Program Overview

Overview

This Foundation degree develops the skills and understanding to practice in a variety of settings that focus on the support of children from 0-18-years and their families. Play and playfulness can successfully underpin and bridge the education, health and social care sectors giving you the skills and understanding to pursue employment. Play support, play work and play therapy are increasingly used to support children’s development and wellbeing and combining theory and practice has relevance to health care assistants and family support, as well as to nursery practitioners, SENCOs, Teaching Assistants, Play Workers and other therapy assistants.

Course Structure

The Early Years Educator status is a supplementary pathway to the FdA Children’s Health Play and Wellbeing. It will run alongside the course and promote the support of a mentor and setting in the Early Years sector. A detailed booklet will capture your developing knowledge and growing experience in the Early Years Foundation Stage framework enabling you to work in ratio in the sector.

Whist this is a full-time course, typically this course generally only requires 1-2 days on campus attendance, supported by self-directed study. This means you can continue to work alongside your studies and balance other commitments.

Course Modules

• Children's Health and Development
• Children's Safety and Wellbeing
• Introduction to Children's Play and Wellbeing
• Introduction to Modern Childhood
• Professional Practice 1
• Embracing Diversity in Play
• Promoting Children's Play Practice
• Children and Families during Transitions
• Listening to Children and Promoting Participation
• Professional Practice 2

Entry Requirements

UK Academic Requirements

• 80 UCAS points (or above)
• CDD (A-Level), MMP (BTEC)
• Pass A*-C (T Level)
• Pass in Access to HE Diploma.
• Level 3 in relevant areas: Health and Social Care, CACHE Teaching Support in Schools e.g. CACHE/BTEC Early Years Educator, CACHE
• Level 3 Children's and Young Popele's Workface (DM/MMP).
• A-Levels - CDD/BB. Level 4 HE Certificate in a relevant discipline. Level 4 Advanced Pracitioner. Higher Level Teaching Assisntant professional qualifications.
• Other qualifications can be considered if the applicant can demonstrate they have worked for over three years in the sector and 24 years+.
• GCSE English and Maths minimum grade C/4.

Non-academic Requirements

• Satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• Employment or voluntary placement in relevant sector (minimum of 10 hours per week)

International Requirements

• IELTS 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components) where English is not the students' first language.

Transferring Credit

• If you have previously studied at higher education level before you may be able to transfer credits to a related course at the University of Suffolk and reduce the period of study time necessary to achieve your degree.

Mature Applicants

• Students aged 21 or over at the start of their course are regarded as mature students. The University of Suffolk offers a flexible admissions policy for mature students, which takes into account life and work experience.

Career Opportunities

• Health care assistants
• Family support and family advisory services
• Nursery practitioners and managers
• SENCos
• Teaching Assistants
• Play Workers
• Portage and other therapy assistants

Fees and Funding

2025/26

• UK Full-time Tuition Fee: £8,220 per year
• UK Part-time Tuition Fee: £1,370 per 20 credit module
• International Full-time Tuition Fee: £15,090 per year

2026/27

• UK Full-time Tuition Fee: £8,220 per year
• UK Part-time Tuition Fee: £1,370 per 20 credit module
• International Full-time Tuition Fee: £15,090 per year

Further Information

• At University of Suffolk, your tuition fees provide access to all the usual teaching and learning facilities that you would expect. However, there may be additional costs associated with you course that you will need to budget for.