FdA Early Years Leadership

Summary 2012/13

• Gain a solid academic grounding that will improve your current knowledge and understanding as an effective early years leader and manager;
• Benefit from career progression opportunities to gain Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) and/or top-up to full honours degree;
• Attend your chosen study centre for only one afternoon per week, minimising your time away from work and other commitments.

This is a programme created for existing leaders or managers in early years settings, and has been carefully designed to meet your early years professional development needs. Practical, work-based learning will improve both your experience and your professional confidence, providing you with invaluable skills in early years leadership together with a qualification endorsed by the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC).

2012 Entry Requirements

A minimum of 40 points from one A-level or equivalent Level 3 qualification is normally required. Accreditation of prior learning through relevant NVQ Level 4 or 5 qualifications may be possible. GCSE in English Language and Mathematics at grade C or equivalent are desirable. You need to be working (on a full-time, part-time or voluntary basis) in an early years setting with children aged 0-5 years.

Summary 2013/14

• Gain a solid academic grounding that will improve your current knowledge and understanding as an effective early years leader and manager;
• Benefit from career progression opportunities to gain Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) and/or top-up to full honours degree;
• Attend your chosen study centre for only one afternoon per week, minimising your time away from work and other commitments.

This is a programme created for existing leaders or managers in early years settings, and has been carefully designed to meet your early years professional development needs. Practical, work-based learning will improve both your experience and your professional confidence, providing you with invaluable skills in early years leadership together with a qualification endorsed by the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC).

2013 Entry Requirements

A minimum of 40 points from one A-level or equivalent Level 3 qualification is normally required. Accreditation of prior learning through relevant NVQ Level 4 or 5 qualifications may be possible. GCSE in English Language and Mathematics at grade C or equivalent are desirable. You need to be working (on a full-time, part-time or voluntary basis) in an early years setting with children aged 0-5 years.

Details

Who is this course for?

If you are a manager or leader within an early years setting for children aged between birth and five years, and seek a higher education qualification, then this course is for you.

What will I gain from this programme?

You will gain a solid academic grounding that will improve your current working knowledge and understanding as an effective early years leader and manager. This will provide opportunities for you to develop further as an early years professional following graduation.

How we will support you

You will be given all the help and support you need to successfully complete the course. All students are allocated a personal tutor who will be on hand to offer guidance on anything from academic writing and assignment planning to other non-academic issues. Telephone, online and email support will also be available.

What will I study?

Modules in Year 1 address various professional, academic and vocational issues common to all early years leaders and managers. As well as gaining a greater understanding of holistic child development in social and cultural contexts, you will be taught specific leadership techniques and principles, and learn how to plan and manage different roles and responsibilities in a modern, multi-professional workplace.

You will progress onto a choice of Year 2 modules to boost your individual development, with the specific combination followed dependent on your current status and level of experience.

Topics currently available include:

• How to best meet the diverse needs of young children;
• Working with interdisciplinary teams and managing other practitioners;
• An in-depth study of development from birth to three years of age;
• Delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and assessment;
• Building community partnerships.

Supported learning using the internet and Edge Hill University's online resources is a major feature of the programme. No prior IT experience is necessary, as full support will be provided.

How will I study?

Following an initial induction programme, you will attend your chosen Edge Hill University centre one afternoon per week. Along with face-to-face sessions, you will be asked to complete directed tasks and carry out independent research.

Who will be teaching me?

You will be taught by a high quality team of early years lecturers and associate tutors who have extensive expertise and experience as well as a passion for early years. All of the team are involved in current research and have actively contributed to projects including the development of the Early Years Foundation Stage and the National Professional Qualification in Integrated Centre Leadership (NPQICL). Each member of the team brings a particular expertise and all are highly respected practitioners.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed through coursework which involves written essays, presentations, self-evaluations together with the completion of a small-scale research project.

What are my career prospects?

The Early Years sector is expanding, and new and exciting roles are being created in children's centres, nurseries and pre-schools including multi-agency work.

This foundation degree may also lead you to progress onto the BA (Hons) Early Years Leadership, with the possibility of undertaking this progression route alongside the Early Years Professional Status long pathway, subject to eligibility.

Further study at Edge Hill University

BA (Hons) Early Years Leadership

Related Programmes

FdA Early Years Practice

How do I apply?

Apply directly to Edge Hill University. Download the application form (pdf) and notes for guidance (pdf).

Visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/apply for more information on the application process and our Admissions criteria.

Fees and Finance

Tuition fees for part-time study on this foundation degree are £6,000pa for academic year 2012/13.

Eligible part-time students will not have to pay upfront for their tuition. The cost of tuition will be paid by a loan which you will only start to repay once you have finished the course and are earning over £21,000 a year.

For more information on the financial support available for part-time foundation degree students in academic year 2012/13, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/foundationfees2012pt.

Please note, the above information is for UK and eligible EU students only.

Not got the entry requirements?

Students returning to education may present their previous experience in work (paid or unpaid) to support their application.

Students with relevant study through either a professional body, or appropriate academic course, can apply to join the programme at an advanced stage.

If you do not have the GCSEs required for this programme, Edge Hill offers equivalency tests in English and mathematics.

Please note, exemptions may be available for some modules provided the APEL process is satisfactorily completed.

For personalised advice based on your circumstances, please contact us or come to an event.

Where can I find out more?

If you would like to receive a copy of our prospectus or be kept updated about forthcoming events, contact the Course Information, Advice and Guidance Team by emailing study@edgehill.ac.uk or calling 01695 657000.

If you want to attend one of our open events held throughout the year, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/opendays to book your place.

You will also find Edge Hill University staff at many national careers fairs and UCAS events.

Still want more?

If you have any questions you would like to ask about this course, please contact:

• Liana Beattie, Programme Leader
• Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 4QP
• Tel: 01695 650961
• Email: liana.beattie@edgehill.ac.uk

Or

• Michael Anderson, Programme Administrator
• Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 4QP
• Tel: 01695 650811
• Email: michael.anderson@edgehill.ac.uk

Modules

Year 1

FDE1000 Personal and Professional Development in a Work-based Context is a setting-based module that runs for the whole year and is undertaken in your setting / workplace. It involves a self-review of your knowledge and skills against Early Years Professional standards, target setting and the creation of action plans based on the reflections on your personal professional practice.

FDE1101 Meeting the Diverse Needs of the Whole Child in the Social and Cultural Context provides a foundation for all subsequent modules studied in year 1. It develops your knowledge of the diverse needs of children in different social and cultural contexts and the role of the practitioner in the promotion of children’s learning.

FDE1102 Early Years Principles, Practice, Policy and Vision is designed to develop your knowledge and understanding of principles, practice, policy and vision in the context of an early years setting. This module will give you the opportunity to identify the constituent elements of quality early years practice and help you identify how your personal principles impact on your professional practice.

FDE1103 Planning and Managing Effective Provision in Early Years Settings. Practitioners in early years settings are increasingly required to work as members of a team. This module will develop your awareness of the skills necessary for effective teamworking within the early years context. It will also help you to understand the processes involved in planning for and organising an effective early years environment, indoors and outdoors, with play as the underpinning medium for learning.

FDE1104 Meeting the Needs of Settings, Families and Communities focuses upon how early years practitioners meet the needs of settings, families and communities. It includes an investigation into the range of models of family, home and community contexts and the opportunities children have within these contexts for learning and development. There will be a consideration of socio-cultural perspectives to give insight into different societal and cultural views relating to young children within the family and the contexts of home and community.

FDE1105 Roles and Responsibilities in the Changing Multi-professional Workplace allows you to engage in one of the key areas of the Every Child Matters: Change for Children framework, focusing on working together with parents, carers and other professionals to deliver a whole range of Children’s Services in an integrated multi-agency approach. The module provides a background knowledge and understanding of national and local government policies and practice in this area in the current context.

Year 2

FDL2000 Reflective Tasks on Work-based Learning builds on your previous work/ setting-based practice module FDE1000. It will provide opportunities for you to reflect on your own practice, and to participate in a small-scale research project based on an issue or an initiative within the early years context.

FDL2101 Managing Children’s Diverse Needs in Early Years Settings will further your understanding of the ways in which you can develop your practice to ensure quality provision in your setting. You will consider the principles underpinning quality management and practice and look at developing effective strategies for monitoring and evaluating your work with children, families and the community.

FDL2102 Leading and Managing Quality Services for Children, Families and the Community will develop your critical knowledge and understanding of leading and managing quality services in the context of an early years setting. You will develop an understanding of the need to do this within a context of working with children, families and the community to provide both care and education.

FDL2103 Transformational Leadership in Early Years Settings will help you develop your knowledge and understanding of the current transformational nature of leadership and a continuous management of change within the early years context. Comparisons will be made with more traditional approaches to managing early years settings with a focus on the need to lead and manage the changes required to meet government targets for integrated early years services.