Program Overview

BA (Hons) Working with Children, Young People and Families with a Foundation Year

Overview

Our BA (Hons) Working with Children, Young People and Families course has at its heart a strong commitment to social justice and equalities. We will provide you with a range of teaching and learning experiences to build on your existing skills and motivation so that you can contribute to a changing society, particularly with services who work with, or for, vulnerable children, young people and their families.

Foundation Year

The BA (Hons) Working with Children, Young People and Families with a Foundation Year course has been specifically designed to support your transition to degree-level study in Education. As a student, you will undertake a foundation year situated at level 3 study, which has been designed as a prelude to your chosen degree course, providing opportunities for you to develop your knowledge, skills and understanding. Your learning journey through your foundation year will provide a secure platform on which you can build throughout your academic career in higher education.

What's Covered in This Course?

With a focus on personal and professional development, our course will support you to understand the complexities of working with children, young people, and their families, in theory and in practice. We want to support you so that you can develop into an effective agent of change, making a difference to vulnerable children and young people, and providing family support.

Why Choose Us?

• Strong commitment to social justice and children’s rights
• Opens doors to a range of careers linked to vulnerable children and young people
• Opportunities for placement, locally and internationally
• Practice led by research active tutors from a range of professional backgrounds
• Range of opportunities to develop professional as well as academic skills to be work ready

Entry Requirements

Essential Requirements

• 80 UCAS Tariff points
• GCSE and other level 2 requirements: This course does not require evidence of GCSE qualifications
• A Level, BTEC and other level 3 requirements:
  • A Level: 80 UCAS Tariff points from three A Levels, Grades CDD (or equivalent)
  • Pearson BTEC (Diploma / Extended Diploma/ Extended Certificate): 80 UCAS Tariff points, Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications, Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications
  • T Level: Pass overall (C or above on the core), Accepted subjects: Education
  • Access to HE Diploma: Pass with 60 credits, 45 credits at level 3, Accepted subjects: Education subjects preferred but other subjects also considered
  • OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications: 80 UCAS Tariff points
  • NCFE CACHE Level 3 qualifications: 80 UCAS Tariff points, Accepted subjects: Childcare and Education; Children's Care, Learning and Development; Children and Young People's Workforce; Health and Social Care; Early Years Education and Care
  • WJEC Level 3 qualifications: 80 UCAS Tariff points, Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualification(s)
  • Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers): Minimum of 80 UCAS Tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects
  • Scottish Higher / Advanced Higher: 80 UCAS Tariff points from three Advanced Highers (DDD) or two Advanced Highers (DD) plus two Highers (DD)
  • Welsh Baccalaureate: 80 UCAS Tariff points, Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications

International Qualifications

• International Baccalaureate Diploma: Obtain a minimum of 24 points overall
• EU / International students: Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept. In addition to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require IELTS 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in each band

Fees & How to Apply

UK Students

• Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study, which is a foundation year. If you progress to the degree upon completion of your foundation year, the standard undergraduate tuition fee for 2026/27 will apply
• Award: BA (Hons)
• Starting: Sep 2025
• Mode: Full Time
• Duration: 1 year foundation followed by 3 year degree
• Fees: £5,760 in 2025/26
• Apply via UCAS

International Students

• Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study, which is a foundation year. If you progress to the degree upon completion of your foundation year, the standard undergraduate tuition fee for 2026/27 will apply
• Award: BA (Hons)
• Starting: Sep 2025
• Mode: Full Time
• Duration: 1 year foundation followed by 3 year degree
• Fees: £17,690 in 2025/26
• Apply Online

Course in Depth

Foundation Year

• Academic Skills for Success (20 credits)
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills (20 credits)
• Negotiated Studies (20 credits)
• Equality and the Child (20 credits)
• Policy and Politics (20 credits)
• Foundations of Child Development (20 credits)

Year One

• Self-Awareness for Personal and Professional Growth (20 credits)
• Preparing to Study in Higher Education (20 credits)
• Social Justice: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (20 credits)
• Effective Early Intervention (20 credits)
• Preparing for Placement (20 credits)
• Professional Placement (20 credits)

Year Two

• Reflecting on Placement (20 credits)
• Reflecting on Personal and Professional Development (20 credits)
• Preparing to Research (20 credits)
• Children and Young People’s Rights and Identities (20 credits)
• Safeguarding and Child Protection (20 credits)
• Optional modules:
  • Mental Health and Wellbeing (20 credits)
  • Empowering Youth and Communities through Social Pedagogy (20 credits)
  • Contemporary Perspectives (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Special Educational Needs (20 credits)

Year Three

• Individual Research Project (40 credits)
• Advocacy, Activism and Social Change (20 credits)
• Family-Centred Practice in Diverse Contexts (20 credits)
• Employability in Interdisciplinary Contexts (20 credits)
• Optional modules:
  • Decolonising Children, Young People, and Family Work: Reclaiming Voices and Empowering Communities (20 credits)
  • Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing: Effective Support Skills for Children, Young People and Families (20 credits)
  • Anti-Racist Practice (20 credits)
  • Reflective Practice in an Interprofessional Context (Placement) (20 credits)

Employability

Enhancing Employability Skills

A BCU Graduate is professional and work-ready, a creative problem solver, enterprising and has a global outlook.

A wide variety of employability skills are essential for Working with Children, Young People and Families graduates, as the potential employment opportunities are vast. One of the four key themes of the BA (Hons) Working with Children, Young People and Families degree is employability, and there is a clear emphasis on employability skills within each module studied across the course.

Placements

Participation in a work placement is essential to this programme, offering invaluable hands-on experience within a professional environment. You will receive assistance in organising a placement during semester one of year one, with your placement scheduled to commence in semester two, followed by a year-long placement in year two, with the possibility of an additional optional placement in year three.

Facilities & Staff

Our Facilities

The Foundation Year element of this course is based at our City South Campus in leafy Edgbaston.

When you progress onto Year 1 of the course, you will be based as City Centre Campus, in the Benjamin Zephaniah Building (formerly University House). This freshly renovated building provides a dedicated teaching and learning space for our Education and Communities students and staff.

Our Staff

• Julie Davis: Foundation Year Lecturer
• Jessica Lowe: Foundation Year Lecturer