Bradford College

Enrolment Dates

Course Overview

The FDA in Early Years provides an opportunity for experienced Early Years practitioners to progress from professional qualifications gained in Further Education to Higher Education Programmes. Our philosophy is to support the development of  personal reflection and critical thinking of practitioners working across a wide range of early years settings for children from 0 to 6 years of age.

Course Structure

The curriculum has two key themes: the Development, Care and Education of Children and your own Personal and Professional Development. The programme has two Stages, each linking to one year of full-time study leading to 240 HE CATS points over the two years.

Stage One is made up of eight modules and Stage 2 comprises a further seven Modules, one of which is a 30-credit Module.

At Stage One, modules build on your existing knowledge and provide a solid foundation to work as a senior practitioner. whereas Stage Two develops your theoretical and academic study.

Modules Covered

Level 4 modules:

• Human Development and Learning
• Challenge, Risk and Safeguarding
• Play, Learning and the Environment
• Introduction to Research Methods
• Personal Development Planning for Practitioners
• Workbased Learning for Practitioners (Placement)

Level 5 modules:

• Social Policy for Practitioners
• Practitioner Research
• Development and Learning
• Meeting Individual Needs
• Working Together for Children and Young People
• Developing Reflective Practice (Placement)

Learning Methods

The course aims to provide you with the theoretical knowledge and development of independent study skills to succeed at degree level. You will develop a deeper understanding of the application of theory to practice and will acquire evaluation skills through the progressive building of research skills over both years of the course, undertaking increasingly independent practitioner research activities in a range of modules. Study skills support is available to you both in the Communication Workshop and through Information Communication Technology support.

You will interact with the curriculum through involvement in student led seminars, presentations and discussions. The development of independent learning and leadership skills, including self-evaluation and conscious awareness of effective learning techniques is promoted through interactive teaching approaches such as personal tutorials, e-mail and Moodle. Emphasis is also placed on the importance of independent study.

Teaching Methods

Teaching and learning are conducted through a variety of methods, which include lectures, group work, seminars, presentations and some independent focused research activities.

Assessment

Assessment methods will include: academic essays, portfolios, presentations, projects and carrying out action research. There are two exams attached to the course; one at each level of study.

Work Placement/Fieldwork

You will  be in College one day each week and in employment in an early years setting for 360 hours each year.

What`s Next?

This Foundation Degree offers you a wide range of progression routes. For example, a top-up year is offered on the BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies/ Early Years Practice, the BA (Hons) Education Studies or the BA (Hons) QTS - all of which enable you to enter postgraduate qualifications. You can progress to more senior posts in early years settings or policy and development work and/or new roles in community work with children and families in 'disadvantaged' areas, in fact, the Foundation Degree will help you towards employment within any role involving the provision of education and care for children aged 0-6 that may be nationally developed over the foreseeable future.

If you undertake a top-up course that confers a minimum of a 60 credit level 6 award, you will be eligible to apply for Early Years Professional Status, which gives those who achieve the status the basis for practice as a leader of Early Years Care and Education in a range of settings

 

Did You Know?

Your future career will be built on a solid foundation of the highest academic standards of teaching and learning – as many of our teaching staff are experts in their fields.

Our Early Years team have collaborated to publish two recent books:
The Early Years Professional's Complete Companion by Pam Jarvis, Jane George and Wendy Holland (2010)
Research in the Early Years Setting by Pam Jarvis, Stephen Newman, Wendy Holland, Jane George, Clive Opie and Ronan O'Beirne (2012)

You will be treated as an individual, with degrees often tailored to suit you individual experience, knowledge and interests – helping to support your personal growth and development.
 

Entry Requirements

The course is primarily designed for experienced practitioners with a Level 3 qualification in Childcare and Education. Some credit points may be gained through prior experience and learning for non-standard entry.

You should normally be in paid or voluntary employment and have at least one year of post-level 3 qualification work experience.

A Satisfactory Enhanced CRB Disclosure and Health Check is also required.

Suitable candidates will be invited for an interview and skills assessment.

Did you know?

We were delighted that the QAA's Integrated Quality and Enhancement Review (IQER), carried out in January 2010 concluded that they had 'Confidence' (the highest judgement possible) in the quality of our Higher Education provision.

For further details read the summary report