阿伯里斯特威斯大学

With over 700 hours working in settings with young children, the BA Early Childhood Studies with Early Years Practitioner Status will enable you to gain a recognised professional qualification as an integral part of your degree. You will learn about the vital role that practitioners have to play in children’s early years and how to work effectively within this role. These years underpin later learning and development, and you will also explore the theories and research which influence the methods we use today.

Drawing on aspects of psychology, sociology, childhood and educational studies, the University element of your studies will link with the practical elements of the course. This will allow you to develop a clear understanding of this time in children’s lives. Working at a stage when development seems to happen in the blink of an eye, you will learn about how practitioners keep track of this development, allowing them to plan appropriately for each child’s next steps.

By combining the practical and the theoretical, this degree will enable you to develop the professional and academic skills that are needed to progress in a career in early childhood. Because of the practical element of the course, students will require an enhanced DBS check which they will need to pay for. There may also be travel expenses within the Aberystwyth area. There is also the possibility of a postgraduate teaching qualification (PGCE Primary), also available at Aberystwyth, or of further study to Masters level and beyond.

Overview

Why study the BA Early Childhood Studies with Early Year Practitioner Status at Aberystwyth University?

The School of Education has been offering stimulating and innovative study programmes for over 100 years.

The Department's mission is to:

1. Provide an opportunity to develop an understanding of the complex knowledge associated with Education in particular in a child's early years development;

2. Enable you to engage with key issues and current research in the field of Education;

3. Enable you to critically reflect on and manage your own learning and performance.

4. Provide you with an opportunity to acquire employability skills and personal attributes and values that are necessary for employment, training or further education.

The School of Education's research-led teaching informs our syllabus. The exceptional teaching quality has been recognised with the University being awarded University of the Year for Teaching Quality two years consecutively. The first and only university in the UK to be awarded such an accolade by the Times and Sunday Times, Good University Guide (2018 and 2019).

Employability

Successful completion of this degree leads to "Early Years Practitioner Status". This means that you will have a degree that allows you to work as a professional within an early years setting (subject to appropriate literacy and numeracy qualifications). Many students progress to become nursery managers and leaders. Furthermore, successful completion of this degree may also lead to progression to a one year primary school teacher training course (PGCE). The qualification is also an ideal basis for anyone wishing to work in the social work profession or within different types of educational therapy.