EARLY YEARS EDUCATION AND PRACTICE BA (HONS) TOP-UP DEGREE

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Overview

About the Course

Enhance your expertise in early years education with a top-up degree that connects advanced theory to your professional practice, equipping you to lead, innovate, and support children’s development in a sector that shapes the future of society.

The Early Years Education and Practice BA Top-Up Degree is a one-year programme designed for those currently employed in the early years sector who wish to convert their qualifications or experience into a full honours degree. Taught one afternoon or evening per week, the course offers full-time status and is tailored to fit around your work commitments. You will explore the main roles and functions of early years settings, leadership strategies, and the broad range of factors influencing children’s development, health, and wellbeing.

Key features include modules on ethical practice, early intervention, leadership, comparative education, and professionalism, as well as a dissertation that allows you to research a topic of personal interest. The curriculum is enriched by lecturers with extensive experience in early years and teaching, ensuring that content reflects current industry standards and best practice. Educational trips, such as exploring the Reggio Emilia approach in Italy and visiting centres in Finland, provide valuable international perspectives.

Studying with us means joining a supportive academic community dedicated to your growth as a reflective and skilled practitioner. Graduates are well prepared for a wide range of careers, including early years teaching, education consultancy, family support, special educational needs coordination, and more, making this degree an excellent choice for those committed to making a difference in children’s lives.

WHO IS THIS PROGRAMME FOR?

This degree is suitable for those currently employed within the early years sector, who want to top-up their existing qualifications or experience into a full honours degree and work towards more senior roles or teaching. Example roles you may currently be working as include Early Years Practitioner or Teaching Assistant.

You might currently be studying a foundation degree or HND in a relevant subject, or wish to transfer from another higher education institution. It may also be possible for you to join this course following relevant professional qualifications and/or experience in the workplace.

WHAT WILL I STUDY?

You will discover the main roles and functions of early years settings, and the leadership tactics that can lead to their successful operation. You will also explore the broad range of factors that influence how children develop, analysing relevant research findings and topics in health and wellbeing. As part of the course you will complete a dissertation where you will have the opportunity to research a topic of special interest.

PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION

The structure of our programmes follows clear educational aims that are tailored to each programme. These are all outlined in the programme specifications which include further details such as the learning outcomes:

Programme Specification for Early Years Education and Practice BA (Hons) Top-up Degree

Fees

FEE	COST
Fee Per Year	£6000

Paying for this Course

There are no up-front tuition fees for this course when taking out a student loan. Read more and find out if you are eligible.

Please note that while we make reasonable adjustments to remove any barriers to education, additional fees may be payable where this is not possible. For example, to provide additional support due to a disability. Please contact us if you believe you have any additional needs so that we can discuss your options before enrolling on a course.

Your Course

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.

What modules are covered?

Ethical Practice in Early Childhood
Early Intervention: Setting Firm Foundations for Learning 0-2
Leading Quality and Change
Comparing Early Childhood Education and Care - This module introduces students to the field of comparative and international educational data. The module pays particular attention to early educational and childcare systems in modern industrial societies that are comparable to England. Relevant systems, policy and curriculums will be reviewed and evaluated to see how they have responded to the challenge of improving outcomes and attainment for children.
Early Years Education and Policy - The Social Context - This module will explore the role of education in preparing young children for entry into society, including the school readiness debate. It will also address the impact on wider issues of social forces such as economics, politics and culture have on care and education and how they can result in variation in outcomes for children.
Professionalism in the Early Years
Dissertation - The dissertation will involve the completion of a research project of student’s choice.

How will I be assessed?

You will normally be assessed throughout your course to test your understanding within each module. This will be done through coursework, written assignments, formal examinations, professional discussion, project plans and dissertation.

Your Future

What Next?

There are a wide number of careers where your new degree will be relevant. Some of the examples below may require extra training and experience first. Please speak to our careers advisers to discover which career routes are best for you.

Jobs directly related to early years degrees include:

Early years teacher
Education consultant
Family support worker
Learning mentor
Special educational needs coordinator (SENCO)
Teaching assistant

Jobs where a degree in early years might be useful include:

Play specialist
Child psychotherapist
Children’s nurse
Community development worker
Social worker
Counsellor
Educational psychology
Youth worker
Speech and language therapist

Transferable Skills

Independent learning
Written and oral communication
Team working
Research and analytical skills
Organisational and time management skills
Problem solving
IT Skills

Entry Requirements

What is the entry process?

You can apply for this higher education course in the following ways:

Via the UCAS website. Visit www.ucas.com and browse the courses available under 'University Centre Farnborough'.
Directly to University Centre Farnborough via the button on this webpage. Applications take around 15 minutes and are free of charge. You can apply to us direct at any time in the year (including after the UCAS deadline). Applications of this type are separate to the UCAS system, which means you could also apply for more than the five universities that UCAS allows.

UCAS Code – XL15

Institution Code - F66

What previous qualifications and experience will I need?

A pre-requisite to this course is:

An EYE (Early Years Educator) qualification

In addition to one of the following:

A Foundation Degree or equivalent
A level 5 higher education qualification in a relevant subject
Evidence of relevant work experience and/or recent study, following a successful interview

Applications are considered on an individual basis, and we recommend that you apply even if you are not sure that you meet the criteria above.

Ask A Question

Ask a Question

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