Early Childhood Studies

Early childhood is viewed as the most formative period of life and the experiences gained during this time shape and lay the foundations for our future.  Today’s early childhood sector requires highly qualified, graduate practitioners to meet the ever-changing needs of the child and their family, and our course has been designed to give you the academic knowledge to succeed, plus the critical application of theory to practice through a variety of work placements, including nurseries, schools, special schools and children’s centres. Our Early Childhood Studies (Graduate Practitioner) degree is one of the very first in the UK to incorporate the new and innovative Graduate Practitioner Competencies status, introduced this academic year in response to demand for more highly-qualified, graduate practitioners entering the sector. This new course is endorsed by the Early Childhood Studies Degree Network (ECSDN) and recognised by the Department for Education (DfE). It means students going on to do this degree will be assessed for nine distinct competencies over the three years and, on graduation, hold a licence to practice in certain areas of the sector, as well as apply theory to practice at degree level. This will enable you to stand out when applying for jobs, benefitting children’s development.