Get degree ideas using our A level explorer tool

Early Childhood Studies

University Centre Farnborough

UCAS Code: X310 | Foundation Degree in Arts - FdA

Entry requirements


UCAS Tariff

48

About this course


Course option

2years

Full-time | 2024

Work towards a rewarding career by exploring the everyday and unique factors that shape children’s learning and development, supported by experienced lecturers and hands-on work placements. This course starts each September and is awarded by the University of Surrey.
This course:

• Is a two-year foundation degree, which can be converted to a full degree by completing a one-year top-up degree
• Is taught over four days per week and has full-time status
• Offers the chance to gain vital work experience and exposure to different industries through weekly work placements (one day per week) and additional two to three-week block placements
• Can provide a route into careers related to early years, health, social care and education – start your journey in training to become a teacher
• Provides the opportunity to achieve Early Years Educator Status (a Level 2 qualification in Maths and English is required)
• Has previously involved educational trips, including exploring the Reggio Emilia approach to education in Italy and visiting early years centres, schools and local authorities in Finland

The study of early childhood and the complex influences on a child’s development is a fascinating topic for those interested in working with children. Through this course, you will discover how factors such as play, health and wellbeing, working with families and safeguarding all play a part in shaping the lives of young people.

At Farnborough, your lecturers will have experience working in a range of early years and education settings. This will give you a full insight into your subject in the classroom and beyond. Staff attendance at conferences and additional training also ensures that teaching reflects up-to-date practices in the industry.
The early years curriculum (Foundation and Key Stage 1) is covered within this course, together with the study of management in childcare and education. As well as exploring key theories and research, you will have the opportunity to put what you learn into practice through weekly work placements (one day per week). This will enable you to develop personal, practical and transferable skills, as well as gaining experiences that can help set you apart from other graduates when starting your new career.

**WHO IS THE PROGRAMME FOR?**
This degree is suitable for those who are passionate about working with children or within the early years sector, such as in schools, hospitals and residential care homes. You might currently be studying a Level 3, A Level, or Access to Higher Education course, be returning to education after a break, or wish to transfer from another higher education institution. It may also be possible for you to join this course in its second year following relevant qualifications and/or experience in the workplace.

**WHAT WILL I STUDY?**
The first year of this degree will introduce you to key areas in the understanding of children’s development and the necessary knowledge needed to work with children. During the second year you will delve deeper into more specialist topics, exploring prominent theoretical models, the influences of individual needs and differing approaches in European countries. You will complete a literature review in your second year, providing you with the opportunity to research a topic of special interest and develop skills that will benefit you on an honours degree programme.

Modules

Year 1
• Children’s Development and Learning (0-8 years)
• Children’s Rights, Policy and Practice
• Safeguarding the Child
• Working with the Under 2s
• Observation, Assessment and Planning
• Value of Play
• Professional Practice 1: Academic Skills
• Professional Practice 2: Professional Skills

Year 2
• Understanding Young Children’s Behaviour
• Health and Wellbeing in the Early Years
• Early Years Framework, Curriculum and Planning
• History and Perspectives of Early Childhood
• Leadership & Management in Early Years Settings
• Introduction to Research
• Professional Practice 3: Partnerships
• Professional Practice 4: Personal Development

Assessment methods

You will normally be assessed throughout your course to test your understanding within each module. This will be done through a combination of written assignments, literature reviews, presentations, professional development journals, formal examinations, project proposals and case studies.

HOW WILL I BE TAUGHT?
A range of teaching techniques are used in this degree to deliver content in useful and varied ways. This includes lecture-based presentations, practical sessions including role play and observation, individual and group project work, and individual presentations.

Work-based experience is a key feature of this course. You will be required to spend one day per week on work placement with additional two to three-week block placements during your studies

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£8,000
per year
England
£8,000
per year
EU
£8,000
per year
International
£8,000
per year
Northern Ireland
£8,000
per year
Scotland
£8,000
per year
Wales
£8,000
per year

The Uni


Course location:

University Centre Farnborough

Department:

Education and Humanities

Read full university profile

What students say


Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.

After graduation


Sorry, no information to show

This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.

Share this page

This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here