Program Overview

Children, Schools & Families (Graduate Practitioner) (Top-up)

BA (Hons) Top-up

Attendance

• Full-time

Campus

• Preston Campus
• Burnley Campus

Start

• September 2025

Duration

• 1 year

UCAS Code

• L591

Delivery

• In-person

Overview

Our Children, Schools and Families (Top-Up) course builds on your existing experience in child-based education to help you develop a career working with children, families and the services that support them.

Why study with us

• You’ll have the opportunity to complete a Level 3 Paediatric First Aid certificate.
• You'll be taught by an expert team of practice-based academic staff and researchers. Their expertise spans education, early years, youth work, social care, family support and health.
• The course is built around a minimum of 560 assessed placement hours. This will develop your professional practice expertise, so that you can excel in a career focused on supporting children and families.

What you'll do

• You will spend time learning on-campus, as well as gaining practical experience on placement.
• Professional placements will allow you to apply what you have learned in the classroom to the real-world.
• Learn about children and childhood, safeguarding and legislation, trauma-informed practices and disability and inclusive practice.

Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner

From September 2022, studying this course works towards attaining the Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies (ECGP).

The ECGP Competencies meets the requirements of the Department for Education. This ensures the degree is 'full and relevant.' Students who achieve the nine competencies and pass an assessed practice can be included in Level 3 EYFS ratios.

Students will meet the nine competencies through a combination of assessed observations during their 80 days/510 hours of practice, work-based tasks and academic assessment.

Modules

Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Dissertation
  • This module provides an opportunity for you to undertake independent study in an area of your own choosing involving a particular issue of relevance to children and young people’s lives and services. You will be guided and supported by your dissertation supervisor to plan, carry out the project and write it up as an academic research.
  • Module code: CI3699
• Working with Children, Young People and Families
  • This module will provide you with an overview of critical issues for children, families and young people, taking into account a variety of factors and including the views of service users and carers, theoretical concepts, research evidence and relevant policy and legislation. This module recognises and critically discusses the prominence of children, families and ‘youth’ in Government policies.
  • Module code: SW3033
• International Perspectives on Children's Lives
  • This module aims to give you the opportunity to consider international approaches to childcare and family policy. You will consider the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of childhood and family life. This will ultimately build your understanding of how childhood is socially constructed worldwide.
  • Module code: SW3601

Optional modules

• Professional Practice Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner
  • On this module you will understand the professional practices of an Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner. You will become an advocate for young children’s rights and participation and recognise that young children are active co-constructors of their own learning. You will critically apply high-level academic knowledge of pedagogy and research evidence, to the holistic development of infants and young children (0-8), in a practice context that is respectful of the child, their family and community.
  • Module code: CI3109

Entry requirements

• Pass Foundation Degree or HND in a relevant subject, eg Children Young People and their Services, or Early Years
• GCSEs: 5 at grade C/4 or equivalent. It is a requirement of the external body linked to Graduate Practitioner status that all applicants must have a Grade C/4 in English or equivalent in order to graduate from this course
• A satisfactory Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland) is required for this course

Fees and funding

• UK: £9,535 per year (2025/26)
• International: £17,325 per year (2025/26)

Learning and assessment

This degree will give you a mixture of theoretical knowledge and practical learning opportunities. You’ll be taught by staff who are experts in various fields, including education, social work, sociology, psychology and social policy. Their academic expertise is informed by research and practice. The timetable for this course is designed to give you the opportunity to attend classes on campus for one working day. You’ll learn through a combination of teaching, group debate and discussion, practical experience and independent research. Lectures will be supported by a range of audio-visual and online resources which will support your own independent study. The group activities, workshops and discussions will help you to share and apply information, ideas, values and experience while also enhancing your problem-solving skills. We’ll assess you through a variety of methods including essays, content analysis, portfolios, presentations, workbooks, a research proposal and a final year dissertation. We’ll support you every step of the way. When you arrive, you’ll be allocated a tutor who will support you throughout your degree and help you to get the most out of your time at University.

Further information

We also give consideration to non-traditional qualifications and relevant work experience. We encourage applicants to produce evidence of their potential to benefit from the course.

If you believe you may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning for certain modules then we’ll take this into consideration on an individual basis.

On this course you’ll benefit from our Centre for Volunteering and Community Leadership (CVCL) which enables you to get involved in projects which make a positive difference to people’s lives. They offer a range of volunteering projects in the UK and Internationally so you’re bound to find something that inspires you.

Accreditations

• Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM)

Future careers

Our graduates work across the spectrum of children and families settings, including children’s centres, schools, national charities, nurseries and family and community support.

The degree programme opens opportunities for further study on a range of Masters programmes across the children, social care and health sector.

This includes:

• MA Social Work
• MA Professional Practice with Children and Young People
• Initial Teacher Training
• MSc Psychotherapy
• MSc Children & Young People's Mental Health

Related courses

• Applied Community & Social Care Studies (with Foundation Year), BA (Hons)
• Applied Community & Social Care Studies, BA (Hons)
• Assistant Practitioner, FdSc - Higher Apprenticeship
• Children, Schools & Families (Graduate Practitioner) (with Foundation Year), BA (Hons)
• Children, Schools & Families (Graduate Practitioner), BA (Hons)
• International Social Work & Community Development (with Foundation Year), BA (Hons)
• International Social Work & Community Development, BA (Hons)
• Youth Work & Community Practice (with Foundation Year), BA (Hons)
• Youth Work & Community Practice, BA (Hons)
• Youth Work & Community Practice, BA (Hons) - Degree Apprenticeship