Overview
These courses are work-based and designed to encourage experienced practitioners employed in the sector (working with children from birth to twelve years of age) to access higher education for simultaneous development of academic and experiential learning.
As these are employment-based learning courses, students will require the support of their employer to successfully complete the qualification. Students need a mentor in the workplace to support them with their studies. These courses emphasise multi-agency working, helping to create a workforce committed to joint working and improving standards of care for children.
For those students who successfully complete the Foundation degree, and who are interested in progressing their studies within the field of children's care and learning, a place on the Progression Year is guaranteed.
Future employment opportunities exist in schools, children's centres, playgroups, nurseries, social care and voluntary organisations.
Content and Modules
The areas of study include early years, care and education, children's services and play work.
This course is designed with the child care practitioner in mind. It has been shaped to combine studying while working in a busy childcare setting. At UCS Ipswich for example full-time first year Foundation degree students attend classes on Tuesday afternoons and evenings during school term time and part-time students on Tuesday evenings. This enables students to earn while they learn and maximise the amount of time spent at work. Second year Foundation degree students attend classes at UCS Ipswich on Thursdays.
Some modules have adopted a ‘blended learning approach’ where students can access part of the module via the virtual learning environment supported by face-to-face group tutorial sessions.
Modules studied include:
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Personal Development
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Safeguarding Children
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Children’s Development
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Diversity and Rights
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Reflective Practice
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Collaborative Working
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Research for Continuing Professional Development
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Play and Wellbeing
Click here to view Full Module Specifications|
The first year of study begins with a module entitled Personal Development which encourages students to reflect on their strengths and areas for further development. This is followed by modules such as Child Development, Safeguarding Children and Diversity and Rights which are centred very much on the child and adopt a child-centred philosophy. Finally students are required to reflect on their learning and progression by actively participating in a module called Reflective Practice.Students need to be highly motivated and well organised to time manage the demands of this programme.
The course makes strong links between theory and practice and as such, there are work based tasks that should be completed within their setting in order to underpin the theoretical aspects of the programme. All the modules are closely linked to the Children’s Workforce Development Council and parallel Every Child Matters.
Further Information
Student Testimonial
"I have experienced a wide variety of emotions since beginning the Foundation Degree course: excitement, anticipation, despair, confusion, frustration to name just a few, but I can honestly say that, as I enter the last semester, I am proud of my achievements and feel as though I have grown as a person and a practitioner. The whole experience has been very worth while and has benefited my practice, knowledge and understanding of child development and most importantly given me the skills to be reflective, thus enhancing my professional development and the quality of care that I am able to offer. I would recommend the course to any practitioner who is enthusiastic about what they do and wants to make a difference, however small it may be, to the children in their care. We need to challenge ourselves, be receptive to new ideas and concepts and not be afraid to analyze and critique the work of others in order to improve our professional practice on a day to day basis. I feel that the Foundation Degree has enabled me to do this and I am positive that the skills I have developed, and am still developing, will enhance my professional career".