Program Overview

EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDIES

(GRADUATE PRACTITIONER)

BA (Hons)

Accredited by the University of Warwick

Overview

This course gives students an advantage as it includes Graduate Practitioner Competencies

100% of students said they were able to explore concepts in depth

*National Student Survey 2023

Early childhood is viewed as the most formative period of our lives, shaping the foundations for our whole future. If you are passionate about working with young children and their families, our Early Childhood Studies (Graduate Practitioner) degree will give you the knowledge and experience to become a highly qualified graduate practitioner and open the doors to a rewarding career helping to meet the needs of children.

Covering work with children aged 0-8 years, our course offers the special benefit of including Graduate Practitioner Competencies. Awarded in your final year, these demonstrate your holistic understanding of early childhood and your ability to critically apply knowledge to practice. By adding Graduate Practitioner Competencies to your final award, you’ll be at the forefront of graduate practice and have new opportunities to strengthen your employability, as well as for progression onto postgraduate academic programmes or professional training in everything from teaching to social work and play therapy.

Our course will teach you about key characteristics of childhood and how to meet the developmental needs of young children, including wider topics such as inclusion, health, safeguarding, and leadership. You will also gain extensive work experience across a variety of placements and go on visits to observe different childhood approaches first-hand, as well as having opportunities for additional qualifications and enrichment activities including Makaton training, Paediatric First Aid, introductory Lego therapy, and baby massage sessions.

Why choose this degree course?

• WORK PLACEMENTS – From day care and nurseries to primary school mentoring and special education, gain real-life experience on a variety of placements throughout your degree
• ENRICHMENT– Widen your skills with enrichment opportunities such as Lego therapy, Makaton training, baby massage, Paediatric First Aid, and food hygiene
• INDUSTRY APPROVED– Our course includes the Graduate Practitioner Competencies developed by the ECSDN (now included in the QAA Early Childhood Studies Subject Benchmark Statements with practice at Level 6 recognised by the DfE)
• NO EXAMS - If you are not keen on exams, this course is for you. Unlike many degrees in this field, you will have no written exams during or at the end of the course and will be assessed through coursework only
• AWARD-WINNING UNIVERSITY – We were regional winners for student support, international and postgraduate in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2024, as voted for by students

Our facilities

Our learning spaces ensure you have the right environments to build your knowledge, from lecture theatres to interactive group working spaces and extensive library resources.

• Located in our McIntyre House campus, ThinkSpace features glazed study pods to discuss group projects and glass wipe boards to mind-map your ideas
• Our £44 million Moss House campus includes an exhibition space to showcase your work to assessors and prospective employers.
• Our campus buildings feature lecture theatres equipped with the latest technology, as well as comfortable tutorial and seminar rooms and private meeting rooms

Course breakdown

Year 1

• Core Modules
  • Equality, Diversity and Inclusive Play
  • Growth, Learning and Development
  • Introduction to the Early Years Framework
  • Nurturing Children's Health and Well-being
  • Pioneers, Pedagogy and Philosophy
  • The Child in Society

Year 2

• Core Modules
  • Child Protection and Safety in Practice
  • Developing Research
  • Effective Leadership and Management Skills
  • SEND within the Early Years Sector
  • Theoretical Perspectives of Child Development
• Choose 1 optional module
  • Children of the Future
  • Creativity and Play in the Early Years

Year 3

• Core Modules
  • Dissertation (SEHC)
  • Enhancing Employability for Graduate Practice
  • Leading and Managing Systems
• Choose 1 optional module
  • Children's Voice
  • Socio-Historical Aspect of Childhood

Entry requirements

Early Childhood Studies BA (Hons) with Graduate Practitioner Competencies

• A-levels: An A-level grade profile of CCC.
• T-levels : A T-level gradedPass with a core component of gradeC.
• BTEC: A BTEC grade profile ofMMM. This can be achieved from either an Extended Diploma or a combination of smaller BTEC qualifications.
• Tariff: Other Level 3 qualifications are accepted for entry. A minimum of96 UCAS Tariff points will be required.
• Access to Higher Education Diploma: 96** UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 15 Level 3 credits at Distinction.
• GCSEs: GCSE/IGCSE English language and maths grades A*-C/9-4 or equivalent.

Early Childhood Studies BA (Hons) without Graduate Practitioner Competencies

• A-levels: An A-level grade profile of CCC.
• T-levels : A T-level gradedPass with a core component of gradeC.
• BTEC: A BTEC grade profile ofMMM. This can be achieved from either an Extended Diploma or a combination of smaller BTEC qualifications.
• Tariff: Other Level 3 qualifications are accepted for entry. A minimum of96 UCAS Tariff points will be required.
• Access to Higher Education Diploma: 96** UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 15 Level 3 credits at Distinction.
• GCSEs:
  • GCSE/IGCSE English language A*-C/9-4 or equivalent.
  • GCSE Maths is not required for this pathway.

Key information

Teaching and assessment

• Teaching
  • Example of a typical teaching week (up to 13 contact hours):
    • Large group teaching – 6 hours
    • Smaller group teaching – 4 hours
    • Tutorials – 3 hours
    • Field trips and visits
    • Assessment for nine distinct competencies
• Assessment
  • Estimated breakdown of assessment for this degree course:
    • Coursework – 100%

Additional qualifications and training

• A variety of other enrichment opportunities will also be offered to further widen your skills and knowledge base in support of your future career and study aspirations, with funding available via Kick-Start (see information below).
• Makaton training– a unique programme designed to support spoken language, helping children to communicate
• Baby massageplays an important role in understanding how a baby communicates in the first few years. You will have the chance to receive training in this area
• You will have the opportunity to learn Lego Therapy– an intervention designed to help children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with any social communication difficulties
• Paediatric First Aid and aFood and Hygiene certificate will be offered during the final year of study to support your employability. University College Birmingham will fund these requirements for all students.

Timetable

• Whilst your lessons will be timetabled into 2-3 days a week, it is worth noting that your course includes regular placements in addition to these hours.

Tuition fees for home students

• If you are a home student enrolling on a bachelor's or foundation degree course at University College Birmingham, the 2024/2025 academic year tuition fee for full-time study is£9,250. Forpart-time study , the fee is £4,625.
• In 2025/2026, the full-time fee will be£9,535 per year, while the part-time fee will be£4,767.50 per year.

Tuition fees for international students

• If you are an international student (or have been fee assessed as an international fee payer) and are enrolling on a full-time bachelor's degree course in 2024/2025 , the fee for the academic year will be£14,000. If you complete a placement year, there will be an administration fee of £500 for a full year or£250 for a half-year placement.
• In 2025/26 , the tuition fee for[Band 3] courses will be£19,750 per year.

Work placements

• Work placements are vital for gaining real-life experience and for building your confidence and skills before you finish your course – and they may even lead to a job when you graduate. Our HIRED team can help find the ideal placement for you.
• Our BA Early Childhood Studies course includes a mandatory requirement of 200 hours on placement each year. Year 1 and 2 placements will focus on early childhood (ages 0-8) while the Year 3 placement will be determined where possible by your eventual career choice.

Career opportunities

• Note : Some roles below may require further study/training. The roles and salaries below are intended as a guide only.
• Family support worker (graduate)
  • Average Salary: £35,000
• Mental health nurse
  • Average Salary: £33,951
• Social worker (NHS)
  • Average Salary: £31,071
• Learning mentor
  • Average Salary: £22,500
• Early years teacher/primary school teacher
  • £26,000/£29,364
• Special educational needs coordinator (SENCO)
  • Average Salary: £30,172

What our students on this course say...

• 100% of students on this course said they have had a chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth
• 100% of students on this course say it has the right balance of directed and independent study
• 100% of students said this course developed their knowledge and skills they think they will need for the future
• 100% of students on this course agreed that feedback helps them improve their work

Course statistics

• BA (Hons)
  • 76%say staff value students views and opinions about the course
  • 100%of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well.
  • 90%in work or doing further study 15 months after the course.

Meet your lecturers

• Rebecca Taylor
  • Head of Department
• Alison Williams
  • Lecturer
• Caroline A Prior
  • Senior Lecturer
• Dr Jane Bradford
  • Lecturer
• Emma Davis
  • Lecturer
• Gemma Kirby
  • Associate Lecturer
• Jayne Hackett
  • Lecturer in Education
• Laura Holloway
  • Lecturer
• Michelle Windridge
  • Lecturer