BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies course preparation
To help you feel prepared for BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies, we’ve gathered together a range of course related activities including suggested reading, useful websites and some great things to do right now. Read on to find out more.
Suggested reading
You’ll be given lots of information about which textbooks to read and introduced to the University Library, as well as the many ebooks we have for you to access, when you begin your studies in September.
In the meantime, there are a couple of books you might like to read before starting your degree if you can. We don’t recommend rushing out to buy texts before you arrive. But if you can pick some up second hand, borrow from a library or access online, we suggest:
- Johnstone, J (2018) Early Childhood Studies: Principles in Practice, London: New York.
- Palaiologou, I., (2021) The Early Years Foundation Stage: Theory and Practice, London: Sage.
- Wilson, T., (2016) Working with Parents, Carers and Families in the Early Years: The essential Guide, Oxford: Routledge
Useful websites
You can see some of our cutting edge research pertinent to your degree at the following links:
Things to do now
We don’t recommend too much preparation before arrival as you’ll have plenty to do when your course begins.
However, you might want to think about how you will prepare for study. This might involve clearing a space for study if you intend to study from your home. Or thinking about how you will manage your time in relation to caring, social and work obligations when you arrive to begin the programme.
You can also do some general reading on the theme of early childhood. Some good introductory texts would be:
- Devarakonda, C., (2021) Promoting Inclusion and Diversity in Early Years Settings, London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
- Fleer, M., (2013) Play in the Early Years, Cambridge: University Press.
- Nutbrown, C., (2023) Early Childhood Studies: Current Realities and Future Priorities, London: Sage
You could also:
- Keep up-to-date with the Guardian Society pages.
- Regularly read news stories on Children and Young People Now.