Early Years and Primary Studies

UCAS code: LX53

Here's what University Centre Colchester at Colchester Institute says about its Early Years and Primary Studies course.

Early education represents a major area of public investment with the government currently investing £5.2 billion annually.

The early years of a child's life are pivotal for their development and future opportunities. Adults who work with young children are in a unique position to make a significant impact. Therefore, it is essential that these practitioners receive proper education and training to provide high-quality care. The early stages of childhood are crucial and involve much more than simply engaging in play; they lay the foundation for the child's entire life journey.

The Early Years and Primary Studies course is for those interested in working with children aged 0 - 11 years and offers a holistic approach to child development, the Early Years curriculum, the National Curriculum, legislation, and safeguarding. We aim to provide students with an in-depth holistic view of child development and learning to enable students to work in an informed, sensitive, and empowering way with children and families. Our students will be key influences in the lives of many children providing physical, emotional, social, and intellectual care. The role requires them to support children’s developmental milestones and observe and assess their progress throughout early childhood ensuring that the individual needs and interests of children in settings and schools are met. Students will need skills to work as part of a team to provide enabling environments in which all children can play, develop, and learn; building strong partnerships with parents and carers to enable all children’s needs are met. To do this they will complete modules that are relevant to the theory, knowledge, skills, and practice that are required to work in the sector. Initial modules will introduce them to research and study skills required to learn at Higher Education level and core practice-based content regarding the curriculum, planning, assessment, and safeguarding. The EYFS and National curriculum are weaved into every module with a specific focus on Special Educational Needs and inclusive practice delivered in Year 2. Regular research and reading will be encouraged and recommended throughout the course for students to maintain current and up to date professional knowledge with an opportunity for action research to be completed in Year 2 and for their final undergraduate dissertation in Year 3. Key theoretical knowledge will be embedded in practice through placement experiences linked to the professional practice and development modules throughout the three years of the course.

Students can complete placement alongside their study in either paid or voluntary roles in early years settings over the 3-year programme. This pathway on the course does not include a license to practice at level 6 so it is recommended that students have a Level 3 qualification in Early years before choosing this option. Many of our graduates from the current Early Years provision progress to careers in pre-school or primary school teaching, or work as family support workers or play therapists. Others choose to further their studies on master’s programmes that specialise in specific topics, such as social work or children’s rights.

The course operates on a modular basis that provides flexibility and choice. Most modules count for 20 academic credits, with each credit taken equating to a total study time of around 10 hours, which includes scheduled teaching, independent study and assessment activity.

Full-time students take modules worth 60 credits per semester, with part-time students taking proportionately fewer credits per semester. A total of 120 credits per level and 360 credits are needed for an honours degree as a whole. Overall grades for the course and degree classification are based on the marks obtained for modules taken at levels 5 and 6. Our teaching is informed by research, professional practice and industry engagement and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline.

Further information on current module content can be found on the University Centre Colchester website.

Assessment: The course provides you with opportunities to test your understanding of the subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module normally contains at least one piece of practice or ‘formative’ assessment for which you receive feedback from your tutor. Practice assessments are incorporated into several modules per level to support students theoretical application in the workplace.

There is a formal or ‘summative’ assessment at the end of each module. Assessment methods include written examinations and a range of coursework assessments such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations and your final year major project. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.

Feedback: You will receive feedback on all practice assessments and on formal assessments undertaken by coursework. Feedback is intended to help you learn and you are encouraged to discuss it with your module tutor.