Early Childhood Studies with Graduate Practitioner Competencies - BA (Hons)

This module explores reflective practice in early childhood. You will learn about the main theories and principles of reflective practice, drawing on concepts and findings from across the associated literature and your practice.

This module focuses on helping you to reflect on personal values, beliefs, and assumptions in relation to developing practice and the implications of relevant theory and research on your own practice when working with young children. You will develop a sophisticated understanding of the nature and significance of reflection and how this can be utilised to learn more about yourself, and to develop your professional skills.

This module is an introduction to carrying out research projects. As well as developing your understanding of key aspects of research in education, this module will also prepare you for your final research project at Level 6.

The module will support you to engage in a critical analysis of contemporary issues and debates in research, policy and practice related to your field of study. You will identify and design a small-scale study, in readiness for your research project module at Level 6.

This module will explore the significance of safeguarding and child protection and will support you to develop the necessary skills, values and attributes to be an informed professional, aware of your safeguarding responsibilities in practice.

This module aims to make connections between policy and legislation, key literature and informed practice. You will develop your awareness and competency by focusing on the roles and responsibilities of professionals in a safeguarding context. There will be a focus on identifying children who have, or are likely to suffer significant harm. You will consider discrimination which affects individual children, young people and families and factors and experiences which can make children more vulnerable within the safeguarding context. We will evaluate processes which exist to support and safeguard children and develop our awareness of how to ensure that children’s voices are heard and how we can be empowering advocates for children.

This Level 5 module enables you to explore and examine key aspects of promoting children’s health and well-being. Largely drawing on practical experience in placement, you will develop the knowledge and understanding of how to promote healthy development and well-being for young children. We will explore and critique key policies and legislation that focuses on promoting healthy development in the first eight years of a child’s life, alongside gaining hands-on experience through undertaking risk assessments, Paediatric First Aid training and engaging in nurturing care routines in practice.

The module offers a blend of learning approaches, with time spent on campus studying, alongside spending time in placement as you observe and engage in health-focused, and nurturing care activities.

This module introduces you to the National Curriculum and children’s progression from the Early Learning Goals through to the end of Key Stage 1. You will take part in a series of lectures and practical experiences to explore ways of making learning more playful and creative. There will be a focus on inclusive practice to enable all learners to thrive and achieve.

This optional module aims to provide you with an overview of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in a UK context.

The focus of this module is for you to consider the impact SEND can have on a child's or young person's (0-25) personality, their learning opportunities, and potential barriers which they might have to face both in the education system and in the wider society. This module offers a unique approach to understanding the child or young person as a learner and the impact of a SEND on the individual and their family.

By studying the Digital Childhoods module, you will explore how digital technologies can be integrated into practice when working with young children. You will have the chance to gain hands-on experience using different technological tools and consider their effectiveness in supporting children’s holistic development across the birth-eight age range.

We will debate key ideas and discourses around technology, the technological child and the ‘digital age,’ with discussions going beyond whether technology is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ for young children.

This optional module offers opportunities for you to consider, explore and reflect on:

• How the theoretical foundations of creativity relate to early years practice.
• The kinds of creative experiences that can and should be offered to young children.
• How adults can foster young children’s creativity, as well as their own.
• How ideas can be represented visually and creatively as well as in writing.

This module enables and supports you to conceive, plan, and conduct a small-scale research project that attends and adheres to key ethical principles, in an area relevant to your programme of study. This module encourages you to engage in independent and collaborative critical analysis of contemporary issues and debates in your research focus area, in policy and in practice.

You will be provided with an opportunity to clarify your understanding of key research terms, as well as to consider the link between epistemology, methodology and methods, and the impact that your own personal philosophies have upon the design of your study.

This module explores children’s rights and child voice in an Early Years context. It explores theory and practice concerning Children’s Rights and Child Voice and considers what they mean in the context of empowering the lives of children. Practical ways to ensure children’s rights and voice are realised and sustained in a wider range of contexts will be examined.

This module links to the overall aims and philosophy of the BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies course by supporting students in becoming reflective practitioners.

In this module, you will draw on learning from placement experience, modules and the impact on your knowledge and skills, volunteering experience and work, and engagement with roles outside of university. Reflection will help you to self-evaluate your progress and development of praxis, personal and professional skills. Career pathways will be explored. You will also benefit from support sessions delivered by Careers+.

The module aims to enhance awareness, knowledge, and skills to foster a more inclusive and equitable society. It encourages you to challenge your own biases, be open to different perspectives, and take action to promote equity and inclusion in various settings.

This module will explore the theoretical and practical aspects of anti-racist practice within the context of childhood, youth, and communities and you will draw on your placement experience to reflect on issues of inequity and inclusion.

In this module, you will examine the background to the current provision for early childhood education and care across the United Kingdom and globally to provide a context for early years’ education. You will also explore the historical context of a range of early years’ educational approaches.

Emphasis will be placed on the holistic nature of early learning based on the promotion of children's first-hand experience and the provision of a rich environment. You will examine international perspectives alongside different curricula approaches and comparisons made between alternative approaches to learning. Similarities and differences will be analysed through key issues including the learning environment, creativity, diversity, and inclusion.

This module will build on your existing understanding of attachment and trauma, developing an awareness of how to embed an attachment-informed approach in practice. There will be a focus on developing an understanding of how to advocate for children and their individual needs and rights in the face of adversity.

We will reflect on our own experiences and values to ensure that we are confident, capable allies for the children who need our support to feel valued, seen and heard.

In line with the philosophy and aims of the programme, this module encourages you to become confident in your leadership and management knowledge, which allows you to review, consolidate, extend, and apply this knowledge within the Early Years’ context, at a graduate level. It is intended that this module will support you to develop your intellectual capabilities by encouraging you to engage in identifying, reviewing, and discussing leadership and management theories.

This module is designed to provide you with a theoretical and practical application of how leadership and management is used within settings. The module is also designed to support you to consider the connections between theory and practice.