School of Education

FD (Arts) Early Years Services

FD (Arts) Part-time 3 years

Transform your passion for working with young children into a recognised qualification. This part-time program is designed for working professionals in the early years sector, our flexible part-time study allows you to balance your education with your career. You'll focus on children from conception to age eight, developing critical reflection and analytical skills essential for success in this field. Our comprehensive curriculum covers key areas including child protection, health and wellbeing, multi-agency working, and child development.

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Apply now

Transform your passion for working with young children into a recognised qualification. This part-time program is designed for working professionals in the early years sector, our flexible part-time study allows you to balance your education with your career. You'll focus on children from conception to age eight, developing critical reflection and analytical skills essential for success in this field. Our comprehensive curriculum covers key areas including child protection, health and wellbeing, multi-agency working, and child development.

Award
FD (Arts)
Start date(s)
September 2024, September 2025
UCAS Code
Course specifications
View course spec
Course length
Part-time (3 years)
Campus location
City of Wolverhampton College,Telford College,London Early Years Foundation,The Bournemouth and Poole College,Sandwell College
School
School of Education
UCAS points calculator
Open Points Calculator

Why choose this course?

The Foundation Degree in Early Years Services is designed to help you to develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in your studies with the University of Wolverhampton at degree level. The Foundation Degree in Early Years Services is part-time and designed for professionals currently working within early year’s workforce but who lack a qualification at degree level. The course is delivered by our partners at City of Wolverhampton College, Bournemouth and Poole College, London Early Years Foundation, Sandwell College and Telford College. As a student on this course, you will develop the skills and knowledge required to work with children from conception to eight years, their families and the services that support them. 

The Foundation Degree in Early Years Services is designed to help you to develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in your studies with the University of Wolverhampton at degree level. The Foundation Degree in Early Years Services is part-time and designed for professionals currently working within early year’s workforce but who lack a qualification at degree level. The course is delivered by our partners at City of Wolverhampton College, Bournemouth and Poole College, London Early Years Foundation, Sandwell College and Telford College. As a student on this course, you will develop the skills and knowledge required to work with children from conception to eight years, their families and the services that support them. 

to working with babies and young children.  You will also develop the skills of critical reflection and appraisal which will enable you to understand and analyse ethical principles, health and wellbeing, child protection and safeguarding, health and wellbeing, multi-agency working and how children learn and communicate.

This degree sits within an exciting range of Childhood and Family Studies courses we offer within the School of Education.

 Sector Endorsed Foundation Degrees in Early Years Professional Association Logo

What happens on the course?

Throughout the course there is an emphasis on developing your personal and professional attributes.

At level 4 you will have opportunities to develop your knowledge and skills of early years theory and practice. 

At level 5 you will begin to develop your critical capabilities through the selection,analysis and combining of relevant perspectives and be able to justify different positions on matters relating to early childhood studies.  Modules in the second year (level 5) focus on the following topics:

At the University of Wolverhampton there are a range of teaching and learning activities to help you achieve successfully on your course. Your sessions will have formative learning opportunities and formative feedback from your tutors which will help you prepare for your final marked assessment (summative assessment). You will also be provided with feed forward written and/or oral feedback on your summative assessments that will help you develop your academic skills as you progress through your course.

All your modules will offer opportunities for you to interact and relate your learning to own practice through the application, exploration, critique, and analysis of theory.   In each of your modules you will be provided with a structure of scheduled learning and teaching activities (both on campus and online) combined with guided and independent learning, to enable you to fully engage to achieve specified learning outcomes. These include :

  • Active contribution to lectures, group activities, including critical debate and discussion in seminars
  • Additional online consolidation activities
  • Guided reading 
  • Asynchronous discussion forums
  • Non-timetabled one-to-one meetings with Module Leader / Module Team
  • Preparation for scheduled learning and teaching activities
  • Preparation/Completion of assessment tasks
  • Revision tasks
  • Non-synchronous webinars
  • Wider reading and research activity

We recognise that you will have a unique learning journey and we will maximise your potential through optional assessment choices such as presentations, written assessments, reflective journals, work related research, reports, and written plans. These variety of assessment types are used to support and test your learning and progress and to help you develop employability skills that are valued beyond your University studies and into your working life.

We are currently reviewing our foundation course to enhance student learning and success. Course details may be subject to updates. Please keep an eye on our pages for updates.

Course Modules

Module: 4CF002
Credits: 20
Period: 1
Type: Core
Locations: City of Wolverhampton College; London Early Years Foundation; Telford College; University: Walsall Campus; The Bournemouth and Poole College; Sandwell College

This module will expand your knowledge and understanding of the development of babies and young children from birth to eight. You will explore historical and contemporary theories relevant to different aspects of child development by drawing on research and literature. There will be a focus on children’s holistic development, in particular brain development, physical growth, as well as social and emotional development. As part of your learning you will be encouraged to consider factors that may affect the lives of babies and young children in relation to their growth and development, such as the complexities of family life and risks within the environment.

Module: 4CF014
Credits: 20
Period: 1
Type: Core
Locations: London Early Years Foundation

This module gives you the opportunity to explore London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) Pedagogy, This will include examining theories and concepts to help you understand social pedagogy and the LEYF view of the child and teacher. You will also explore theories and principles of LEYF early years practice and the Early Years Curriculum and apply your knowledge to a chosen area of practice. There will also be the opportunity to compare the LEYF pedagogy, in terms of enabling environments, developing harmonious relationships, and home learning to other Early Years settings and identify common areas and differences. You will also examine your own principles and values in relation to working with children and families people within the context of LEYF pedagogy. .This will enable you to develop your professional skills and knowledge and consider what high-quality early years provision looks like.

Module: 4CF012
Credits: 20
Period: 1
Type: Core
Locations: Sandwell College; University: Walsall Campus; London Early Years Foundation; Telford College; City of Wolverhampton College; The Bournemouth and Poole College

This module will provide you with the opportunity to question and evaluate the role of play in childhood by examining historical and contemporary theories and concepts. You will also explore the body of knowledge that has accumulated in recent years, which identifies the importance of play as a fundamental right for children. You will be required to use your placement/workplace experience to investigate the role of play in curricula frameworks, the family as well as explore international perspectives. You will also examine your own principles and values in relation to working with children to facilitate play activities by researching the role of the professional, the use of play spaces and planning and assessment. This will enable you to gain knowledge of ways to develop quality play provision and how the quality of play can be evaluated.

Module: 4CF005
Credits: 20
Period: 1
Type: Core
Locations: London Early Years Foundation; University: Walsall Campus; City of Wolverhampton College; Sandwell College; Telford College; The Bournemouth and Poole College

As part of your learning on this module you will be introduced to current debates around safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults. You will be encouraged to explore how policy, legislation and research evidence inform safeguarding practice. You will also consider the roles and responsibilities of all professionals to safeguard children, young people and vulnerable adults, and as part of this you will be encouraged to reflect on how professionals need to work together. You will explore how risk is managed and how families are supported by multi-agency teams, to ensure the well-being of all children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Module: 4SN002
Credits: 20
Period: 1
Type: Core
Locations: City of Wolverhampton College; Sandwell College; The Bournemouth and Poole College; University: Walsall Campus; Telford College

This work-based module aims to provide you with an understanding of the links between the development of your professional skills and current research and theory relating to reflective practice. A 'reflective practitioner' is someone who, at regular intervals, looks back at the work they do, and considers how they can improve. They 'reflect' on the work they have done. In this module you will be able to examine models of reflective practice that will help you to reflect on the development of new skills by evaluating the outcomes of your learning in relation to your academic study and workplace experiences. You will also consider the wider implications relating to your workplace experiences by drawing on research and literature to explore policy and guidance that informs your practice when working in educational settings.

Module: 5ED002
Credits: 20
Period: 2
Type: Core
Locations: University: Walsall Campus; The Bournemouth and Poole College; City of Wolverhampton College; Sandwell College; London Early Years Foundation; Telford College

Research is not just for researchers: as active members of our profession, and indeed society, we all are affected by the research of others. Learning how to conduct your own research gives insight and understanding into such work, and improves your skills as a scholar and as a practitioner. This module prepares you for a successful personal research dissertation in level 6. You will be introduced to a range of techniques and theories on how to gather information, make sense of it, and report it in an effective way.

Module: 5CF011
Credits: 20
Period: 2
Type: Core
Locations: University: Walsall Campus; The Bournemouth and Poole College; London Early Years Foundation; Telford College; City of Wolverhampton College; Sandwell College

In this module you will explore how babies and young children develop their communication, language and literacy skills. You will gain an understanding of how social and cultural aspects influence the role of the adult in supporting children’s communication, language and literacy development. As part of this module, you will also critically evaluate different ways in which children learn to communicate, and develop language and literacy skills and the range of pedagogical approaches which can support development. You will also analyse how adults interact with children to develop their language, literacy and communication skills. You will have the opportunity to develop your own professionalism and decision making based on your own value systems.

Module: 5CF016
Credits: 20
Period: 2
Type: Core
Locations: Telford College; University: Walsall Campus; Sandwell College; The Bournemouth and Poole College; City of Wolverhampton College; London Early Years Foundation

This module aims to increase your understanding, knowledge and the practical skills required to work with babies, young children and their families. You will learn about policy and health standards to achieve the health and wellbeing of babies and young children in early year’s settings. You will also gain of knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of an early year’s practitioner when promoting health and wellbeing. By drawing upon literature and research you will develop a critical understanding of the importance of creating a healthy environment, and how you can meet the needs of individual children to enhance their health and wellbeing. This will include the development of planned activities and interventions that promotes babies and young children's health wellbeing and safety that enable them to flourish.

Module: 5CF013
Credits: 20
Period: 2
Type: Core
Locations: Telford College; Sandwell College; The Bournemouth and Poole College; University: Walsall Campus; London Early Years Foundation; City of Wolverhampton College

Within this module you will develop a critical understanding of how children learn, the role of the adult and how learning environments can influence children’s understanding of the world around them. You will compare theories, concepts and principles of children's learning by drawing upon literature and research. In this module you will learn about children's cognitive development and you will be able to apply these theories to practice in early years settings. You will also be able to critically evaluate aspects such as child centred and adult directed pedagogy, creativity and critical thinking, children's choice and needs. You will be able to analyse different teaching and learning approaches which are part of the curriculum for children up to eight years.

Module: 5CF004
Credits: 20
Period: 3
Type: Core
Locations: City of Wolverhampton College; The Bournemouth and Poole College; Sandwell College; University: Walsall Campus; Telford College

This module aims to provide you with the opportunity to extend your skills of reflection to inform your work-based practice. You will be able to engage in ideas about the importance of reflection and how it is an essential process for transforming experiences into genuine learning. This module will enhance your ability to assess your own values, goals, and progress and you be able to evaluate the development of your personal and professional skills through critical reflection of your own learning experiences in practice. As part of your learning on the module you will explore a range of theoretical ideas and concepts that relate to practice within educational settings, such as pedagogy, engaging parents and multi-agency working to inform your reflection.

Module: 5CF017
Credits: 20
Period: 3
Type: Core
Locations: City of Wolverhampton College; Telford College; The Bournemouth and Poole College; Sandwell College; University: Walsall Campus

This module will enhance your knowledge and understanding of the role of the practitioner when working with children, young people and families. You will explore and show critical understanding on the impact of adverse childhood experiences and other social issues that may affect young lives. As part of your learning you will develop a critical understanding of how policy impacts on a range of diverse and vulnerable families and the challenges that policy may present for you, the practitioner, in your day-to day role. Key theories and therapeutic interventions will be evaluated as your professional knowledge and skills of family support are enhanced.

Potential Career Paths

Successful completion of this course could lead to Early Years Teacher Status, primary teaching, social work, health education, early year’s management, children’s information services, play services and community family support work. You have progression to the final stages of an Honours degree at the University, such as the BA (Hons) in Childhood Studies. You will also develop and consolidate a range of employability skills, including sharing information, working with and in groups, presenting information, digital literacy and critical thinking skills.

Additional Information

Everything you need to know about this course!

A range of employability skills is built into this programme in order that you develop and refine attributes that will be beneficial to you in the workplace, such as sharing information with others, working in groups, literacy and oral skills, leadership, using critical thinking, and becoming a reflective practitioner. 

Successful completion of this course can lead to progression onto the BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies at level 6. Upon gaining your BA (Hons) you may also choose to apply for Graduate Employment Based Early Years Teacher Training with the University of Wolverhampton or undertake a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Primary Education. You could also choose to apply for a Master’s Degree in Social Work or Education or undertake a Post Graduate teaching Certificate in Adult Education or Post Compulsory Education.

There are also a range of potential careers opportunities:

  • Early year’s management
  • Early years practitioner
  • Children’s information services
  • Community family support worker 
  • Early Year’s consultant
  • Health play specialist
  • Learning mentor
  • Play therapist
  • Voluntary organisations such as NCB, NSPCC, Barnardo’s

  • You will be able to develop your knowledge of, and reflect upon, a range of early years ideas and principles and consider the way in which those principles have developed importance in relation to developing high quality early years practice to meet the needs of children and families.
  • You will be able to apply ideas and principles to the expected pattern of children’s development from conception, play, pedagogical approaches, creative planning of learning opportunities, the curriculum, the learning environment, assessment and the application of those principles in an employment context
  • Act as an advocate for children, families and communities including promoting children’s welfare, safety needs, rights, diversity, equity and inclusion in the UK and globally.  
  • Develop your knowledge of the main methods of enquiry in the early years and the ability to evaluate critically the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems
  • Become a reflective practitioner when questioning key theories, principles and issues of early year’s policy and to propose solutions 

  • Develop your written and oral communication skills so you can communicate clearly for a range of purposes including the ability to reflect on your own value systems.

  • Become digitally literate

  • Develop employability qualities and transferable skills in terms of personal responsibility and decision-making to be able to assume significant responsibility within organisations.

Location Mode Fee Year
Home Part-time £4110 per year# 2022-23
Home Part-time £4160 per year# 2022-23
Home Part-time £4110 per year# 2023-24
Home Part-time £4110 per year# 2024-25

The University is committed to a transparent fee structure, with no hidden costs, to help you make an informed decision. This includes information on what is included in the fee and how fees are calculated and reviewed

# Undergraduate part-time fees for 50% rate of study

 Entry Requirements:

    • You must hold a Level 3 Childcare related qualification, for example, NVQ Level 3 Diploma, NNEB, CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education, BTEC L3 National Diploma in Childcare and Education.
  • You must be able to provide a satisfactory employer reference evidencing that you have been employed or have experience for a minimum of one year working with children and families, or in a long term voluntary placement. Please see www.wlv.ac.uk/apply/how-to-apply/making-your-application/ for guidance).
  • You must be able to supply the College you will be attending with an up to date Enhanced DBS Police Check.

    •  Other Information:

    Applicants are usually over the age of 21. We also offer the opportunity to accredit prior certificated learning at Level 4 through our RPL process.

    Tuition Fees Loan (Home Fee Status):

    Most students will be able to apply for a loans to pay for these subject to eligibility. To find out more information please refer to the government Student Finance website.

    Changes for EU students:

    The UK government has confirmed that EU students starting courses from 1 August 2021 will normally be classified as having Overseas Fee status. More information about the change is available at UKCISA:

    EU citizens living in the UK with 'settled' status, and Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland, will still be classified as Home students, providing they meet the usual residency requirements, for more information about EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) click here.


    Self-funding:

    If you don’t want to take out a loan to pay your fees or if you aren’t eligible to receive a loan, you might want to take advantage of the University’s scheme to pay by instalments: See How to pay.

    For more information please contact the Gateway.


    Your employer, embassy or organisation can pay for your Tuition fees:

    If your employer, embassy or organisation agrees to pay all or part of your tuition fees; the University will refer to them as your sponsor and will invoice them for the appropriate amount.

    We must receive notification of sponsorship in writing as soon as possible, and before enrolment, confirming that the sponsor will pay your tuition fees.


    Financial Hardship:

    Students can apply to the Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund.

    for help with course related costs however this cannot be used for fees or to cover general living costs.


    Bursaries and Scholarships:

    In addition the University also offers a range of Bursaries and Scholarships packages

    You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.

    Telephone

    01902 32 22 22

    Email

    enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

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    School of Education

    FD (Arts) Early Years Services

    FD (Arts) Part-time 3 years

    Register your interest
    Apply now
    Award
    FD (Arts)
    Start date(s)
    September 2024, September 2025
    UCAS Code
    Course specifications
    View course spec
    Course length
    Part-time (3 years)
    Campus location
    Telford College,Sandwell College,The Bournemouth and Poole College,London Early Years Foundation,City of Wolverhampton College
    School
    School of Education
    UCAS points calculator
    Open Points Calculator

    Why choose this course?

    This foundation degree is designed to offer you appropriate education and training as a professional currently working within early years workforce but who lack a qualification at degree level.

    Throughout the course there is an emphasis on the development of practical, personal and professional attributes. This includes qualities such as knowledge of early years policy and practice, challenging assumptions, responding to different views in an enterprising way and adopting collaborative ways of working with children, parents and other professionals.

    The blended teaching and learning approach adopted by this Foundation degree enables you to become digitally literate, share knowledge, reflect on practice and develop professionals who are enterprising with their ideas.

    What happens on the course?

    In Year 1, your study will explore how children and young people develop. This focused programme will also examine child health and safety, play and leisure, diversity issues and what it means to be growing up in the twenty-first century.

    During your second year you will look at families and communities in context. You will also examine curricula frameworks and explore theoretical approaches to learning. As a research skill you will learn how to study children and young people.

    There is also opportunity to engage in practical work based investigations that lead to quality improvement strategies and engage purposefully with reflective thinking.

    Course Modules

    Module: 4CF002
    Credits: 20
    Period: 1
    Type: Core
    Locations: The Bournemouth and Poole College; Telford College; Sandwell College; City of Wolverhampton College; University: Walsall Campus; London Early Years Foundation

    This module will expand your knowledge and understanding of the development of babies and young children from birth to eight. You will explore historical and contemporary theories relevant to different aspects of child development by drawing on research and literature. There will be a focus on children’s holistic development, in particular brain development, physical growth, as well as social and emotional development. As part of your learning you will be encouraged to consider factors that may affect the lives of babies and young children in relation to their growth and development, such as the complexities of family life and risks within the environment.

    Module: 4CF014
    Credits: 20
    Period: 1
    Type: Core
    Locations: London Early Years Foundation

    This module gives you the opportunity to explore London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) Pedagogy, This will include examining theories and concepts to help you understand social pedagogy and the LEYF view of the child and teacher. You will also explore theories and principles of LEYF early years practice and the Early Years Curriculum and apply your knowledge to a chosen area of practice. There will also be the opportunity to compare the LEYF pedagogy, in terms of enabling environments, developing harmonious relationships, and home learning to other Early Years settings and identify common areas and differences. You will also examine your own principles and values in relation to working with children and families people within the context of LEYF pedagogy. .This will enable you to develop your professional skills and knowledge and consider what high-quality early years provision looks like.

    Module: 4CF012
    Credits: 20
    Period: 1
    Type: Core
    Locations: London Early Years Foundation; The Bournemouth and Poole College; Sandwell College; Telford College; City of Wolverhampton College; University: Walsall Campus

    This module will provide you with the opportunity to question and evaluate the role of play in childhood by examining historical and contemporary theories and concepts. You will also explore the body of knowledge that has accumulated in recent years, which identifies the importance of play as a fundamental right for children. You will be required to use your placement/workplace experience to investigate the role of play in curricula frameworks, the family as well as explore international perspectives. You will also examine your own principles and values in relation to working with children to facilitate play activities by researching the role of the professional, the use of play spaces and planning and assessment. This will enable you to gain knowledge of ways to develop quality play provision and how the quality of play can be evaluated.

    Module: 4CF005
    Credits: 20
    Period: 1
    Type: Core
    Locations: London Early Years Foundation; University: Walsall Campus; Sandwell College; The Bournemouth and Poole College; Telford College; City of Wolverhampton College

    As part of your learning on this module you will be introduced to current debates around safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults. You will be encouraged to explore how policy, legislation and research evidence inform safeguarding practice. You will also consider the roles and responsibilities of all professionals to safeguard children, young people and vulnerable adults, and as part of this you will be encouraged to reflect on how professionals need to work together. You will explore how risk is managed and how families are supported by multi-agency teams, to ensure the well-being of all children, young people and vulnerable adults.

    Module: 4SN002
    Credits: 20
    Period: 1
    Type: Core
    Locations: City of Wolverhampton College; Telford College; Sandwell College; The Bournemouth and Poole College; University: Walsall Campus

    This work-based module aims to provide you with an understanding of the links between the development of your professional skills and current research and theory relating to reflective practice. A 'reflective practitioner' is someone who, at regular intervals, looks back at the work they do, and considers how they can improve. They 'reflect' on the work they have done. In this module you will be able to examine models of reflective practice that will help you to reflect on the development of new skills by evaluating the outcomes of your learning in relation to your academic study and workplace experiences. You will also consider the wider implications relating to your workplace experiences by drawing on research and literature to explore policy and guidance that informs your practice when working in educational settings.

    Module: 5ED002
    Credits: 20
    Period: 2
    Type: Core
    Locations: Sandwell College; The Bournemouth and Poole College; Telford College; City of Wolverhampton College; University: Walsall Campus; London Early Years Foundation

    Research is not just for researchers: as active members of our profession, and indeed society, we all are affected by the research of others. Learning how to conduct your own research gives insight and understanding into such work, and improves your skills as a scholar and as a practitioner. This module prepares you for a successful personal research dissertation in level 6. You will be introduced to a range of techniques and theories on how to gather information, make sense of it, and report it in an effective way.

    Module: 5CF011
    Credits: 20
    Period: 2
    Type: Core
    Locations: University: Walsall Campus; Telford College; The Bournemouth and Poole College; City of Wolverhampton College; London Early Years Foundation; Sandwell College

    In this module you will explore how babies and young children develop their communication, language and literacy skills. You will gain an understanding of how social and cultural aspects influence the role of the adult in supporting children’s communication, language and literacy development. As part of this module, you will also critically evaluate different ways in which children learn to communicate, and develop language and literacy skills and the range of pedagogical approaches which can support development. You will also analyse how adults interact with children to develop their language, literacy and communication skills. You will have the opportunity to develop your own professionalism and decision making based on your own value systems.

    Module: 5CF016
    Credits: 20
    Period: 2
    Type: Core
    Locations: London Early Years Foundation; Sandwell College; The Bournemouth and Poole College; University: Walsall Campus; Telford College; City of Wolverhampton College

    This module aims to increase your understanding, knowledge and the practical skills required to work with babies, young children and their families. You will learn about policy and health standards to achieve the health and wellbeing of babies and young children in early year’s settings. You will also gain of knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of an early year’s practitioner when promoting health and wellbeing. By drawing upon literature and research you will develop a critical understanding of the importance of creating a healthy environment, and how you can meet the needs of individual children to enhance their health and wellbeing. This will include the development of planned activities and interventions that promotes babies and young children's health wellbeing and safety that enable them to flourish.

    Module: 5CF013
    Credits: 20
    Period: 2
    Type: Core
    Locations: Telford College; Sandwell College; University: Walsall Campus; London Early Years Foundation; City of Wolverhampton College; The Bournemouth and Poole College

    Within this module you will develop a critical understanding of how children learn, the role of the adult and how learning environments can influence children’s understanding of the world around them. You will compare theories, concepts and principles of children's learning by drawing upon literature and research. In this module you will learn about children's cognitive development and you will be able to apply these theories to practice in early years settings. You will also be able to critically evaluate aspects such as child centred and adult directed pedagogy, creativity and critical thinking, children's choice and needs. You will be able to analyse different teaching and learning approaches which are part of the curriculum for children up to eight years.

    Module: 5CF004
    Credits: 20
    Period: 3
    Type: Core
    Locations: Sandwell College; City of Wolverhampton College; Telford College; The Bournemouth and Poole College; University: Walsall Campus

    This module aims to provide you with the opportunity to extend your skills of reflection to inform your work-based practice. You will be able to engage in ideas about the importance of reflection and how it is an essential process for transforming experiences into genuine learning. This module will enhance your ability to assess your own values, goals, and progress and you be able to evaluate the development of your personal and professional skills through critical reflection of your own learning experiences in practice. As part of your learning on the module you will explore a range of theoretical ideas and concepts that relate to practice within educational settings, such as pedagogy, engaging parents and multi-agency working to inform your reflection.

    Module: 5CF017
    Credits: 20
    Period: 3
    Type: Core
    Locations: University: Walsall Campus; City of Wolverhampton College; The Bournemouth and Poole College; Telford College; Sandwell College

    This module will enhance your knowledge and understanding of the role of the practitioner when working with children, young people and families. You will explore and show critical understanding on the impact of adverse childhood experiences and other social issues that may affect young lives. As part of your learning you will develop a critical understanding of how policy impacts on a range of diverse and vulnerable families and the challenges that policy may present for you, the practitioner, in your day-to day role. Key theories and therapeutic interventions will be evaluated as your professional knowledge and skills of family support are enhanced.

    Potential Career Paths

    Successful completion of this course could lead to Early Years Teacher Status, primary teaching, social work, health education, early year’s management, children’s information services, play services and community family support work. You have progression to the final stages of an Honours degree at the University, such as the BA (Hons) in Childhood Studies. You will also develop and consolidate a range of employability skills, including sharing information, working with and in groups, presenting information, digital literacy and critical thinking skills.

    Additional Information

    Everything you need to know about this course!

    This Foundation degree is taught on a flexible basis and allows you to undertake your studies around your working commitments.

    You will also benefit from excellent learning resources and a blended learning approach which has been exemplified as good practice by our external examiner.

    All the members of the teaching team are active researchers of Early Years, Childhood and Family Studies.

    To demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the importance and challenges of inter-agency working when leading practice to meet the needs of children and families, including health and wellbeing.

    To demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the expected pattern of children’s development from birth, including pedagogical approaches, creative planning of learning opportunities, the curriculum, the learning environment, assessment and methods of researching these.

    To demonstrate knowledge and understanding of issues in relation to rights, diversity, equity and inclusion in relation to working with children and families in a global context.

    To be aware of, analyse and make critical judgements in terms of impact and ethicality about key concepts, theories, new principles and issues of policy in a systematic way and evaluate the inter-relationship between work-based learning and quality improvement.

    To be able to reflect on your own value system and evaluate your personal strengths and weaknesses for future learning and apply this to your academic study and professional practice.

    To undertake enterprising work-based investigation and problem-solving and be able to communicate clearly a wide range of theoretical positions to a range of audiences using appropriate media and digital literacy skills.

    Location Mode Fee Year
    Home Part-time £4110 per year# 2024-25

    The University is committed to a transparent fee structure, with no hidden costs, to help you make an informed decision. This includes information on what is included in the fee and how fees are calculated and reviewed

    # Undergraduate part-time fees for 50% rate of study

     Entry Requirements:

      • You must hold a Level 3 Childcare related qualification, for example, NVQ Level 3 Diploma, NNEB, CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education, BTEC L3 National Diploma in Childcare and Education.
    • You must be able to provide a satisfactory employer reference evidencing that you have been employed or have experience for a minimum of one year working with children and families, or in a long term voluntary placement. Please see www.wlv.ac.uk/apply/how-to-apply/making-your-application/ for guidance).
  • You must be able to supply the College you will be attending with an up to date Enhanced DBS Police Check.

    •  Other Information:

    Applicants are usually over the age of 21. We also offer the opportunity to accredit prior certificated learning at Level 4 through our RPL process.

    Tuition Fees Loan (Home Fee Status):

    Most students will be able to apply for a loans to pay for these subject to eligibility. To find out more information please refer to the government Student Finance website.

    Changes for EU students:

    The UK government has confirmed that EU students starting courses from 1 August 2021 will normally be classified as having Overseas Fee status. More information about the change is available at UKCISA:

    EU citizens living in the UK with 'settled' status, and Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland, will still be classified as Home students, providing they meet the usual residency requirements, for more information about EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) click here.


    Self-funding:

    If you don’t want to take out a loan to pay your fees or if you aren’t eligible to receive a loan, you might want to take advantage of the University’s scheme to pay by instalments: See How to pay.

    For more information please contact the Gateway.


    Your employer, embassy or organisation can pay for your Tuition fees:

    If your employer, embassy or organisation agrees to pay all or part of your tuition fees; the University will refer to them as your sponsor and will invoice them for the appropriate amount.

    We must receive notification of sponsorship in writing as soon as possible, and before enrolment, confirming that the sponsor will pay your tuition fees.


    Financial Hardship:

    Students can apply to the Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund.

    for help with course related costs however this cannot be used for fees or to cover general living costs.


    Bursaries and Scholarships:

    In addition the University also offers a range of Bursaries and Scholarships packages

    You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.

    Telephone

    01902 32 22 22

    Email

    enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

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