FdEd Early Childhood Studies

Standard Offer:
The successful candidate will require 80 UCAS points gained from an Early Years Educator qualification or equivalent Level 3 or 60 Access-to-HE Credits (of which a minimum of 45 must be at Level 3), applicants are required to hold English and Maths GCSE (or equivalent) at Grade C/4.

Non-Standard Offer:
The non-standard entry pathway is intended to support students who may not meet the standard academic entry requirements of a HE programme, normally Level 3 qualifications which attract UCAS points (for instance A-Levels or BTEC Level 3 courses). An applicant must hold a Level 2 qualification in Early Years and be able to evidence, with a supporting reference, two years’ work/experience in the field of early education which would give them skills and knowledge comparable to applicants with Level 3 qualifications. An applicant must hold level 2 Maths and English qualifications.

The non-standard applicants will be interviewed, set an appropriate piece of work (1500-word essay) and a judgement will be made considering their academic potential and relevant work/ experience.

Year 1 (Level 4 Certificate stage) modules:

• Study Skills
• Safeguarding Children
• Personal and Professional Development 1
• Personal and Professional Development 2
• Young Children’s Learning and Development
• Planning for Effective Learning
• Personal and Professional Development 3
• Enabling Environment

Year 2 (Level 5 Diploma stage) modules:

• Personal Development, Transformation and Empowerment 1
• Personal Development, Transformation and Empowerment 2
• Personal Development, Transformation and Empowerment 3
• International Perspectives of Early Years Curriculum
• Collaborative Working
• Inclusive Practice
• Practical Approach to Research
• Young Children’s Mental Health and Well-Being

• Essay
• Report
• Individual Presentation
• Reflection
• Competency File
• Primary Research
• Secondary Research
• Campaign
• Vignette

The Foundation Degree in Early Childhood Studies will draw on a number of different disciplines to enable students to learn how children grow and develop, how they gain language, how children learn through play and how government legislation and policy affects children’s rights, welfare and education. Students will be able to understand and analyse the processes that shape childhood and children’s lives. Practice learning opportunities (personal and practice development) will be integral to the degree and will be provided by a range of placement providers which include schools, pre-schools, private nursery settings, crèches and children’s centres. This foundation degree will provide those already working, or wishing to work, in the early years sector an opportunity to demonstrate their academic ability together with their practical application skills. Furthermore, if students wish to progress with their academic study, this degree provides a foundation for BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies course.The programme can be studied full-time or part-time.

Due to the nature of the course, progression may vary depending on the student; however, possible progression routes would include BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies Top Up; BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies Top Up, and BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care Top Up, all of which are currently offered by TEC Partnership. There may also be scope for students who met the required criteria to consider top up degrees at other HEIs, particularly for those students wishing to progress in to teaching and would require Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).As graduate of this programme, you will have the necessary knowledge and skills to gain employment as an early year’s practitioner in the public, private or third sector. The qualification will allow you to be counted in ratios, recognised by the Department for Education. However, students need to be aware of the government policy which states that Early Years educators require GCSE English and Maths, level 4 or C or above, and Early Years teachers require GCSE English, Maths and Science, level 4 or C or above. There will be opportunity for students to further their academic studies at the University Centre Grimsby via progression to the BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies Top Up. Graduates currently go on to a range of careers in the childhood studies area, as well as completing postgraduate qualifications, in order to work in education, health, legal and social work fields.TEC Partnership is committed to offering a related top-up degree in this subject area which will allow graduates to top up to a full bachelor’s degree. It is likely that the top-up programme will be validated under new TEC Partnership Degree Awarding Powers.