Early Childhood Education and Care (Top-up)

UCAS code: X310

Here's what University Centre Somerset says about its Early Childhood Education and Care (Top-up) course.

If you are committed to making a difference to the lives of children, young people and families or you are looking to advance your current Foundation Degree qualification, the Top-up Degree in Early Childhood Education and Care is the perfect programme to enhance your career opportunities.

You will develop skills as a critically reflective practitioner and learn to analyse and critique ideas and practice, in order to inform your lifelong learning post-qualification.

In addition to this, students are offered the opportunity to be assessed against the new Graduate Practitioner Competencies. Successful completion of this optional module provides you with an additional certificate.

Progression Opportunities You could secure employment in family support and projects working in a range of early years settings as a children’s centre worker, early years practitioner or a role within a primary school. The Honours Degree could also lead to management and leadership roles within early years settings, children’s centres and schools.

Postgraduate qualifications such as PGCE and Masters degrees are frequent destinations for students.

The modules studied may include: • Concepts of Childhood • Global Perspectives on Education • Contemporary Discourses in Early Years • The Creative Reflective Practitioner • Dissertation.

There are no exams on this programme, each module is assessed by means of assignments which may include reflective essays, the development of learning resources and presentations. Teaching sessions take the form of short lectures, supervised discussions, small group work and guest speakers. Placement/work-based experiences are integral to the learning opportunities on the programme. Personal tutor and academic support is provided and facilitates individual and whole group progression.