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Why choose the School of Education
Ofsted – we are a ‘Good’ provider with Outstanding in Quality of leadership and management across our partnerships.
95% of our Education and Teaching graduates are in employment or further studies 15 months after graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes, 2023)
Over 90% of students across all courses are employed within the first six months of graduation
100% of our undergraduate Primary Education graduates have secured jobs by the end of their course
Our Early Childhood Education course ranks 8th in its subject table for graduate prospects on track (Complete University Guide, 2024)
All teaching-training staff have QTS and were previously employed as teachers and/or head teachers; we also have teaching staff who are school governors or active members of their national subject associations
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.
with Professional Practice Year
This course has the option to be taken over four years which includes a year placement in industry. Undertaking a year in industry has many benefits. You gain practical experience and build your CV, as well as being a great opportunity to sample a profession and network with potential future employers.
There is no tuition fee for the placement year enabling you to gain an extra year of experience for free.
*Only available to UK/EU students.
with Foundation Year
A Degree with a Foundation Year gives you guaranteed entry to an Undergraduate course.
Whether you’re returning to learning and require additional help and support to up-skill, or if you didn’t quite meet the grades to pursue an Undergraduate course, our Degrees with Foundation Year provide a fantastic entry route for you to work towards a degree level qualification.
With our guidance and support you’ll get up to speed within one year, and will be ready to seamlessly progress on to undergraduate study at Bedfordshire.
The Foundation Year provides an opportunity to build up your academic writing skills and numeracy, and will also cover a range of subject specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree.
This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will need to successfully complete the Foundation Year to progress on to the first year of your bachelor’s degree.
Why study a degree with a Foundation Year?
- Broad-based yet enough depth to give you credible vocational skills
- Coverage of a variety of areas typically delivered by an expert in this area
- Gain an understanding of a subject before choosing which route you wish to specialise in
- Great introduction to further study, and guaranteed progression on to one of our Undergraduate degrees
The degrees offering a Foundation Year provide excellent preparation for your future studies.
During your Foundation Year you will get the opportunity to talk to tutors about your degree study and future career aspirations, and receive guidance on the most appropriate Undergraduate course to help you achieve this; providing you meet the entry requirements and pass the Foundation Year.
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.
What will you study?
Introduction To Higher Education Study
What are the key skills and knowledge that are necessary to succeed in higher education?
The unit aim is to introduce you to higher education study by:
Introducing you to the academic processes and structures of your University, online and College setting.
Giving you specific instruction on the key skills in preparing and producing assessments at Level 4 and beyond.
Showing you how to develop the necessary knowledge and study skills that will allow you to reach your academic potential.
Helping you develop as an independent learner and understand the importance of a pro-active approach to your study.
Developing Learning
This unit aims to examine the issue of how our understanding of child development and learning is informed by research and theory and pedagogy.
How can knowledge of theory and research on child development and learning inform our policies and practices in supporting babies, children and young people’s individual development?
The work-based elements will enable the synthesis between the theoretical concepts studied in the unit and the practice and policy you are working with. This unit interconnects with all units in Level 4, and will support your future learning in core units in levels 5, and 6 if you choose to progress to the BA (Hons) Progression Awards.
Inclusive Practice And Send
To what extent is education inclusive?
What are the barriers to inclusive education?
How are children with SEND supported within education?
This unit aims to explore both historic and contemporary perspectives, policy and practice relating to inclusive education. The work-based elements will enable the synthesis between the theoretical concepts studied in the unit and the practice and policy you are working with.
This unit enhances understanding gained in The Developing Learning Unit at Level 4.
Contextual Curriculum : Early Years
English and Mathematical skills underpin much of modern education from Early Years to Post-Compulsory Education. It is important that you develop your understanding of these areas and reflect upon how you develop appropriate skills to support babies' and children's needs.
The unit aims to:
Highlight the role of the development of English and Mathematics within Early Years.
Consider how work based observation and reflection can help develop your practice.
Draw links between what happens in practice and what is described in theory.
Reflections On Practice
This unit seeks to enhance the long-term professional and personal development of educational professionals through a process of reflection and improvement. You will be required to identify current strengths and areas for further development in your academic studies and your professional work
Developing Professional Practice
What does it mean to be a professional in early years practice?
What is the impact of professionals in early years context?
This unit aims to explore aspects of professionalism in Early Years contexts and the relationships between theoretical perspectives and their practical implications. It also aims to acknowledge the sociological, psychological and philosophical influences on policy and practice.
The work-based elements will enable the synthesis between the theoretical concepts studied in the unit and the practice and policy you are working with. The use of personal reflection is encouraged to support your understanding of your own professional growth and development.
This unit enhances understanding gained in the units Developing Learning, Developing English and Mathematics and Inclusive Practice at Level 4 and Reflections on Practice at Level 5.
Early Years: The Child, The Family, The Community
To what extent is the unique child understood within settings, families and communities? How are the attitudes and dispositions of the unique child represented within settings, families and communities?
How are families, parents and carers supported to engage with the child and supports available within the community?
This unit aims to consider the concept of the child, the family, the setting and the wider world. It considers the ecology of relationships that have an impact upon children within society.
The Importance Of Play
Do children learn through play?
Do practitioners have a professional role in supporting learning through play?
This unit aims to examine the issue of our understanding of how children learn and develop through play and is informed by research and theory. It will develop an understanding of the importance for Early Years practitioners to develop and support play based approaches.
The work-based elements will enable the synthesis between the theoretical concepts studied in the unit and the practice and policy you are working with. The use of reflection is encouraged to support your understanding of your own professional growth and development, and this will be enhanced through observed practice and formative discussions in the unit.
This unit builds on Developing Learning at Level 4 and interconnects with Early Years: Child, Family, Community at Level 5 and will provide a foundation for units at level 6.
How will you be assessed?
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.
Careers
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.
Entry Requirements
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard fee for a Foundation Degree for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £9,250. These are the full course fees covering each year of study.
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
International
International students cannot apply for Foundation Degrees.
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
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