The Child as a Competent Learner: Theoretical Perspectives equips you with essential knowledge and understanding of the key theories, principles, processes and concepts relating to the development of young children generally and in specific developmental domains. The module introduces you to the perception of babies and young children as competent and complex learners. It also develops your ability to challenge certain assumptions on child development through reflection and discussion. In this sense, the module serves as the first stepping stone in the process of developing your skills as critical and reflective learners.

Young Children in a Diverse Society introduces you to the key aspects of inclusive Early Years environments with a focus on children’s diverse needs and the strategies employed by practitioners within Early Years settings to ensure these needs are met. You will be introduced to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Code of Practice and the issues of safeguarding. This module explores the theoretical background to inclusion, encompassing historical perspectives and policy direction, placing emphasis on current government policy. You will engage in research and group discussions of the concepts of diversity, stereotyping and discrimination.

Healthy Child and Early Learning recognises that health and well-being in the Early Years is shaped by both internal and external systems that impact children’s learning throughout their lifespan. In meeting the government’s aspiration for a more physically active and healthier nation, the module has been designed to equip you with the necessary knowledge and understanding of the impact of health issues on the learning and development of babies and young children. The module guides you in identifying and explaining factors that can derail and disrupt development and learning in the Early Years, enabling you to gain skills in examining the physical, psycho-social and cultural theories and practices that underpin babies and children’s health. You will also explore different Early Years pedagogies in terms of teaching children about their health.

Teaching and Learning Through Play equips you with an understanding of the fundamental principles that underpin early years pedagogy by exploring a range of concepts from the pioneers of Early Years education and assessing their impact on current early years provision.  You will examine and evaluate a number of key approaches to teaching, comparing and contrasting these in order to understand their appropriateness to the Early Years context. The module also enables you to develop knowledge and understanding of the key theories of play, as well as the role of play and how ‘playful pedagogies’ can support children’s learning and development.

Introduction to the Early Years Curriculum and Safeguarding develops your knowledge and understanding related to the notions of curriculum pedagogy, teaching and the key aspects of safeguarding. The module focuses on theoretical and practical approaches to the prime and specific areas of learning as well as the key aspects of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) such as characteristics of effective teaching and learning, safeguarding, Early Learning Goals and their assessment, as well as children’s progression to Key Stage 1 and the requirements of the National Curriculum. The module emphasises the importance of care and educational experiences on children’s learning and development.

Work-Based Learning in the Early Years provides you with an opportunity to gain an insight into the Early Years workplace within an educational environment that offers provision for children between the ages of birth to seven. The module provides a crucial real-life context to help you see how some of the theoretical perspectives within the programme are implemented in practice. The module helps you to acquire relevant Early Years experience that will enhance your employability.

Work-Related Learning in the Early Years provides you with an opportunity to explore the Early Years sector from a work-related perspective. The module provides a crucial real-life context to help you research and understand how some of the theoretical perspectives presented within the programme are implemented in practice. You will gain relevant work-related knowledge and understanding of the Early Years sector and consider its potential trajectories into the future. You will begin to explore a specific work-related aspect of Early Years of your choice.

Language and Communication in the Early Years focuses on the role of language and communication within the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and Key Stage 1. The module also examines the link between language and learning for babies, toddlers and young children. You will explore key theories about language and language acquisition within an evolutionary context and consider how social and cognitive development supports language development. Other key features of the module include investigating strengthening knowledge of language development to support early reading, developing and articulating your own teaching strategies to support language development in children from birth to seven, and exploring how both indoor and outdoor environments can be planned to support effective language development.

Contemporary Issues in the Early Years considers some of the specific challenges that young children might face during their lives in the UK and across the globe, focusing on the issues of children’s rights, safeguarding and relevant legislation. The module will enable you to critically analyse current policies and frameworks, exploring both theory and practice that are influenced by contemporary debates within education. You will consider how these contemporary issues impact on how teachers and practitioners begin to develop pedagogical approaches to the early years curricula. The module also provides you with the opportunity to choose your own focus for a session and deliver the session to your peers with support from a tutor.

Inclusive Practice to Support SEND in the Early Years will deepen your understanding of current government policy relating to inclusive practice. The module promotes the importance of applying inclusive principles to specific categories of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in order to achieve positive outcomes for all young children. You will be encouraged to explore issues relating to early identification, intervention and collaborative approaches, as well as the impact of specific conditions on the strategies of working with and teaching young children.

Early Years Practitioners as Researchers helps you to understand and apply some of the key principles of academic research to different areas of the Early Years context as well as to identify and justify suitability of specific research methods and techniques. The module will also provide you with opportunities to explore a variety of currently published research papers and evaluate the impact of research findings on different aspects of Early Years practice. The aim is to enable you to identify your own research interests in preparation for undertaking your own research project.

Early Years Curriculum in Practice enables you to further develop your knowledge and understanding in relation to the Early Years curriculum and principles of teaching. The module investigates further theoretical and practical approaches to the prime and specific areas of learning, as well as to the key aspects of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).  A particular emphasis will be placed on teaching models for different areas of learning, managing children’s transitions and principles of quality early years provision. You will critique Early Years curriculum assessment approaches through comparing and contrasting current research sources on different curricula. The module enables you to conduct a detailed investigation of children’s progression to Key Stage 1 and study the requirements of the National Curriculum.

Work-Based Learning and Employability in the Early Years provides you with the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the Early Years sector. You will gain experience in a specific Early Years workplace within an educational environment  that has provision for children between the ages of birth and seven years old. In addition to providing a crucial real-life context for your studies, the module focuses on practical strategies to help you secure successful employment upon completion of this programme.

Work-Related Learning and Employability in the Early Years focuses on practical strategies to help you secure employment upon graduation. This includes exploring job opportunities within the Early Years workforce, considering the needs of all stakeholders, personal professional development, reflective practice, job interview techniques, writing job applications, and creating an impressive CV. You will also conduct a detailed critical analysis of a specific work environment within the Early Years context.

Respectful Relationships with Families and Communities equips you with advanced knowledge and understanding of working in collaboration with parents and Early Years practitioners, including multi-disciplinary teams, in the context of an Early Years setting. The module will focus on the application of ‘team’ theory to Early Years settings allowing you to consider current practice from a critical perspective. You will also be able to enhance your understanding of the key aspects of working in partnership with children’s parents, families and communities.

International Early Years Pedagogies enables you to critically analyse multiple perspectives on the conceptualisation of an early childhood pedagogy from a global dimension. You will compare policy and practice in selected countries to investigate, evaluate and challenge current Early Years pedagogies. Investigating how international approaches have influenced pedagogy within the English policy context, you will focus on some of the most currently influential international pedagogies, explore how these approaches have evolved from conceptualisations of the status of childhood within society and consider how this influences the relationship between early childhood and primary education.

Educational Leadership in the Early Years: Research and Practice explores the issues of educational leadership in the Early Years context. You will develop your knowledge and understanding of leadership and management and investigate the wider issues facing Early Years professionals in the current social and political environment. Examining the impact of social and political changes on the Early Years profession, you will critique the significant questions relating to the aims, values and principles of Early Years leadership and management both in theory and in practice. The module also introduces you to the theories of change management to enable you to respond to change in a positive and constructive manner and design your own models of leading change.

Learning Beyond the Classroom equips you with a critical awareness of the value that the arts, culture and the environment bring to the early childhood and family experience. The module encourages the development of an analytic sensibility and a sensitivity in the interpretation of children’s cultural experiences so that you will come to recognise the need for reflexivity in your work with children. A range of environments beyond the classroom are explored as vehicles for working with and teaching young children, reflecting on how children’s life experiences are broadened through interaction with the arts, culture, media and the environment.

Researching Work Practice in the Early Years enables you to critically demonstrate your knowledge and understanding through engagement with a small-scale research project based on an aspect of Early Years practice.  The module provides deeper theoretical and practical insight into an area of significant individual interest. It enables you to demonstrate your ability to justify personal and professional points of view based on your values, knowledge and practical awareness. You will also develop as a lead practitioner in your chosen subject area.

Autism in the Early Years enhances your understanding of current government policy relating to inclusive practice with a particular focus on autism. You will explore the impact of autism on young children’s learning and development with the opportunity to develop an understanding of autism spectrum conditions and the application of appropriate teaching strategies and inclusive practice. The module also encourages you to explore issues relating to historical perspectives, diagnosis, interventions, educational provision, collaborative approaches and working for positive outcomes.

Technology in the Early Years provides a deep understanding for the need to have sound technological, pedagogical and content knowledge to provide high quality experiences to enhance young children’s learning. The module equips you with both the theoretical and practical knowledge to enable you to develop children’s understanding in all areas of the curriculum using digital resources to stimulate interest and learning in a safe and effective manner.

Music in the Early Years requires you to examine and reflect upon musicality in the Early Years and its impact on babies and young children’s learning. You will be introduced to the many facets and roles of musicality in early childhood and reflect upon links with early family life, holistic development, relationships, learning and well-being. You will be encouraged to engage with relevant established theory as well as academic and professional developments in this field, exploring musicality as a vehicle for enhancing teaching strategies.

Setting Up a Nursery introduces you to the varied landscape of Early Years provision in the UK, with consideration of the private, voluntary and not-for-profit aspects of large, medium and small scale enterprise. You will consider key aspects that underpin high quality provision and investigate how settings and services become sustainable. The module ensures that children’s needs and the quality of service remain paramount considerations as you develop entrepreneurial flair and business acumen by analysing and evaluating successful childcare settings and services with a view to identifying future market opportunities. The module enables you to critically examine business and entrepreneurial models including those ‘for’ and ‘not for’ profit. You will research demand for services and develop a business model in response to your findings.

104-112 UCAS Tariff points are required to join this programme with effect from September 2020 entry.