Childcare and Teacher Training

Childcare: Supporting Early Years Practice Foundation Degree

In Brief

Start Date / Duration

This course will start September and runs full-time for two years starting in Early September and finishing in mid to late May. Students attend for one full day 9:30am - 4:30pm. The day will be confirmed at interview. (further information will be given should you secure an interview).

Entry requirements

At Barnsley College we are committed to recruiting students with talent and potential and who we feel will benefit greatly from their academic and non-academic experiences here. We treat every application on its own merits; we value highly the experience you illustrate in your personal statement.

The following information is designed to give you a general overview of the qualifications we accept. If you are taking qualifications that are not included below, please contact our Admissions Office who will be happy to advise you.

You must have a Level 2 Literacy qualification e.g.

  • GCSE English Language Grade C or 4
  • Functional Skills Level 2 (previously Key Skills Communication Level 2)
  • Adult Literacy Level 2

You must have a full Level 3 qualification e.g.

  • A Levels
  • A Vocational Level 3 qualification e.g. CACHE Diploma
  • BTEC National
  • T Levels
  • NVQ3
  • Level 3 entry paper

You must have employer support and at least one year’s volunteering/working experience. Previous relevant work experience and learning may be accredited and assessed as part of the application process.

DBS Requirements

Applicants who are offered a place and accept will be contacted regarding the DBS application, which will be completed via an external company.

You will achieve

Supporting Early Years Practice Foundation Degree this qualification is validated by Leeds Trinity University

Awarding Body

Leeds Trinity University logo

Validated by Leeds Trinity University

UCAS Course Code

SUEY

Course overview

This is a work-based learning degree designed to broaden and enhance your professional knowledge.

  • Do you work in a role that supports the development of children aged birth to 5 years?
  • Do you want to develop your professional practice?

Supporting Early Years Practice aims to further your understanding of how best to create and maintain positive conditions that support young children’s learning and development.

As this is a work-based learning degree, you’ll spend at least two days a week with an employer to reflect on theory and practice or this qualification can run alongside your current employment in early years.

Course content

You’ll critically investigate and evaluate the theories, knowledge, policies and legislation that underpin current best practice. You’ll study a range of topics relevant to child development, such as play and early learning, inclusivity and diversity, and communication and language. You’ll also learn how to create an enabling environment for young children, as well as how to develop children’s social and emotional resilience.

Studying alongside fellow professionals, you’ll reflect on your practical experience by looking at what you know and do well, as well as how you can improve your knowledge to be more effective. You’ll graduate with a highly regarded qualification that will improve your work performance and your career opportunities. This is a work-based learning degree, so you’ll spend at least two days a week with an employer to reflect on theory and practice. Our students usually complete this with their existing employer. If you’re not employed, you can volunteer with a relevant organisation for two days a week. Work-based employment can be in schools, children’s centres, nurseries, children’s services for local or voluntary sectors, and provision for young people or those with specialist needs.

Modules

The module details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

Students will study a combination of core and option modules.

Modules by Year

Year 1

Core modules (students are required to take):

  • Values and Roles of a Principled Professional
  • Theories of Learning and Development
  • Power, Inclusion and Diversity of Need

Students are required to choose one option module from:

  • Healthy Teams Supporting Healthy Children, Families and Communities
  • Creating an Ideal Play Environment

Year 2

Core modules (students are required to take):

  • Safeguarding and Promoting Wellbeing
  • Reflecting on Research Informed Practice

Students are required to choose one option module from:

  • Specialist Co-ordinator Roles
  • Behaviour and Learning in an Interconnected World

Students are required to choose one option module from:

  • Risks, Rights and Social Justice in a Sustainable Society
  • Play and Early Learning

Teaching and Learning

The teaching team at Barnsley College aim to provide with an excellent student experience and provide you with the tools and support to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional potential.

Focussing on the following

  • High quality teaching
  • An engaging and inclusive approach to learning, assessment and achievement
  • A clear structure through which you progress in your academic studies, your personal development and towards professional-level employment or further study
  • We have a strong reputation for developing student employability, supporting your development towards graduate employment, with relevant skills embedded throughout your programme of study

We endeavour to develop curiosity, confidence, courage, ambition and aspiration in all students through

  • Student Involvement and Engagement
  • Inclusion
  • Integrated Programme and Assessment Experience
  • Digital Literacy and Skills
  • Employability and Enterprise

To help you achieve your potential we emphasise learning as a collaborative process, with a range of student-led and real-world activities. This approach ensures that you fully engage in shaping your own learning, developing your critical thinking and reflective skills so that you can identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and use the extensive learning support system we offer to shape your own development.

We believe the secret to great learning and teaching is simple: it is about creating an inclusive learning experience that allows all students to thrive through:

  • Personalised support
  • Expert lecturers
  • Strong connections with employers
  • An international outlook
  • Understanding how to use tools and technology to support learning and development

A variety of assessment methods are used, matched to the learning outcomes for your programme, allowing you to apply and demonstrate the full range of knowledge and skills that you have developed.

We advise students to bring their own laptop or tablet device to taught sessions to help with note taking and research. You will need to bring pens paper and your own small stationery items.

We advise students that there may be additional course costs in addition to annual tuition fees. These include:

  • Books – recommended and required reading lists will be provided at the start of your course. All the books and e-books are available from our Library to borrow but you may choose to purchase your own.
  • Print costs – students have access to a number of printers on campus and there is a small charge for printing, printing credit can be topped up on campus.

You will study at a Barnsley College town centre campus, more details will be provided at interview.

On successful completion of the foundation degree, you’ll be able to progress on to our top-up degree in Professional Practice. This will lead to a full BA Honours degree after an additional year of study. You could progress in your current role, seek more specialist roles with children and young people, or expand into new areas of practice.

After completing the Foundation degree and the top-up Professional Practice degree, many of our students continue on to Masters Study in Family Support, MSc Psychology (Conversion) or a PGCE with QTS in Primary or Early Years Teaching.

See what careers are available in the Childcare sector. Use our online careers tool, Career Coach, to find out what your next steps could be.

How much does the course cost?

Course fees: £5,995 per year for those that enrol in September 2024. £6,165* per year for those that enrol in September 2025 (*maximum fee per year is subject to approval).

Extra information

We offer a service to any student who has a diagnosis of anything persistent or long-term which might interfere with how they study and manage their day-to-day academic engagement. The service is flexible and shaped around the needs of each individual; it might be consistent support or intermittent support.

For further information please visit the Disability and Dyslexia Service (DDS) web page for more information.

As a Higher Education student living in England you may be eligible for the non-means tested Tuition Fee Loan from the Government and a Maintenance Loan.

Students with children or dependant adults may qualify for a Childcare Grant or Adult Dependants’ Grant. Students can apply for these at the same time as applying for a Maintenance Loan.

Remember: Eligible students will not have to pay tuition fees in advance and can apply for the Maintenance Loan before they start the course.

Visit the Student Finance page on the Government website for further details and to apply.

For further information please contact our friendly Information Team on +44 (0)1226 216 123 or email info@barnsley.ac.uk

Barnsley College has a range of sports opportunities for all students to take part in, gain professional training and compete nationally and internationally. We also have a state-of-the-art fitness village, Honeywell Sports Village where students can make use of our fitness suite, spinning studio and classes for competitive rates. You don’t have to be studying sport to get involved in the Sports Academy.

Please note we reserve the right to change details without notice. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Childcare: Supporting Early Years Practice Foundation Degree

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