We have designed this course to equip you with the Graduate Practitioner Competencies you need for employment within the early years sector. The theoretical and practical modules you study will provide you with the knowledge, skills and experience required to meet these competencies.
You will benefit from studying alongside students on related courses. Together you will learn about:
How children and young people develop
Child protection and safeguarding requirements
How specific groups of learners may be labelled and stereotyped, leading to marginalisation and exclusion
Mental health in children and young people
The impact of issues such as disability, socio-economic status, trauma and abuse on development and education
The specialist knowledge you will gain by choosing this course includes:
Identifying and reflecting on the knowledge, skills and values needed to work in the early years sector
Historical and global approaches to early years education and care, evaluating their influence on today’s professional practices
Challenges in leadership and management in the early years sector, considering different styles and approaches to leading and managing
Professional practice is central to this course. Your placements could be with schools, nurseries or childminders, community groups, refuges, early help teams, or children excluded from school. You will carry out at least 25 days of assessed placement work in every year of study. This qualifies you as having received the 'full and relevant' training that meets the UK Department for Education standards.
Our modules draw on the team's research and our professional experience. The team have experience of a wide range of senior roles in education and social care. We bring our professional values and philosophical approach to our teaching, as well as our academic expertise.
As well as your placements, this course includes plenty of opportunities to go beyond the classroom, with extra learning opportunities including:
Emergency simulation days with students from paramedic science, policing and more
Gaining a level 3 paediatric first aid certificate
Hearing from industry specialists
Visiting forest schools and Montessori schools
Working with the armed forces on team building and communication
Not sure which course to choose? We offer 2 other courses relating to children and young people in education or social care settings.
International students
If you are an international student you will need to show that your qualifications match our entry requirements.
Information about international qualifications and entry requirements can be found on our International pages.
If English is not your first language you will need to show that you have English Language competence at IELTS level 6.0 (with no skill below 5.5) or equivalent.
To study for a degree with us, you will need to pay tuition fees for your course. How much you pay depends on whether you live inside the UK, or internationally (outside the UK). Tuition fees may be subject to inflation in future years.
UK 2024 entry
The tuition fee for 2024 entry onto this course is £9,250 per year for full time study.
This price applies to all UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students.
You can find out more about funding your degree by visiting our funding opportunities page.
Funding Opportunities
Placement year funding
If you choose to take a placement year, and your course offers it, you can apply for the Tuition Fee and Maintenance Loan for your placement year. How much you are awarded is based on the type of placement being undertaken and whether it is a paid or unpaid placement. The tuition fee for your placement year will be reduced.
Tuition fees
UK 2024 entry
£9,250
per year
full time
International 2024 entry
£11,500
per year
full time
International 2024 entry
The tuition fee for 2024 entry to this course is £11,500 per year for full time study.
This price applies to all students living outside the UK.
Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a Student Visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages.
Find out more about funding your degree.