Education Foundation Year - Foundation

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 communication skills essential to your own personal development and progression.

By engaging in this module, you will identify how beliefs and values and culture may influence interactions with others. You will also address the importance of effective communication and how this can lead you to have a more professional approach in your chosen area of work

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 is designed to help you gain awareness and understanding of current challenges around Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity and how these impact upon the children and the education and child support sector, preparing you for your future education and journey into practice.

The module introduces the Equality Act 2010 as the current legislation that focuses on Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity, with a focus on how this legislation should be understood and should inform practice in the children’s sector. The module will also consider non-legislative key concepts used to inform work to improve equality of children including the class system and intersectionality

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.

The starting point for this module is the idea that child development is a key factor in how we educate and support the next generation. This module will provide you with foundational knowledge of child development as you prepare to undertake a degree course focused on working with children in various professional settings.

During the module you will explore theories underpinning child development and examine some of the social, cultural, and historical contexts that shape perspectives on child development in different parts of the world. The module will introduce you to key factors that shape children’s development such as external influences, atypical development journeys, and the impact of current and near-future technological change.

Formative assessment will be built into the module in the form of classroom polls, quizzes, assignment planning activities, classroom discussions and presentations and mid-module tutorials.