BA (Hons) Early Childhood Education & Leadership Practice*
Curriculum Area
Start Date
Study Mode
Duration
Level
Fee
Entry Requirements
Validating partner
Building on the knowledge gained from the foundation degree, this course will enhance your reflective practice and personal skills and development, enabling you to excel in your career.
The qualification delivers a wide range of knowledge and skills to enable you to gain and maintain employment within the education sector and related sectors.
In addition, you will be developing core skills and understanding based on current practice in the education sector, and the leadership skills required to impact upon environments which support children’s learning and development.
The course content will consider the learning and development needs of children from 0 - 11 years of age, and will have an expectation that you will have experience of, and access to work with children within this age range.
Attendance is 1 year full-time, 1 day per week.
UCAS Code: X392
UCAS Institution Code: Y70
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*Subject to revalidation
Our Open University-validated courses are subject to the University’s regular re-validation process, which takes place every five years. This ensures our programmes remain current and continue to reflect the latest employer and industry needs. As part of this process, modules may be updated and, in some cases, course titles may change. While this course is shown as ‘subject to re-validation’, the programmes listed have been successfully delivered for many years and it is intended to continue for 2027 and beyond. We will keep applicants informed of any changes arising from the revalidation process, and the information published on our website will always reflect the latest information available.
| Level 6 |
|---|
| Leading and Developing People and Teams |
| Effective SEND and Inclusion: From Policy to Practice |
| Critical Perspectives in Education |
| Pedagogical Approaches within Education |
| Research Investigation |
Successful completion of a relevant Foundation Degree or equivalent Level 5 qualification. A satisfactory DBS, three years of relevant childcare experience. Some experience within a management or leadership role would also be desirable but not necessary.
Applicants with significant relevant prior learning and experience may also be considered.
Assessment will consider reports, essays, literature reviews, presentations and research investigations. These will all be linked to your setting.
Students will learn the following skills during their courses; in-depth knowledge of the education sector, communication skills with a variety of ages and abilities, motivational skills, organisational skills, an awareness of the relationship between practice and theory, the analytical skills to graduate as a reflective practitioner and the ability to select, test and make appropriate use of resources.
Teaching will take place face-to-face mainly in the classroom, however, other practical environments such as outdoor settings and alternative educational settings will be experienced to broaden and develop your learning.
The programme is normally taught one day (afternoon and evening) each week, allowing for students to undertake study around existing work commitments. Assessments are conducted in a variety of ways including seminar activities and written work, with students preparing their dissertations with tutorial support either on or off site.
No additional costs are expected for this course, although students should have access to an internet enabled laptop or PC.
On completion you could progress to study an MA in Education or Social Work, or complete a PGCE in teaching to share your knowledge and experience with others. PGCE courses are currently delivered on an evening through York College University Centre, if this route is of interest to you.
Completion of this course creates opportunities to work in a variety of positions within the early years and education sector, including in roles such as:
• Childcare Manager
• Social Worker
• Play Therapy Practitioner
• EYFS Practitioner
• Teaching Assistant
• Learning Mentor
• Family Support Worker
• Room Leader
“The industry contacts that I was introduced to have helped set me up to go forward with my career. As well as securing a Deputy Manager position at a local childcare setting, I am looking into further study as I hope to become an assessor within the Early Years and Education sector, assessing the development of other childcare practitioners. I also hope to continue to raise awareness of men in childcare and chair a group for others in a similar position to me.”
Course leaders and tutors:
Lyn Johnston
Award Leader & Lecturer
Qualifications:
BA (Hons) Leading Children's Workforce
MA Education
PGCE Post-16 Education
Lyn has extensive experience working within the Higher Education (HE) environment, teaching across a variety of FD and BA courses. her background includes significant industry experience in schools and nurseries, as well as active involvement in designing and developing HE programmes to enhance student learning and outcomes. She has a passion for teaching to help develop a good student experience.
Research Interests:
Lyn's research focuses on pedagogical approaches to education and how these influence effective teaching practices. She is particularly interested in exploring innovative strategies that support learner engagement and development within diverse educational contexts.
Publications:
https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/11958/
https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/10537/
Caroline Hewitt
Lecturer
Qualifications:
BSc (QTS) Environmental & Biological Sciences
MA Special Educational Needs & Inclusion
Research Interests:
Caroline has a passion for advancing inclusive education practices and policies. With a strong foundation in environmental and biological sciences and specialised expertise in Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Inclusion, she is committed to exploring innovative approaches that foster equity and accessibility in education. Caroline will continue to develop this by beginning to study a Doctorate in Education, with a research emphasis on:
- Government strategies for managing inclusion.
- Allocation and impact of funding for SEN provisions.
- The role and effectiveness of Additional Resource Provisions (ARPs).
- Evaluation of the ‘Full Inclusion’ model, where SEN schools and mainstream primary schools are integrated on the same site.
Other similar courses
Early Years and Education department
Foundation Degree (FD) Early Childhood Education & Development*
University Centre
Courses for Adults
Curriculum Area
Early Years and Education
Study Mode
Full-time
Start Date
September 2027
Duration
2 Years
Level
Level 5
