About the course
If you work with young children in settings such as pre-school, child-minding, day nursery or children’s centre, this course is designed to fit around your work commitments. It combines academic study with your work experience, preparing you for the top-up degree as well as a rewarding career in early years.
This course offers you a strong foundation in early years education from a variety of professional perspectives as well as developing your understanding of child development and the developing child within the family and society, in both local and global contexts. It also provides opportunities for you to develop your own academic and professional interests, linking the theory you learn to your current work practice.
Areas you may study include developing English and mathematics; developing learning; early years curriculum studies; inclusive practice and education; professional practice; teaching practice; and the importance of play.
Why choose this course?
- Learn full-time or part-time, to suit your work commitments
- Develop your skills in teaching and learning support
- Study different approaches to teaching and learning
- Deepen your own understanding of your work and working environment
- Be able to reflect on your work-based practice and how you can support young children’s early learning and development
- Benefit from direct entry to our Applied Early Years Studies (top up) BA (Hons) at the end of your study, after which you can train as a primary or early years teacher in the UK, if you choose
This course is also offered at our Milton Keynes campus, Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College of Further Education.
Course Leader - Karen Siddons
I joined the University of Bedfordshire following 20 years working within the Early Years and Education sector.
I started my career working in a residential school for children with profound and multiple educational and health care needs.
My experience within Early Years and education spans a wide range of provision to include Nursery manager, Child minder, classroom assistant and lecturer.
I have extensive experience within the classroom and have worked in both HE and FE, delivering Early Years study programmes.
Units
- Developing English And Mathematics (Wbl) (EDC060-1) Compulsory
- Early Child Development (EDC055-1) Compulsory
- Early Years Curriculum Studies (EDC056-1) Compulsory
- Introduction To Higher Education Study (EDC018-1) Compulsory
- Narratives Of Childhood (EDC048-1) Compulsory
- Developing Professional Practice (EDC042-2) Compulsory
- Developing Teaching Practice (EDC063-2) Compulsory
- Early Years: The Child, The Family, The Community (EDC077-2) Compulsory
- Inclusive Education In The Early Years (EDC072-2) Compulsory
- The Importance Of Play (EDC078-2) Compulsory
The purpose of the assessment strategy is to maximise the outcomes of summative assessment through effective, personalised formative assessment. This is made possible by a variety of assessment types to engage a number of approaches to learning. In the feedback to each unit of work students are marked against a level specific marking grid and are given advice on their strengths and areas for improvement. Such advice should then be fed into their subsequent assignments to form a gradual building of knowledge, rigor and application. It is expected that the student's workplace setting will give context to their individual assessment and will also be used in many of the assessments to provide secondary or primary materials to inform the assessment criteria.
Why the School of Teacher Education?
- 100% satisfaction with Physical Education (Secondary) NSS 2021
-
Professional expertise in all 4 phases of Teacher Education
Entry Requirements
A Foundation Degree will be of particular interest if you have completed a Modern Apprenticeship, vocational A levels, BTEC National or equivalent.
Foundation Degrees are also particularly suitable if you want to qualify while working.
As a guideline, a typical offer would require you to obtain a UCAS tariff score of between 32-48 points, based on your level 3 studies.
You can work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth with the UCAS tariff calculator
Many students studying for foundation degrees come to us through work-based routes so you can apply for a foundation degree even if you don't have traditional academic qualifications.
We welcome applicants with relevant work experience.
Contact the Admissions Team for additional guidance on whether the qualifications you currently hold or are taking would be suitable for entry.
T: +44 (0)1582 743500
E: admission@beds.ac.uk
Special Entry Requirements
Entry requirements This is a work-based course and therefore the following entry criteria must be met prior to registration on the course. All are conditions of entry.
- Working in an appropriate education setting as a paid employee. Voluntary work within an appropriate education setting will be considered. This must be for a minimum of two days per week and must be in place prior to registration on the course.
- You must hold a full enhanced DBS.
- A reference in support of your application from the Head teacher or setting manager. Please include their contact details on your application form. This is a condition of offer.
- A level 3 qualification such as NVQ Level 3, Cache Diploma or equivalent in child/education related subjects.
- Applicants who do not have a level 3 qualification will be considered based on their experience in schools/educational settings and may be invited to participate in an informal discussion with the Course co-ordinator to the course
You will have the opportunity to continue your studies at degree level through the University of Bedfordshire's Applied Early Years Studies (top up) BA (Hons); all successful Foundation degree students have the right of direct entry to the BA at the end of their study.
You could then choose to follow a Primary PGCE or School Direct programme to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS). GSCE grades A*-C in maths, English and science or equivalent will be required.
If you do not wish to progress to the top-up degree, you have various options in employment including leadership and management roles within an early years setting.
Fees and Funding
The full-time standard fee for a Foundation Degree for the Academic Year 2022/23 is £6,165. These are the full course fees covering the full period of tuition, not the fees payable each year.
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
International students cannot apply for Foundation Degrees.
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard fee for a Foundation Degree for the Academic Year 2023/24 is £9,250. These are the full course fees covering the full period of tuition, not the fees payable each year.
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
Fees and Funding
The full-time standard fee for a Foundation Degree for the Academic Year 2022/23 is £6,165. These are the full course fees covering the full period of tuition, not the fees payable each year.
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
International students cannot apply for Foundation Degrees.
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard fee for a Foundation Degree for the Academic Year 2023/24 is £9,250. These are the full course fees covering the full period of tuition, not the fees payable each year.
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
Extra Costs
Campus Library
The Bedford Campus Library set over four storeys offers students access to our extensive range of physical and digital resources with 300,000+ books & 80,000+ ebooks.
PCs are provided on each level for students to use offering access to a wide range of applications as well as access to group-work areas and presentation-practice rooms and a dedicated silent study floor.
Forest School
The Forest School provides a resource for the University’s trainee teachers to be trained in outdoor learning and for their classes to experience the long term educational benefits of outdoor play.
Sports Facilities
The purposely designed teaching spaces house a range of seminars, lectures and practical sessions providing an excellent teaching space for primary and secondary education.
Campus Theatres
Set within the Campus Centre is a 260 seat professional theatre on the ground floor with industry-standard lighting, media desk, roll-down screen, full backstage comms system and large dressing rooms with en suite showers. On the first floor there's also a well-equipped 80 seat studio theatre.
Our theatres welcome new and existing audiences to see a range of student work including contemporary dance, theatre and performing arts; holding regular events that are open to students, staff and the wider community.
BedsSU - The Hub
The Hub is home to BedsSU providing a great space for socialising with friends, catching up on some coursework or taking a well-deserved break.
The Hub is the place to go to take a break from your studies, play table tennis, socialise and watch live sport on the big screen.By night the venue becomes the place to be, with a variety of student events such as pub quizzes, live music and various themed club nights. Evening food includes delicious freshly made pizzas as well as a range of other beverages and snacks.
How to Apply
Application for most full-time undergraduate and foundation courses is via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
We expect to receive UCAS applications between 1 September and 15 January for courses starting in the following academic year, but may consider applications received after this date should places be available.
Please contact admission@beds.ac.uk for further details.
All UK schools and colleges are registered with UCAS to manage their students' applications. Advice on how to submit your UCAS application is available from your school or college.
If you are not at school or college (including mature students) you should apply independently via UCAS
EU students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply via UCAS or direct using our admissions form
International students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country
You can also apply online
Find out more about how to apply as an International student
How to Apply
Application for most full-time undergraduate and foundation courses is via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
We expect to receive UCAS applications between 1 September and 15 January for courses starting in the following academic year, but may consider applications received after this date should places be available.
Please contact admission@beds.ac.uk for further details.
All UK schools and colleges are registered with UCAS to manage their students' applications. Advice on how to submit your UCAS application is available from your school or college.
If you are not at school or college (including mature students) you should apply independently via UCAS
EU students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply via UCAS or direct using our admissions form
International students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country
You can also apply online
Find out more about how to apply as an International student
