FdA Early Years Childhood Studies
Course Overview
If you work with young children in early years education or are taking on a substantial voluntary role in the sector, our Foundation Degree in Early Years Childhood Studies at The Growth Company in Manchester could be just what you're looking for. You can develop essential knowledge and understanding of early years and childhood studies while gaining practical on-the-job experience.Our expert team will help you to gain a solid foundation in early years education and integrate this knowledge with your real-life experiences in the workplace. You'll be able to apply what you learn to practical situations in your working life. You can then reflect on these ideas and experiences to consider how to improve the services you provide to the children in your care and their families.
During your studies, we'll support you in developing your leadership skills and broadening your practical and theoretical early years knowledge. At the end of the course, we hope you'll emerge with the confidence and skills to take on additional responsibilities at work. You may also consider the possibility of further studies, such as our BA (Hons) Early Years and Childhood Studies (top-up) degree course.
Highlights
- The course involves part-time study (usually one evening per week) alongside your work. We ensure children and their parents are at the heart of your learning so you can apply your newly acquired knowledge in your work environment without delay.
- You'll have the opportunity to develop leadership skills and broaden your practical and theoretical early years knowledge.
- While you'll be based at The Growth Company for the duration of your studies, you'll graduate from the University of Bolton.
- You'll have access to the University's e-learning resources, an extensive e-library and the support of University librarians.
- Our teaching staff are professionals who have worked in the early years sector and have substantial knowledge and experience in the field.
- After successfully completing this course, you could continue your studies at the honours degree level with our BA (Hons) top-up course.
Key Features
- The Growth Company is a well-established partner of the University of Bolton, based in Manchester, and focusing on early years, initial teacher training and business courses.
- A link tutor provides academic communication between The Growth Company and the University of Bolton's academic school. This ensures the experience you receive as an off-campus student is equivalent to that of an on-campus student.
- As an off-campus student, you'll also have access to the support of the University's dedicated Off-Campus team and resources to help make you truly feel part of the institution.
- We'll encourage and support you to develop a critical awareness of current issues in the childcare sector.
- Early years employers are involved with monitoring and evaluation of the programme, both as workplace mentors and as students on the course.
- The course has been developed with the possibility of flexible delivery to meet the needs of both you and your employer.
Entry Requirements
- Ideally, you'll hold a Level 3 qualification in a childcare-related subject. However, substantial relevant work experience in the early years sector may also be acceptable.
- You should have GCSE English and Mathematics at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent). Level 2 Functional Skills are also acceptable. Please contact us if you wish to discuss other equivalent qualifications.
- You'll need employment or a substantial voluntary role in early years as work-based learning is essential to this course.
- We consider every application on its individual merits.
- You'll be required to attend an interview as part of the application process. If you don’t meet the standard entry requirements, we may also ask you to provide a portfolio of work or complete another form of test so that we can assess your suitability for the course.
- This course involves regulated activity, so you must gain an Enhanced Disclosure certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before starting your studies. Usually, your employer will organise this. If you need to arrange this yourself, please note that charges are payable to cover the cost of the DBS Enhanced Disclosure application and annual registration with the online Update Service.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
- Please note that this course is subject to the University's Fitness to Practise procedure.
- This course is open to Home students only. Applications from International and EU students cannot usually be accepted because the study location for this course is not licenced by UKVI to sponsor students. Therefore, if you require sponsorship under the Student Visa Route to study in the UK, then, unfortunately, we'll be unable to consider your application for this course. Some EU students are eligible to study this course under the EU Settlement Scheme or Common Travel Area arrangement – for details, please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/studying-in-the-uk-guidance-for-eu-students.
- Please visit www.gceducationandskills.ac.uk/higher-education/ to find out more about The Growth Company.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
This Foundation Degree in Early Years Childhood Studies offers you a strong foundation in the theories underpinning all fields of the early years sector, including play, care, health and education.
This qualification aims to develop your skills in communication, time management, teamwork, critical analysis, negotiation, problem-solving and dealing with difficult situations. We'll support you in building your skills as a reflective practitioner and leader in the work setting or advancing your existing career in the early years' sector.
What can I do with this qualification?
You may choose to specialise in a particular area, such as special educational needs, or progress to our BA (Hons) top-up course.
Alternative career options
Foundation Degree graduates can also use this qualification to step into a range of other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. Some possible careers include the following:
- Play therapy
- Counselling
- Child psychotherapy
- School liaison
- Sports and outdoor education
- Student welfare
- Nursing
- Educational psychology
- Speech and language therapy
- Community development
- Consultancy and research
Fees & Funding
Home/EU Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
International Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
Bursaries
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2024-25 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
Please contact Admissions by telephone on 01204 903903 or email enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
Admissions
University of Bolton
Deane Road
Bolton, BL3 5AB
United Kingdom
Tel: 01204 903903
Email: enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
International Applicants
International applications are not possible for this course
As an international student you are not allowed to study this course because of the restrictions on your visa.
We offer a wide range of full-time courses in lots of different subjects, many of our courses start in September and January. If you would like to see what courses are available please visit our Course Search.
Partner Organisation Applicants
Please contact Admissions by telephone on 01204 903903 or email enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
Admissions
University of Bolton
Deane Road
Bolton, BL3 5AB
United Kingdom
Tel: 01204 903903
Email: enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
Teaching & Assessment
Each module begins with classes that introduce the course content. We then explore how to apply these concepts in workplace scenarios. In this way, we help you learn to apply your new knowledge in practice. Tutorials form part of each module, and you'll receive support for your independent work. In addition, the Practice Trainer will develop your professional practice through observations in the workplace, feedback and one-to-one discussions.
Various assessment methods are used throughout the course, including essays, presentations, case studies, activity plans, reflective accounts, and critical evaluations. During your final module, you'll undertake an independent study related to an area of your practice.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Facilitating Children's Learning
- Creating Positive Learning Experiences for Children
- Study Skills and Personal Development Planning
- The Developing Child
- Inclusive Practice
- Social Policy for Early Years
- Learning in the Digital Age
- Developing Reflective Practice
- Safeguarding Children
- Research Perspectives
- Independent Research Project
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 90% Practical exams 10% |
| Level 2 | Coursework 85% Practical exams 15% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 67% Placement/study abroad 8% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 25% |
| Level 2 | Guided independent study 77% Placement/study abroad 8% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 15% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
