Course Overview
This course combines study and practical work experience to equip you with a combination of technical abilities, academic knowledge, and transferable skills that are highly desirable to employers. You’ll undertake a placement where you will be able to put your learning in the classroom into practice and boost your employability.
Many practitioners will already have a range of rich and varied experiences of working with children and families. This course will help you become more aware of developmental approaches to learning and to reflect on your own practice, which will extend your professional competence and effectiveness in supporting the well-being of children.
This course is seen by the Government as making a significant contribution to the ladder of lifelong learning, providing opportunities for students to progress to further professional qualifications such as our BA (Hons) Early Childhood Education and Care (Top-Up) course.
Sessions involve a range of learning opportunities including group work, formal lectures, workshops, case studies, and practical activities. Along with the structured sessions, you will engage in directed and self-directed study. As such, a high level of personal commitment is expected.
Full-Time hours:
9 hours of delivered lessons per week, plus 18 hours of self-directed study per week. Students are also able to access 3 hour per week of tutorial support for study at Level 4 and 2 hours support for Level 5.
Part-Time hours:
6 hours of delivered lessons per week, plus 12 hours of self-directed study per week. Students are also able to access 3 hour per week of tutorial support for study at Level 4 and 2 hours support for Level 5.
Please note: the above hours are additional to the placement hours.
What You Will Study
You will study a range of theoretical and work-related components which will enhance your understanding of working with children in early years and primary education. You will have the opportunity to choose a topic for a research project which will contribute to your knowledge of a specific area.
You will also have the opportunity to choose an optional module (subject to student numbers) based on your future career goals.
Level 4 modules:
- Child development theory and practice
- Safeguarding children
- Employability
- Study Skills
- Understanding children’s behaviour
- Holistic development in early childhood
Level 5 Modules:
- Play-based learning
- Children and society
- Research Project in Young Children's Learning and Development
- Health Issues in Childcare
- Current Issues
- Primary education policy and practice
- Attendance Expectations
- Full-Time: you will attend college twodays per week and 12 hours employed or in a placement in an early years setting.
- Part-Time: you will attend college one day per week and six hours employed or in a placement in an early years setting.
- How You Will Be Assessed
Knowledge is assessed by means of assignments, reports, portfolios, assessed presentations and a delivered micro-teach.
You will also need to demonstrate your competence in your workplace or placement and you will have the opportunity to choose a topic for a research project that will contribute to your knowledge of a specific topic.
- Entry Requirements
Minimum 48 UCAS tariff points from relevant Level 3 study such as a Level 3 Diploma in Early Years or A Levels.
AND
GCSE Grade 9-4 in English Language.
OR
Applicants for the full-time route who have A Levels or Level 3 qualifications unrelated to the early years and education sector will be considered.
Applicants with other qualifications may be considered, depending on experience.
Applicants wishing to apply for Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) will also be considered. You will have to provide a portfolio of evidence detailing prior knowledge and achievements.
- Fee Information
Full-time: £6,950 per year Part-time: £4,933 per year
- Further Study
Successful completion will provide the opportunity to further your studies with a direct route to the BA (Hons) Early Childhood Education and Care (Top-Up) degree at Wakefield College or Selby College. Past students have also progressed to the Primary Teaching (Top-Up) degrees with QTS or the PGCE, Youth and Community and Business and Management (Top-Up) degrees.
