EARLY YEARS, EDUCATION AND PRACTICE FDA FOUNDATION DEGREE (WORK BASED)

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Overview

About the Course

Advance your career in the early years sector with a foundation degree that blends practical experience, academic insight, and personal support, enabling you to study part time while remaining employed and progressing towards senior roles or teaching opportunities.

This work-based foundation degree is designed for professionals already working in early years settings who hold a relevant level 3 qualification. The course is taught one afternoon or evening per week, offering full-time status with the flexibility to balance study and employment. Over two years, you will explore contemporary theories of child development, curriculum design, observation and assessment, the value of play, and effective family engagement, all directly linked to your workplace practice.

Key features include small, close-knit classes led by experienced lecturers, ensuring a personalised learning environment with ample opportunities for feedback and discussion. The curriculum is enriched by educational trips, such as exploring the Reggio Emilia approach in Italy and visiting early years centres in Finland, broadening your perspective on international best practice. Assessment methods are varied and practical, including coursework, presentations, case studies, and reflective assignments that demonstrate both your new knowledge and its application in real-world settings.

Graduates are equipped with the skills and confidence to pursue a wide range of careers, from early years teacher and education consultant to family support worker and special educational needs coordinator. The degree also provides a pathway to further study, with the option to convert your qualification to a full degree through a one-year top-up programme. Studying with us means joining a supportive community dedicated to helping you achieve your professional ambitions in early years education.

WHO IS THIS PROGRAMME FOR?

This work-based foundation degree is aimed at those currently employed within the early years sector who hold a relevant level 3 qualification and want to work towards more senior roles, or teaching.

WHAT WILL I STUDY?

During this course you will study part time while continuing in your job. You will examine theories of how children learn and develop, analysing topics such as curriculum development, observation and assessment, the value of play, and working with families. Your work-based setting will facilitate your learning, with assignments that show both your new knowledge and how to apply it in the workplace.

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 FdA Foundation Degree (Work Based)

Additional Programme Specification for Early Years, Education and Practice FdA Foundation Degree (Work Based)

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?

Year 1

The Physical, Personal, Social and Emotional Child
The Child, Family and Parental Involvement
Health and Wellbeing
Promoting Creative Learning
Value of Play
Integrated Working and Protecting the Child

Year 2

The Curious Child
Professional Curiosity: Reflection and Development of Early Years Curriculum
Introduction to Research
Policy, Perspectives and Influences on Early Years and Childhood Education
Quality Change: Leadership and Management
Understanding Young Children’s Behaviour

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 a combination of assessed coursework and assignments, multiple choice questions, formal examinations, written reports, case studies, summative reflection, literature reviews and presentations. Assignments will demonstrate both your new knowledge and how to apply it in the workplace.

Programme Structure

The structure of our programmes follows educational aims that are tailored to each programme. These are all outlined in the Programme Specification documents found under our Quality Assurance page, including further details such as the learning outcomes.

Your Future

What Next?

Upon completion of this degree, you will have the option to convert your qualification to a full degree by completing a one-year top-up degree - such as our BA (Hons) Early Years, Education and Practice Top-up.

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
Special educational needs coordinator (SENCO)
Teaching assistant

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

Child psychotherapist
Children’s nurse
Community development worker
Counsellor
Learning mentor
Youth worker
Social worker
Play specialist
Educational psychology
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 - X311

Institution Code - F66

What previous qualifications and experience will I need?

For this course, you will need the following

48 UCAS points from relevant subject(s)
At least 18 months experience and current employment in the Early Years sector of at least 12 hours per week
A EYE (Early Years Educator) qualification

If English is not your first language, evidence of your ability will need to be supplied with your applications. IELTS 6.5 is required.

Ask A Question

Ask a Question

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