Working with Children, Young People and Families with a Foundation Year - BA (Hons) *
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Our BA (Hons) Working with Children, Young People and Families course has at its heart a strong commitment to social justice and equalities....
- Level Foundation
- Study mode Full Time
- Location City South
- Award BA (Hons)
- Start date September 2024
- Fees View course fees
- School School of Education and Social Work
- Faculty Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences
This course is:
Overview
Our BA (Hons) Working with Children, Young People and Families course has at its heart a strong commitment to social justice and equalities. We will provide you with a range of teaching and learning experiences to build on your existing skills and motivation so that you can contribute to a changing society, particularly with services who work with, or for, vulnerable children, young people and their families.
Why choose a foundation year course?
The BA (Hons) Working with Children, Young People and Families with a Foundation Year course has been specifically designed to support your transition to degree-level study in Education. As a student, you will undertake a foundation year situated at level 3 study, which has been designed as a prelude to your chosen degree course, providing opportunities for you to develop your knowledge, skills and understanding. Your learning journey through your foundation year will provide a secure platform on which you can build throughout your academic career in higher education.
As part of the foundation year, you will explore and develop number of essential academic, interpersonal and professional skills that will help you succeed in your future degree level studies.
On successful completion of your foundation year, you are guaranteed to progress on to the first year of the BA (Hons) Working with Children, Young People and Families degree. If you are interested in progressing on to one of our other Education and Social Work degrees, this will be subject to space available on those courses and on meeting the relevant entry requirements, which may include passing an interview.
What's covered in this course?
With a focus on personal, as well as professional development, our programme will engage you in understand the complexities of working with children young people and their families, in theory and in practice. We want to support you so that you can develop to become effective agents of change, making a difference to vulnerable children and young people.
The rights of children and young people, and a commitment to social justice are at the centre of what we believe, teach and research.
As you progress through the programme you will become confident and competent advocates of children and young people; developing your personal and professional skills so that you can, in future careers, be influential in developing practice, provision and policy.
Through a supportive and nurturing learning environment, you will be encouraged to develop your communication skills, drawing on digital technologies and to take ‘risks’ as you explore and find out new things about Working with Children, Young People and Families, as well as yourself.
Experienced tutors on the programme come from a wide range of professional backgrounds and are research active, understanding the demands of study, work and family life. The programme draws on experienced professionals from the field of education, social work and health. They are committed to the same agenda of social justice, social mobility and social responsibility that forms the underpinning philosophy of the programme.
Why Choose Us?
- Strong commitment to social justice and children’s rights
- Opens doors to a range of careers linked to vulnerable children and young people
- Opportunities for placement, locally and internationally
- Practice led by research active tutors from a range of professional backgrounds
- Range of opportunities to develop professional as well as academic skills to be work ready.
Open Days
Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to meet us in person, hear from our trailblazing academics and explore our innovative £340m facilities.
Next Open Day: 30 September 2023
Entry Requirements
These entry requirements apply for entry in 2024/25.
All required qualifications/grades must have been achieved and evidenced at the earliest opportunity after accepting an offer to help confirm admission and allow for on-time enrolment. This can also include other requirements, like a fee status form and relevant documents. Applicants can track their application and outstanding information requests through their BCU mySRS account.
We accept a range of qualifications, the most popular of which are detailed below.
Essential Requirements
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96 UCAS tariff points from A/AS Level |
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| GCSE | GCSE English Language or English Literature and GCSE Maths at grade C/4 or above. If you do not have these or are not undertaking them, we accept other Level 2 equivalents, or we may ask you to pass BCU's GCSE equivalency tests. | |
| Irish Leaving Certificate (Ordinary Level) | See level 3 entry requirements under Irish Leaving Certificate for full details. | |
| Scottish National 5 | English Language or English Literature and Maths at grade C or above. If you do not have these or are not undertaking them, we accept other Level 2 equivalents, or we may ask you to pass BCU's GCSE equivalency tests. | |
| Plus one of the following Level 3 (and above) qualifications | ||
| A level and Advanced VCE |
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| Access to HE Diploma |
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BTEC Extended Diploma |
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OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma |
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International Baccalaureate Diploma |
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Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers) |
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Scottish Higher/Advanced Higher |
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Welsh Baccalaureate |
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T-Levels |
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Further guidance on tariff points can be found on the UCAS website. |
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EU/International students
| IELTS | 6.0 overall with 5.5 minimum in all bands |
| International Baccalaureate Diploma (or equivalent, including internationally accredited Foundation courses). | 24 points overall Country-specific entry requirements and qualifications. |
Please note: Upon completion of your foundation year, you will be required to obtain an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance via the Faculty in order to proceed onto year one of the full degree programme.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: BA (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2024
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year foundation followed by 3 year degree
- £9,250 in 2024/25
- Apply via UCAS
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: BA (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2024
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year foundation followed by 3 year degree
- £16,085 in 2024/25
Guidance for UK/EU students
UK and EU students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.
Applying through UCAS
Register with UCAS
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Complete your details
Select your course
Write a personal statement
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Pay your application fee
Send UCAS your application
Course in Depth
Foundation Year
In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
This module is designed to support you in your transition to studying in a Higher Education environment at Birmingham City University. Through a range of class-based group and individual activities, discussions, debates, personal reflection and wider reading and research, you will have opportunities to consider academic conventions, which include: effective use of literature; sourcing and reviewing information; various forms of academic writing; developing reflective capacity. You will also receive guidance on study skills and strategies, which will enhance previously acquired skills.
This module will focus on enabling you to gain a deeper understanding of the interpersonal skills and behaviours required to work in your chosen area. Through a range of class based and student focused activities you will explore the different concepts of effective interpersonal and professional behaviours essential to your own personal development and progression. By engaging in this module you will reflect on your own and others values, beliefs and behaviours identifying how this can impact on the way in which you will be viewed by others. You will also address the importance of effective communication and how this can lead you to have a more professional approach in your chose area of work.
This module is designed to help you gain awareness and understanding of current challenges around Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity and how this impacts upon the Health, Education and Social Sciences sector, preparing you for your future education and journey into practice. Introducing the Equality Act 2010 as the overarching legislation that focuses on Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity, the module is based on themes that are covered by this Act. The nine protected characteristics, upon which a person can be discriminated, as laid down in the Equality Act, will be discussed throughout and you will be introduced to case studies relevant to your chosen pathways.
This module is designed to support you in your transition to studying in a Higher Education environment at Birmingham City University, allowing you the opportunity to negotiate learning of a bespoke subject. Under the guidance of tutors, you will be able to direct your learning and identify relevant learning opportunities that you feel enable you to learning more about a specific field of study. The subject area within this module is student-led, with guidance and facilitation from designated academic and practice support. You will identify an area of study that you would like to review and evaluate, and which relates to your foundation year pathway and indicate programme.
This module will be studied in Semester 1 and provides opportunities for you to develop an understanding of children and society in Birmingham. As the country’s second city, Birmingham offers a rich context for your studies and provides a perfect example of the ways in which children and society inter-relate. You will also be laying foundations for your future studies by gaining knowledge of the environments affecting your chosen degree discipline. No matter where you are from, exploring the ways in which a highly diverse city such as Birmingham provides for the needs of children will provide an invaluable insight.
This module will be studied in Semester 2 and provides opportunities for you to develop an understanding of the politics and policies that impact society, childhood and education. Key aspects of working practice in the disciplines listed above are determined by the policies that come from the government; in the majority of cases, a government department oversees and regulates practice through its policies. This modules will explore the way in which the British constitution works, how policy making takes place and the impact that this has on society, childhood and education. The module will also consider the political spectrum and the way that this impacts policy. Importantly, as someone considering moving into the areas of study outlined above, you will also have the opportunity to consider your own perspectives and the ways in which you have been influenced by policy and politics, and the ways in which you might go on to affect them as a citizen and as a member of a given profession.
Year One
In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
This first module will explore the potential career pathways for your programme and the necessary skills, values and attributes to be a successful professional within a range of children services. Using this as the context, you will reflect on and identify your existing skills and identify the skills necessary to be a successful student of Higher Education as part of your journey through to professional employment.
This module acts as an introduction to education in the UK. To this end, we start with a look at the structure of educational as a whole, the different paths of education, and the legislation governing education. From this initial overview we examine different understandings of how children and young people learn including some of the most common learning theories. This opens the way for us to consider some of the barriers children and young people face in education, including issues such as racism, gender, and disability. Finally, we explore the ways professionals, parents and others can support children and young people in education.
In line with the philosophy and aims of the programme this module will explore the ways in which child health and wellbeing can be promoted across all agencies. You will be provided with the knowledge and skills to understand a range of contributory factors that influence children and young people’s health and wellbeing and the ways these may impact on their lives.
In line with the philosophy and aims of the programme, this module provides you with an understanding of key theories, policy and legislation relating to social work with children, young people and families.
It is intended you will gain an overall understanding of the role of social workers and good safeguarding practice with children, young people and families. In more detail you will gain knowledge of assessment tools and their application in practice across in a variety of children and families settings. There will be opportunity to develop report writing skills based on case studies, which could be applied in practice.
In line with the philosophy and aims of the programme, this module encourages you to become confident professionals and to recognise the value of interdisciplinary working with children, young people, families and professionals. It is intended that this module will support you to develop your intellectual capabilities by encouraging you to work together and identify benefits and challenges of an interdisciplinary approach.
Year Two
In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
This module will explore safeguarding and child protection including the necessary skills, values and attributes to be a successful professional working with a range of children’s services.
You will build on your previous learning by focusing on the roles and responsibilities of professionals in a safeguarding context. This will include key legislation, policy and evaluate processes that exist to support children who have or are likely to suffer significant harm. You will consider discrimination, which affects individual children, young people and families.
In line with the philosophy and aims of the programme, this Level 5 module encourages and supports you to become a confident and reflective researcher and to recognise the value of conducting research within relevant children’s services. You will be given the opportunity to explore and experience what it feels like to work within small research cluster groups. During this process, 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 work collaboratively to identify and then design a small scale study to explore one of these issues.
The module will provide opportunities for you to explore issues of social justice and inclusion in diverse social and educational contexts from both the UK and International perspectives. You will be exploring theoretical perspectives of "social justice" in the development and delivery of children and family services; for example, Public Health initiatives, schools, education and care services. The theories of inclusion, social exclusion, discrimination and institutional discrimination, will be approached through a critical review of concepts and examination of local, national and international policy and practice.
In line with the philosophy and aims of the programme, this module encourages you to become confident professionals and to recognise the value of effective collaborative practice when working with children, young people, families and professionals. It is intended that this module will support you to develop your intellectual capabilities by encouraging you to work together and identify benefits and challenges of an effective collaborative practice.
This module aligns to the overall philosophy and aims of BA (Hons) Working with Children, Young People and Families programme. It enables you to consolidate your experiences in placement. It provides you with the knowledge to understand the complexities of professional roles within the work place and the importance of adopting a professional stand at all times. It enables you to demonstrate the skills needed to work in a professional context and how your skills and attributes need to be developed for future employment. It develops further your knowledge, understanding and application of relevant, current legislation and policy frameworks. It provides the opportunity to work effectively with different service users and to understand their needs.
Year Three
In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
In line with the philosophy and aims of the programme, this module will respond to contemporary perspectives and issues affecting children, young people, families and communities. A strong commitment to inclusive values will be reinforced and will empower you to address issues of equality, disadvantage, diversity and social justice to optimise the life chances of children, young people and their families. In line with the learning, teaching and assessment strategy, the module will be interactive, engaging and challenging; designed to promote your independence and confidence to enable you to be an advocate for children, young people and families and an agent for change. The module is highly responsive to changes and developments, and will provide you with an in depth understanding of how issues may impact your work in your chosen field.
This Level 6 module will further explore the potential career pathways and enable you to manage the next steps in your career. As you prepare to finish your programme it will enable you to practice and develop key skills necessary as you seek employment or post graduate study.
You will have the opportunity to identify, reflect on and develop a range of effective professional skills, practicing them through work based real life projects such as applying for jobs, interviewing, recruitment and selection processes. Using services for children and families as the context you will meet with a range of key stakeholders including recruitment companies, careers services, post graduate programme leaders and leaders and managers in services that work with and for children and their families.
This module aligns to the overall philosophy and aims of the BA (Hons) Working with Children Young People and Families Programme. It enables you promote the voice of children and young people, and to have a critical overview of the national and international legislative and policy framework that promotes their rights and identity.
In line with the philosophy and aims of the programme, this module will focus on perspectives and issues affecting families and parenting. It will support you to examine confidently global perspectives with regard to families and parenting. This module will enable you to debate the ethical implications of families and parenting from a global perspective. You will engage in thought provoking debate. In line with the learning, teaching and assessment strategy, the module will be interactive, engaging and challenging, designed to promote your independence and confidence in considering challenging topics.
In line with the philosophy and aims of the programme, this Level 6 module enables and supports you to conduct a small scale piece of individual (action) research that attends and adheres to key ethical principles. This module encourages you to engage in independent as well as collaborative critical analysis of contemporary issues and debates in policy and 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 action research study.
Download course specification
Download nowCourse Structure for BA (Hons) Working with Children, Young People and Families
You will experience a wide variety of learning and teaching approaches that are designed to develop your confidence, knowledge and skills as you progress through the programme. We will support you as you make the transition to university through carefully planned induction processes. This will include social and group work activities, confidence building activities and a scaffolded approach so you can understand the thinking behind how your modules and assessments are planned. Managing your transition to Higher Education is more than just a week of activities so we have generated a core module that goes through the whole of the first year to support your developing personal, professional and academic skills.
Some modules are shared with students on other programmes in the department. For example when thinking about safeguarding and child protection there are common themes and common professional skills required, regardless of the age range you are focussing on. This is one module that would be shared with students studying Early Childhood Studies. We believe that whilst it is good to have a focus on your particular field of study, sometimes your learning experience can be enhanced by working with others who are exploring different, but similar contexts. For this reason there are 40 credits of shared modules between your BA Hons Working with Children, Young People and Families and the BA Hons Early Childhood Studies in each year. Placement is an integral part of the programme, there will be chances in your first year to explore and find out information about a range of services that work with, or for, children, young people and families, and to visit and shadow professionals working in this field .
In the second year of the programme you will have the opportunity to undertake a placement in a related service that may focus on education, health or social care for children, young people and their families. We hope that the professional relationships you develop in the first year will enable you to identify a partner who is able to support you on your professional journey, or who may be willing to support one of your peers. We already have good links with a number of partners who can facilitate a placement experience where you can learn from practice.
In your third year your research module Researching Children and Young People’s Services will enable you to carry out a project that requires implementation of a negotiated idea, making change and evaluating the impact of change. All of which develop essential skills for leaders and managers of Children’s Services.
As well as learning through practice a variety of approaches to teaching are used. This will include:
- Workshops
- Virtual Learning Environment - Shareville
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Group projects
- Guest speakers –often professionals
- Visits to settings and services
Employability
Enhancing Employability Skills
A Birmingham City University Graduate is professional and work-ready, a creative problem solver, enterprising and has a global outlook. This expectation is realised through the BA Hons Working with Children, Young People and Families programme which provides you with the skills and knowledge to meet the needs of vulnerable children, young people and their families.
Transferable skills are considered very highly throughout the programme should you decide not to work directly with children and young people in the future. We have embraced the Graduate + scheme and there are opportunities throughout the programme for you to receive credit for developing your employability skills.
We have a commitment to learning for life and actively encourage you to develop your own research skills and to pursue your learning journey by building on your first degree to Masters level and beyond. From induction through to your final module your tutor team will support you in exploring career pathways linked to vulnerable children, young people and their families. Working closely with local services will enable you to network and find out what it is like to work in the field.
Placements
Placement is an integral part of the programme, there will be chances in your first year to explore and find out information about a range of services that work with, or for, children, young people and families, and to visit and shadow professionals working in this field – this is so you can not only develop professional skills but can also find out about the wide range of professional careers open to you.
It also about developing transferable skills so that after you have completed your degree you already have a strong CV that makes you really employable. Later on you will have the opportunity to undertake a placement in a related service that may focus on education, health or social care for children, young people and their families. In your final year you will be able to carry out an evaluative study that will be work based.
International
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here.
- Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies.
- Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country.
- Learn where to find financial support for your studies.
Facilities & Staff
Our facilities
Our School of Education and Social Work is based at our City South campus in leafy Edgbaston.
We’ve spent £41million expanding the education facilities at City South. These facilities offer hands-on practical experience, replicating the spaces you will come across in professional practice. Alongside classrooms and lecture theatres, we also have a range of specialist teaching and learning spaces for specific subjects including science, design and technology, drama and physical education.
As well as subject-specific rooms, our facilities include the Primary Innovation Lab, which houses £24,000 worth of LEGO. This room is a special resource for our education students, offering an innovative and creative way to approach subjects across the curriculum – from computing to English, mathematics to art. The lab responds to research that children and young people learn best from practical experience.
Our Social Work students have access to a home environment room and mock hospital wards which offer an opportunity to gain experience of working with service users in different situations.
Computer facilities
The Seacole building has two open-access IT Suites which offer PCs, printers, photocopiers and scanners. There is also an IT Helpdesk for quick and easy help with your computing or internet issues.
Our PCs utilise the latest Intel i5 core technology, all with:
- Fast (unrestricted) internet connectivity
- Ability to save files to USB, DVD & CD
- Microsoft Office software
- Research and statistical software
- Storage space which can be accessed from any PC across the University and from home
Our PCs are also designed to support students who may have difficulties with reading and writing, featuring specialised software with zooming/magnification and screen reading capabilities, which may also be customised for individual student needs.
In addition to desktop PCs, we also offer a laptop loan facility, allowing students to borrow a laptop for up to six hours while on campus.
Our staff
Julie Davis
Foundation Year Lecturer
Julie joined the ADD (Academic Development Department) in 2018 as a Lecturer on the HELS Foundation Year programme. Prior to joining Birmingham City University, she worked at a number of local FE and HE institutions where she developed and delivered a range of Early Years and Education programmes.
More about JulieJessica Lowe
Foundation Year Lecturer
Jessica joined the ADD (Academic Development Department) in 2019 as a Lecturer on the HELS Foundation Year Programme. Her role is to lead and develop modules to support students on their journey on the Foundation Year Programme. Prior to joining BCU, she has worked in a FE and HE institution teaching students on a range of courses in Early Years...
More about Jessica