FdA Early Years

Program Overview

This program provides a comprehensive understanding of early childhood development, policy, and practice. It covers key concepts, including the role of play, child development, SEND, wellbeing, and leadership and management. Students will gain practical skills and knowledge to work in various roles related to children and families.

Program Outline

Outline:

Level 4

• Perspectives on Early Years (OAK)
• Explores key features of early childhood nationally and internationally.
• Examines key concepts affecting young children and their families.
• Early Years policy and practice (OAK)
• Develops knowledge and understanding of policy and practice within the Early Years sector.
• Covers equality of opportunity, anti-discriminatory practice, inclusive practice, children's rights, health and safety, data protection, and British values.
• Play and Learning (OAK)
• Takes an experiential learning approach.
• Explores a range of early years play environments and reflects on comparisons made.
• Examines key features of play and the role of adults in supporting play.
• The Developing Child (OAK)
• Explores the development and learning of children.
• Focuses on personal, social, communication, emotional, physical, cognitive, and spiritual development with reference to inclusive practice and holistic development.

Level 5

• SEND (OAK)
• Develops initial research skills in relation to SEND in Early Years.
• Explores ethical considerations in conducting research with children.
• Reviews existing literature concerned with an identified area of SEND to gain awareness of the use of research to inform practice.
• Wellbeing (OAK)
• Investigates current and emerging theory and policy regarding the wellbeing of children and the implications for practice in the Early Years.
• Leadership and Management (OAK)
• Focuses on developing the student's ability to assume a leadership and management role in an Early Years setting.
• Plans and implements a staff development activity with a group of practitioners and reflects on the process and outcome.
• Collaborative practice (OAK)
• Focuses on developing the student's ability to reflect upon their role and awareness of the roles of other professionals in an integrated team.
• Develops a range of communication strategies enabling effective communication within an integrated team.

Careers:

• Management
• Advisory work
• Therapeutic service
• Community projects
• Social care
• Work with children and families

Other:

• The program is designed in consultation with employers.
• Students will be actively involved in a range of learning, teaching, and assessment.
• High expectations will be communicated to each student to promote a self-fulfilling prophecy to perform to the highest standard.
• Diversity of opportunity for students to demonstrate their talents and strengths will be provided across the program.
• A variety of approaches to learning and teaching will be utilized to reflect the academic level, session content, and outcomes.

UK StudentsPart time £770 per 15 credits for the 2024/2025 academic year

• Tuition fees are charged annually.
The fees quoted above are for the specified year(s) only. Fees may be higher in future years, for both new and continuing students. Please see the University’s