student experience (Teaching Excellence Framework 2023)
• Are you eligible for an iPad, keyboard and up to £300 credit for learning resources?
• Live in affordable accommodation right on-campus - from only £100 a week
• Study in our town-centre campus with £280m of recent investment
• Study at Europe's first Adobe Creative Campus and develop your creative and digital skills.