BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies (With Foundation Year)

This extended course is perfect if you want a degree in Early Childhood Studies, Special Needs, and Education Studies but you don’t have the standard entry requirements for direct entry to one of these programs.  The Foundation Year program is stimulating and designed with you in mind.  We do believe that each student is unique and that you come to us with a wealth of experiences that can be transferrable during your studies.  As part of our program, we prepare you by building on this existing knowledge to develop the skills required to prepare you for Level four. This will include increased critical thinking and reflection skills, recognition of appropriate leadership and management skills, and working with children.

Foundation Year(If Required)

• Mental Wealth: Introduction to academic and professional identity/practice (Core)
• Introduction to Early Childhood, Special Needs and Education (Core)
• Social, Emotional and Mental Health (Core)
• Placements in Context – Play and Learning (Core)
• Skills for Academic and Professional Writing (Core)
• Research in Practice: Live Project (Core)

Year 1

• Mental Wealth: Academic and Professional Skills for Life 1 (Core)
• Exploring Social Worlds (Core)
• Key Principles for Inclusion (Core)
• Emerging Research Communities (Core)
• Practice module Part 1 (Core)
• Practice module Part 2 (Core)

Year 2

• Mental Wealth: Academic and Professional Skills for Life 2 (Core)
• Identity and Social Justice (Core)
• Building Research Communities (Core)
• Contemporary Issues in Education (Core)
• Practice module (Core)
• Practice module (Core)

Online Modules

• Issues and Controversies in Early Childhood Development (core)
• Observing, Documenting, and Researching with Children, Families, and Practitioners (core)
• Social Policy for Children and Families (core)
• Professionalism and Inclusion (core)

This course offers the opportunity of year-long placement between years two and three. If you choose to take this option, you’ll spend your third year on a placement with a relevant company or organization, adding valuable practical experience to your growing academic knowledge. The extra placement year means it will take four years to complete your studies, instead of three.

Year 3

• Mental Wealth: Academic and Professional Skills for Life 3  (Core)
• Critical and global perspectives on education  (Core)
• Practice module  (Core)
• Practice module  (Core)
• Active Research Communities  (Core)

Online Modules

• Early Childhood Research Dissertation (core)
• Leading and Managing Partnerships in the Early Years (core)
• Inclusion and Diversity in the Early Years (core)
• Children, Culture and Globalisation (core)

Employability

Early Childhood Studies gives you the skills and knowledge to work in a wide range of jobs with children and for children and their families. Graduates have taken jobs in local government, the NHS, charities, housing associations, and day nurseries. Their roles have included childcare project managers, family support workers, play co-ordinators, out-of-school project managers, and classroom/education assistants. The University of East London has strong and trusted relationships with local schools, childcare organizations, and loyal alumni. This means you’ll have plenty of contact with potential employers through work placements, mentoring, and guest lecturers.