Program Overview

Early Childhood Development and Learning BA (Hons)

Course Overview

Success in this field demands a combination of creativity, empathy, logical thinking and extensive knowledge, coupled with the capacity to draw upon personal life experiences. Given the dynamic nature of this industry, this course emphasizes the exploration of policies, procedures, exemplary approaches and hands-on learning to provide a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental aspects of child development.

Why You Should Study This Course

By studying this course, you'll get:

• An opportunity to take part in invaluable practical placements (if taking the Graduate Practitioner route).
• An additional option to work towards obtaining Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner status.
• To undertake an investigation into a topic relating to early childhood enabling you to make informed recommendations for future policy, research and practice.
• To draw on your own personal experience and make links between your study at studies, your personal experience and your professional practice in the field of early childhood.
• To explore a range of international perspectives on early childhood, which you can apply to your own research area.
• Opportunities to engage with students at other international universities and industry experts through initiatives like our Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) project.
• Opportunities to conduct critical research with our highly experienced staff.

Course Structure

Year One

• Collaborative and Inclusive Relationships in the Early Years Setting (30 credits)
  • This module examines fundamental core values and principles when working in early years settings, so that collaborative and supportive relationships are formed and sustained.
• Promoting Children’s Health, Wellbeing and Safety (30 credits)
  • This module introduces the key concepts surrounding safeguarding, Adverse Childhood Experiences, resilience and wellbeing in the early years.
• The Child, the Family and the Community (30 credits)
  • This module examines how the family unit has evolved over time and its impact on the developing child.
• Learning and Development Through Play (30 credits)
  • This module focuses on advocacy for play and how adults can encourage children to become independent thinkers and problem solvers.
• Year 1 ECDL Placement Module (0 credits)
  • Students who undertake the Early Childhood Development and Learning degree will have the opportunity to undertake assessed placements at each level (levels 4, 5 and 6).

Year Two

• Early Years Pedagogy and Practice (30 credits)
  • This module examines approaches to the early childhood curriculum and how these curricula relate to a range of theories of learning and pedagogical approaches/practices.
• Theoretical Perspectives on Child Development (30 credits)
  • Theories of childhood development, including Jean Piaget's constructivism to Lev Vygotsky's sociocultural theory and extending into postmodern and contemporary viewpoints, have had a significant impact on the development of teaching and learning methodologies.
• Sustainability in the Early Years (30 credits)
  • The ethos of this module will be to look at early years for sustainable development, both as an active citizen and an educator, within the context of increasing consumption and diminishing resources.
• Undertaking Research in the Early Years (30 credits)
  • This module is a desk-based research project that focuses on developing the analytical and personal skills required to research and assess children and families.
• Year 2 ECDL Placement Module (0 credits)
  • Students who undertake the Early Childhood Development and Learning degree will have the opportunity to undertake assessed placements at each level (levels 4, 5 and 6).

Year Three

• International Perspectives of Childhood (30 credits)
  • With a critical mindset, this module will address issues regarding the effectiveness of policy and practice for the child and family around the world.
• Effective Leadership and Management of an Early Years Environment (30 credits)
  • This module supports the development of advanced professional skills and academic knowledge relevant to a graduate working in the Early Years Sector in the areas of leadership and partnership.
• Inclusion, Equality and Diversity (30 credits)
  • This module examines the concepts of inclusion, equality and diversity with reference to the experiences of some children in their early years.
• Research Project (30 credits)
  • This module is an accumulation of the theories, holistic knowledge and practices learned over the duration of the course compacted into a research project of your choice.
• Year 3 ECDL Placement Module (0 credits)
  • Students who undertake the Early Childhood Development and Learning degree will have the opportunity to undertake assessed placements at each level (levels 4, 5 and 6).

Teaching Contact Hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 20 credit module requires a total of 200 hours study. This is made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

• Teaching hours Teaching hours vary each semester, year of study and due to module selection. During your first year you can expect 15-18 teaching hours each week.
• Guided and Independent study Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods may include:

• Essays
• Group work
• Presentations
• Reports
• Projects
• Coursework
• Individual assignments

Entry Requirements

• HNC 64 UCAS tariff points. GCSE maths and English at grade 4 / C or Functional Skills Level 2, or other equivalent Level 2 awards. Minimum two A2 levels or BTEC equivalent qualification.
• HND 80 UCAS tariff points. GCSE maths and English at grade 4 / C or Functional Skills Level 2, or other equivalent Level 2 awards. Minimum two A2 levels or BTEC equivalent qualification.
• Degree 104 UCAS tariff points. GCSE maths and English at grade 4 / C or Functional Skills Level 2, or other equivalent Level 2 awards. Minimum two A2 levels or BTEC equivalent qualification.

Fees and Funding

• UK, Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man £9,535 per year
• EU £9,535 per year with EU Support Bursary or £14,800 per year without EU Support Bursary
• International £14,800 per year

Facilities

The modern CU Coventry Mile Lane campus has been designed to promote collaboration, creativity, and innovation. Facilities include:

• Indoor and outdoor social spaces, including a ground floor café
• A ground floor library that includes loan laptops and a silent study area
• Open-access IT suites
• Student support and careers advice teams

Careers and Opportunities

Upon successful completion of the Early Childhood Development and Learning degree, BA (Hons) graduates will possess a wide range of knowledge, skills, and abilities that will enable them to make a meaningful impact in the field.

Successful completion of this course can equip graduates with the Graduate Practitioner Competencies they need for employment within the early years sector.

Obtaining practitioner status can help graduates advance to postgraduate study or higher-level professional employment, as well as improve their employability in the field of childhood studies.

There are opportunities to progress in your career during and beyond the course, with your study with us opening up a number of avenues for future career development in areas such as:

• Teaching in early years and primary schools, educational leadership and management
• Working in services relating to Inclusion and SEND, safeguarding
• Children’s mental health, speech and language therapy, play therapy
• Family support worker, social work
• Early childhood education and care research, publication
• Further studies in Early Childhood at postgraduate level

How to Apply

Apply via UCAS:

• X300 BA (Hons)
• X301 HND
• X302 HNC
• X299 BA (Hons) with foundation year

Visit UCAS for more information.