Program Overview

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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

Academic Skills for Success

This module is designed to support you in your transition to studying in a Higher Education environment at Birmingham City University. Through a range of class-based group and individual activities, discussions, debates, personal reflection and wider reading and research, you will have opportunities to consider academic conventions, which include: effective use of literature; sourcing and reviewing information; various forms of academic writing; developing reflective capacity. You will also receive guidance on study skills and strategies, which will enhance previously acquired skills.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

This module will focus on enabling you to gain a deeper understanding of the interpersonal skills and behaviours required to work in your chosen area. Through a range of class-based and student-focused activities, you will explore the different concepts of effective interpersonal and communication skills essential to your own personal development and progression.

Negotiated Studies

This module is designed to support you in your transition to studying in a Higher Education environment at Birmingham City University, allowing you the opportunity to negotiate learning of a bespoke subject. Under the guidance of tutors, you will be able to direct your learning and identify relevant learning opportunities that you feel enable you to learning more about a specific field of study.

Equality and the Child

This module is designed to help you gain awareness and understanding of current challenges around Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity and how these impact upon the children and the education and child support sector, preparing you for your future education and journey into practice.

Policy and Politics

This module will be studied in Semester 2 and provides opportunities for you to develop an understanding of the politics and policies that impact society, childhood and education. Key aspects of working practice in the disciplines listed above are determined by the policies that come from the government; in the majority of cases, a government department oversees and regulates practice through its policies.

Foundations of Child Development

The starting point for this module is the idea that child development is a key factor in how we educate and support the next generation. This module will provide you with foundational knowledge of child development as you prepare to undertake a degree course focused on working with children in various professional settings.

Year One

Self-Awareness for Personal and Professional Growth

The starting point for this course is the premise that self-awareness leads to meaningful personal and professional development. Accordingly, this module aims to help you to deepen your understanding of who you are. You will be encouraged to explore your values, beliefs, and emotions, evaluate your own areas of confidence and learn how this influences your personal development, including the development of your future practice.

Preparing to Study in Higher Education

This module recognises that transitioning into higher education represents a significant milestone in a student's academic journey, signifying a period of personal growth. However, it can also present challenges, as students must adapt to a range of increased academic demands and expectations.

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

This module aims to provide an understanding of social justice with a specific focus on the concepts of equality, diversity, and inclusion and its impact on children, young people and families. You will learn about different forms of discrimination and inequality, as well as strategies for promoting diversity and inclusion.

Effective Early Intervention

Effective early intervention is at the heart of interdisciplinary practice and can maximise children’s potential in their holistic development. Effective early intervention creates opportunities for social inclusion, participation, and development of key life skills and independence with long-term benefits for education and employment but perhaps also an important quality of life.

Preparing for Placement

This module examines the professional practices associated with working with children, young people, and families. Students will professionally prepare themselves to undertake a placement and examine the professional landscape which they will be working within.

Professional Placement

During this module, students participate in their first professional placement and critically reflect on their professional experiences during their placement. The module aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop their practice in workplaces which involve working with children, young people, and families; as well as critically reflect upon how this experience informs their future practice in the sector.

Year Two

Reflecting on Placement

This module is designed to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a credit bearing, 80 hours of Professional Placement as an integral part of your Undergraduate Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your practical skills.

Reflecting on Personal and Professional Development

This module is designed to provide you with the opportunity to reflect on your professional identity including personal and professional development. The purpose of this module is to help you identify and improve your employability skills which will, through the course of your studies enhance your personal and professional skills.

Preparing to Research

This module is an introduction to carrying out research projects. As well as developing your understanding of key aspects of research in education, this module will also prepare you for your final research project at Level 6.

Children and Young People’s Rights and Identities

This module provides students with an in-depth understanding of the theoretical, legal, and practical aspects of children and young people's rights and identities. Students will explore the impact of social, cultural, and political factors on the formation of children and young people's identities and their access to rights and services.

Safeguarding and Child Protection

This module will explore safeguarding and child protection including the necessary skills, values and attributes to be a successful professional working with a range of children’s services.

Optional Modules

• Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Empowering Youth and Communities through Social Pedagogy
• Contemporary Perspectives
• Introduction to Special Educational Needs

Year Three

Individual Research Project

This module enables and supports you to conceive, plan, and conduct a small-scale research project that attends and adheres to key ethical principles, in an area relevant to your programme of study.

Advocacy, Activism and Social Change

Historically, advocacy, activism and social movements have attempted to address a wide range of social problems and influence social change and policy. This module aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to advocate, engage in activism, and create social change for children, young people, and families.

Family-Centred Practice in Diverse Contexts

This module will focus on family-centred practice in diverse contexts. To set the scene you will explore what a family is.

Employability in Interdisciplinary Contexts

Reflective practice is essential for those working as interdisciplinary practitioners within education, health, and social work. As interdisciplinary working becomes more common, finding shared ways of reflection on practice is becoming more and more important.

Optional Modules

• Decolonising Children, Young People, and Family Work: Reclaiming Voices and Empowering Communities
• Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing: Effective Support Skills for Children, Young People and Families
• Anti-Racist Practice
• Reflective Practice in an Interprofessional Context (Placement)

Entry 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.
  • 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.

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 2027/28 will apply. Fees for 2026/27 can be found on the relevant course page, but please note that University reserves the right to increase fees in subsequent years in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.
• 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 2027/28 will apply. Fees for 2026/27 can be found on the relevant course page, but please note that University reserves the right to increase fees in subsequent years in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.

Course in Depth

The BA (Hons) Working with Children, Young People, and Families is a contemporary and exciting three-year undergraduate programme designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary to work effectively with children, young people, and families in a range of professional settings. The course covers both theoretical and practical aspects of working with children, young people, and families with a strong commitment to social justice and equality at its heart.

Employability

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.

Facilities & Staff

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.