Supporting Families and Communities Foundation Degree

In Brief

Start Date / Duration

This course starts in September and runs full time for two years starting in Early September and finishing in mid to late May. Students attend for two evenings per week normally on a Monday and Wednesday evening from 5.00pm until 8.00pm.

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
T Levels
BTEC National
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 Families and Communities Foundation Degree this qualification is validated by Leeds Trinity University

Awarding Body

Validated by Leeds Trinity University

UCAS Course Code

SCFS

Course overview

The Supporting Families and Communities Foundation Degree, validated by Leeds Trinity University, is designed for professionals in roles supporting children and families. This work-based programme enhances skills and knowledge for careers in social, family, voluntary, charitable, or youth services. Students apply theory to practice, spending at least two days a week with an employer. It suits those in schools, children’s centres, or services for young people or those with specialist needs.

Modules

Modules are subject to change. Students will study a combination of core and option modules.

Year 1

Core modules:

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

Students must choose one option module from:

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

Year 2

Core modules:

Safeguarding and Promoting Wellbeing
Reflecting on Research Informed Practice

Students must choose one option module from:

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

AND one option module from:

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

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.

Paper, pens, files and books

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 supporting children, young people and families. 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, 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.

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 and Teacher Training