We offer an innovative BA (Hons) degree programme in Early Years Education and Professional Practice which offers a diverse range of relevant practice and theory based modules.
Within these programmes, you will earn qualified Early Years Practitioner status (EYPS), gaining practical work-based experience combined with theoretical and policy-based knowledge as well as the transferable skills required for effective Early Years practice, including the management of Early Years settings. The course has been developed in direct response to changes in Early Years provision within Wales and the UK to provide well-qualified early childhood specialists working with young children and their families.
A fundamental aspect of the degree is the 700 hours of assessed practice based experience that you will complete in order to gain EYPS. This is made up of block placements during each year of your study in a range of relevant settings such as infant classrooms, private nurseries, integrated children’s centres and day-care facilities.
By gaining a degree which sits at the forefront of changes within the sector, your qualification will be highly valued by prospective employers within this field. This degree also provides firm foundations for a range of related careers such as family support work, health and social care and community work.
In order to graduate with the bilingual award, students must take at least 80 credits in each year through the medium of Welsh. Students following this route will also qualify for a
Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol scholarship worth up to £3000 over the three years.
Course Content
Year One:
All modules marked* may also available to study through the medium of Welsh.
Professional Practice (1): Developing Effective Practice (60 credits)*
During this module, you will be introduced to the requirements of the Early Years Practitioner Status qualification. You will have extensive opportunities in practice to develop skills in relation to creating nurturing and inclusive environments which provide high quality education and care for young children. You will also be encouraged to reflect on your own professional development throughout your practice and placement experience.
The Developing Child 1 (20 credits)*
This module is divided into two parts with the first part focusing on academic writing skills. These skills will then be applied during the second part of the module where you will develop your understanding of the factors that influence growth and development in children. Specific aspects of development in childhood will be considered including areas such as cognition, memory, language, emotional and social development.
The Developing Child 2 (20 credits)
Following on from The Developing Child 1, this module will allow you to examine a range of theoretical perspectives related to children, child development and childhood and how these impact on current policy and practice. You will also have opportunities to develop knowledge in relation to the identification of policy and practice relating to the protection and safeguarding of children as well as examining the factors that impact children’s health.
Play and Early Learning (20 credits)*
Interactive sessions will provide opportunities to explore the concept of play from both a national and international perspective, examining how play supports children’s learning and development. Different types of play will be discussed along with the role of the adult and the affordances of different environments including both the indoor and outdoor learning environment. Some of the content of this module will lay the foundations for developing your knowledge and understanding of how children learn as part of the forest school experience. An opportunity to achieve the Forest School Level 2 Assistant Training is available as an additional qualification whilst on the programme.
Year Two:
Professional Development 2: Working with others (60 credits)*
During this module, you will further develop the skills needed to achieve Early Years Practitioner Status, focusing on working with families. You will have extensive opportunities in practice to develop your understanding of a range of frameworks used in settings, developing skills in creating supportive environments for the provision of play, care, educational and learning opportunities. You will also engage in assessment and planning processes. There will also be opportunities to explore features of entrepreneurship in an early years context thereby allowing you to develop entrepreneurship capabilities in preparation for your future career in the Early Years sector.
Pedagogy and Practice in the Early Years (20 credits)*
The Pedagogy and Practice in the Early Years module allows you to develop knowledge and understanding of the philosophical and theoretical perspectives which underpin pedagogy and practice. You will have the opportunity to evaluate factors which impact on children’s experiences of pedagogy and practice including the role of the adult, the environment and ethos as well as examining and reviewing the practical implementation of pedagogy in practice.
Becoming a Researcher (20 credits)
This module will develop your ability to critically engage with peer reviewed academic sources. You will examine critical issues in relation to undertaking research including ethical issues and gaining informed consent/assent. A range of methodological approaches and innovative research tools, will be evaluated to provide experience in their implementation and analysis of data.
Leadership and Management (20 credits)
This module will enable you to evidence your leadership capabilities and will lead to a recognised ILM Level 5 Certificate in Leadership and Management which will prove to be beneficial in future leadership roles. As part of the module you will focus on different ways to motivate people in the workplace, the characteristics needed to become an effective leader and how to lead innovation and change in the workplace. You will also have the opportunity to develop your presentation skills in a professional manner. As part of this module you will have access to the ILM Leadership and Management website which contains a range of supporting materials that will enable you to develop your leadership and management skills for the future.
Year Three:
Professional Development 3: Leadership and Management (60 credits)*
During this module, extensive opportunities in practice will enable you to complete the requirements related to the Early Years Practitioner Status qualification. The module will build on the ILM Level 5 Certificate in Year 2 and focus on leadership and management in the Early Years context, providing opportunities for you to develop skills in leading and supporting high quality care and education. You will examine a range of policies and consider their impact on practice. You will also consider the principles of evaluating early years’ services effectively. This module will equip you with skills to support your own learning and that of others through communities of practice.
Inclusive Practice in Early Years (20 credits)
The Inclusive Practice in the Early Years module will help you to appreciate the range of needs young children may have and the importance attached to meeting the needs of individual children. Throughout the module you will make links between theory and practice whilst also exploring the underpinning legislation, legal requirements, policy and guidance. The importance of the child’s rights as an individual will be examined and links will be made to the concept of individual learning and development plans to ensure their needs are met whilst in your care. You will also look at issues associated with exclusion and the importance of addressing multicultural / ethnic and bilingual learning and development needs.
Independent Research Project (40 credits)*
This module will allow you to develop your ability to research independently in an area of specific interest to you. In particular you will be able to select, rationalise and implement an extended written project and then to coherently, and fully, present the project in an academic style. There is an element of choice within this module in relation to the type of project you would like to develop, allowing you the opportunity to make this very personal to your own interests and skills. You will receive guidance and support from your supervisor throughout the project.
Learning & Teaching
The Early Years Education and Professional Practice programme is delivered through a hybrid approach which involves both online and face-to-face learning and teaching. The variety of teaching approaches are designed to accommodate a range of learning needs and include individual and group activities during on campus seminar sessions. Use is also made of guest speakers from the Early Years sector to provide additional teaching and learning opportunities.
Work-based placements are a key feature of the programme and are embedded throughout each year. They take place in a range of partnership settings including private nurseries and primary schools. Whilst on placement, on-going support is provided by a mentor in the setting as well as the University Tutor who will carry out an observation in practice.
Each 20-credit module has approximately 200 hours of study attached to it with 48 of these being delivered in taught sessions such as pre-recorded lectures, seminars and workshops. Approximately 52 hours are assigned for directed study and preparation tasks which are set as part of the pre-recorded lectures and taught sessions. The remaining 100 hours are self-directed study where students undertake the reading required for the module and complete their required assessment.
Every student is assigned a personal tutor when they begin the course and this tutor supports them for the entirety of their degree. There are scheduled tutorial meetings that students attend, but tutors also operate an open-door policy which allows students to access them outside the scheduled meetings. The university has well-established student support provision for students who have additional learning needs and also is equipped to deal with any issues that arise during the course of a student’s studies.
The modules are supported through the use of the University’s Virtual Learning Environment, Moodle, which is web based and so is accessible anywhere via the internet. All programme-based material is held here, including lecture and seminar presentations, assessment information and additional reading or resources. Tutors also use Moodle to email students with information and updates. In addition, as part of the Leadership and Management module in Year 2, you will have access to the ILM website for supporting materials and resources.
The staff on this programme are from a range of backgrounds including play work, support work, health and teaching. They are committed to providing a high quality, supportive learning environment. They are committed to providing a high-quality learning environment where everyone is valued and supported to reach their potential. The staff are research active and are often called upon to be actively involved in the development of supporting resources for practitioners in the Early Years sector.
Assessment
Assessments are designed to maximise learning and provide realistic opportunities to demonstrate knowledge. Essays, resource creation, blog debates, workshops, presentations, observation and online portfolios are some of the methods used to assess your knowledge, skills and understanding of module content. You will be given the submission dates for assessments at the start of each module, as well as an assessment overview grid for the whole of the academic year to help plan and manage your time effectively. You will receive individual feedback on your assignments that identifies strengths and areas for improvement. This can be in written and oral form. Whilst on placement, you will receive oral feedback from the placement mentors on a daily basis as well as written feedback following a visit from your University Tutor.
Employability & Careers
Throughout the programme, a great deal of emphasis is placed on the development of employability skills. These are generated both through experience in work-based placements; within the teaching and learning environment and through a range of community engagement projects. In addition to the main programme content, you will have opportunities to further develop your knowledge, skills and experience in a range of other areas, as available. These could include equality and diversity, bullying, sign language, Welsh language development, first aid etc.
Our graduates access a range of jobs and employment opportunities upon completion of the programme. These include careers in areas that specifically focus on Early Years learning and development as well as associated aspects. Typical career destinations include owning your own play centre, nursery management, educational welfare and community health support workers. Graduates have also pursued careers in family support work, social care and play therapy.
Progression to PGCE Teacher Training:
We are pleased to guarantee an interview for the
PGCE Primary Course at Cardiff Met for all graduates of this programme (subject to the course being open with UCAS). An Honours degree minimum classification of a 2:2 is currently required, and the statutory entry requirements for training in Wales (including B grades or equivalent at GCSE for English and Maths, C grade for Science) must also be met.
Opportunities for further postgraduate study at Cardiff Met are also available through the MA Education programme that we offer.
Entry Requirements & How to Apply
Typical Offers
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Tariff points: 104
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Contextual offer: See our
contextual offers page.
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GCSE: Preferably five GCSEs at Grade C / 4 or above to include English Language / Welsh First Language, Mathematics / Mathematics – Numeracy.
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English Language Requirement: Academic IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in all elements, or equivalent.
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A level subjects: Minimum three A levels to include grades CCC. No specific subjects required. Welsh Baccalaureate – Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate considered as a third subject.
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BTEC National / Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: MMM
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T Level: Merit.
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Access to Higher Education Diploma: No specific subjects required.
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International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: No specific subjects required.
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Irish Leaving Certificate: 2 x H2. No specific subjects required. Higher level subjects only considered with a minimum grade H4.
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Scottish Advanced Highers: Grade DD. No specific subjects required. Scottish Highers are also considered, either on their own or in combination with Advanced Highers.
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Other requirements:DBS.
Combinations of the above qualifications are accepted if they meet our minimum requirements. If your qualifications aren’t listed, please contact
Admissions or refer to the
UCAS Course Search.
Further information on Overseas qualifications can be found
here.
If you are a mature applicant, have relevant experience or
RPL that you would like us to consider, please contact Admissions.
How to Apply
Further information on how to apply can be found
here.
Contact Us