Print This Page
Foundation Degree
Early Years
- Duration:
- Two academic years
- Start Dates:
- September each year
- Attendance:
- Part time Bucks New University - (Tuesdays 9.30am-4.30pm)
Amersham and Wycombe (TBC)
Aylesbury (TBC)
East Berkshire (Day TBC) - Venue:
- The course is offered locally by 4 providers:
-Buckinghamshire New University at High Wycombe Campus,
-Aylesbury College,
-Amersham and Wycombe College (Flackwell Heath)
-East Berkshire
Buckinghamshire New University validate all the awards - Cost:
- Available on request
Please contact your local authority regarding financial assistance. Please see the funding section below.
- Key Contact:
- Carol Rogers
- Tel:
- 01494 603 171
- Email:
- ask@bucks.ac.uk
Is this course suitable for me?
This Higher Education qualification will be of interest to Early Years Practitioners qualified to Level 3 who are working with children from birth to five years.
Overview
Introduction
What is a Foundation Degree?
A Foundation Degree rates the same academically as the first two years of a three year Honours Degree at a UK university. It can be achieved in two years by part-time study because it is work-based and in an applied discipline. Currently about 50,000 students (mostly adult and part-time) are following Foundation Degrees in England. Subjects range from Nuclear Decommissioning to Community Development and Early Years! Almost all Foundation Degrees offer progression to an Honours Degree, and Bucks New University offer a BA (Hons) Practice Development (Early Years) as the third year of study towards a full Honours degree.
The key features of a Foundation Degree are:
- The development of specialist technical knowledge and skills
- Learning structured around your employment
- The development of motivated and qualified students who will benefit from increased career opportunities
- You can continue to earn while learning – there is no need to give up your job to do a Foundation Degree
- Partnership input and support from both academics and practitioners
How will it be delivered?
- Flexible and diverse study methods including work based learning, lectures, seminars, tutorials, distance learning and on-line support
- Students will study in the workplace and will be have an allocated Mentor to support their learning in practice
The course team
The course team comprises lecturers and tutors with a wide spread of qualifications and experience in Early Years, Health and Education. You will also be supported in your studies by an Early Years tutor from the course team who will visit you in the workplace to support your workbased learning and portfolio development. Students will have full access to the library and Learning Resources Centre at Bucks New University and, where relevant, the learning resources of their home FE college.
Why not try a taster day or an open event
Coming back into education can be daunting, but attending one of our taster days could help ease any concerns or worries you may have, by offering an opportunity to meet the teaching team and other students, familiarise yourself with the Higher Education environment and experience a couple of module taster sessions. If you would like information on a taster event, please contact us on 01494 603 171 or e-mail ask@bucks.ac.uk
Content
Year One
LEVEL 4
Developing your role as a reflective practitioner
This module will focus students on identifying and evaluating the role of a reflective practitioner and the development of the skills necessary to take on the role in the work place.
Observing and assessing children
This module will build on previous learning of the vital role of assessment and observation within the planning cycle. It will focus upon the current and forthcoming curricula and analyse the role of observations within the underlying principles of early years education.
Child development birth to five years
This module will focus on holistic child development from Birth to five years. The students will research the stages and sequences of the five developmental areas, factors affecting learning and development and enhance their knowledge and understanding of children by studying developmental theorists.
Early Years Foudation Stage Framework
This module intends to equip students with a thorough understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework. The students will study the history of early years education and focus on the philosophies underpinning past curricula, present Early Years Foundation Stage framework.
Early Years Foundation Stage Framework of literacy and numeracy
This module will focus on detailed exploration of the communication, language and literacy, and, problem solving, reasoning and numeracy aspects of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The students will reflect upon childrens developmental needs and examine how to meet these needs through curriculum.
Growth and development of the enquiring child
This module develops students knowledge and awareness of the components current and forthcoming curricula in early years education.
Year Two
Level 5
The effective reflective practitioner
This module builds on the first module developing your role as a reflective practitioner in year one. It aims to follow on from the students knowledge of the role of the reflective practitioner and their development of that role in year one. The students will develop an enhanced understanding of the implications of this role and demonstrate their ability to be a senior practitioner both in the work place and through college work including simulations, role play, discussion and written assignments.
The developing child
The students will revisit the relationship between learning and development, diversity in development, and, educational pioneers. They will recall their knowledge on these areas and develop this further through analytical thinking.
Safeguarding children
This module aims to further enhance students understanding and awareness of the reflective practitioners role and responsibilities relating to issues involved with safeguarding children, including implementation of strategies to promote childrens awareness of personal safety.
Inclusion
This module focuses students on the issues and philosophies surrounding inclusion. Students will enhance their knowledge of legislation regarding special needs and the implications of this for early years settings and the importance of working closely with other professionals. The module will aid students in identifying children with special needs and evaluating ways to support these needs, including planning for their individual care and learning needs and related referral processes.
Working with multidisciplinary teams
This module will develop students knowledge about other professionals who work with children, including health provision. It aims to encourage students to develop positive working relationships as senior practitioners with other professionals, for the benefit of the children.
Partnership with parents
This module intends to focus the students on the vital role parents play in working alongside staff in early years settings to ensure their childs optimum health and development. It will encourage students to understand and value this role and to consider the needs of parents in relation to their childs/childrens care and education. The students will evaluate their communications skills with parents.
Entry requirements
Applicants must be current practitioners in an Early Years setting. It is expected that most applicants will have at least three years experience of working in the Early Years environment. Practice experience may be undertaken as employed work or for a registered charity (voluntary work). Applicants must hold recognised qualifications at NVQ Level 3 or other appropriate Level 3 qualification and 3 years post qualifying experience. These include:
- Cache Diploma in Childcare and Education
- Pre-School Practice and Childminding Practice
- BTEC National Diploma Early Years
- NVQ levels 3 and 4 in Childcare Learning and Development
- Advanced Diploma in Childcare and Education
- (GCSE English and Maths or the equivalent will be needed if you wish to progress to the Early Years Professional status or Post Graduate Diploma in Education)
Students with credits at NVQ 4, Advanced Diploma in Childcare and Education or equivalent learning in Early Years settings may be offered credit through Bucks New University Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) regulations and procedures.
Successful applicants will be invited for interview.
Employment opportunities
The Foundation Degree has sector endorsement, and is therefore, recognised by the CWDC. A student completing the course may also apply to the final year of an honours degree and then onto a EYPS postgraduate Certificate in Education or Graduate Teacher Programme or progress to Initial Teaching Training with advanced standing or a Masters Degree such as Early Childhood Education with Care.
Bucks New University offers a conversion to honours programme BA (Hons) Practice Development Early Years top-up. The Practice Development course has been developed as a work based course to develop skills in analysis and evaluation, with students being supported to undertake substantial projects in the place of work, with a focus on practice development, Leadership and Management.
A typical mature graduate may wish to use the degree for progression into Nursery Management.
Funding assistance
Bursary funding for Buckinghamshire students may be available through Buckinghamshire County Council to help pay towards the cost of this degree. Please contact the Workforce Development Team on 01296 382 658 or email cypsworkforcedevelop@buckscc.gov.uk for further information.
There is also the Buckinghamshire Early Years Professional Pathway (BEYPP) formerly Graduate Leader Fund from Buckinghamshire County Council. Buckinghamshire students please contact the Early Years & Childcare Service on 0845 3708 090 for more information.
How to make an application
Choose where you would like to study, then contact the appropriate person for an application pack:
Buckinghamshire New University, Owen Lord on 01494 603 171 or ask@bucks.ac.uk
Aylesbury College – contact the Admissions team on 01296 588 632 or admissions@aylesbury.ac.uk
Amersham and Wycombe College – Donna Lourens 01494 735 555 or dlourens@amersham.ac.uk
East Berkshire College – Lynn Cook 01753 793176 or lynn.cook@eastberks.ac.uk
Further Information and advice
Visit www.bucks.ac.uk or www.aylesbury.ac.uk or www.amersham.ac.uk
www.eastberks.ac.uk
Call: 01494 603 171
We hope to have a fully on-line application system shortly, but in the meantime, to apply for a course, please download and print these forms, completing them fully and posting back to the address below.
- Course_Enquiry_Letter (70.4 KB)
- Application_form (58.1 KB)
- Notes_for_Guidance (51.6 KB)
- Fee_Authoristaion_Form (61.1 KB)
- Foundation_Degree_Reference_Form (9.6 KB)
If you are unable to view the forms, please click here to download a free version of adobe reader.
Alternatively, if you call us on 01494 603 171 or email ask@bucks.ac.uk we can post you a hard copy application pack.
Students funded by the NHS or other employer
If the cost of your course is being funded by your employer, please contact your education lead or manager for guidance as to how they would prefer you to make an application.