Course modules
National level 6:
Core modules:
Work Based Research Project (40 credits)
Develop your understanding of the strengths and limitations of approaches of research methods and methodologies, including those you will choose for your work based topic. Gain a specialist understanding of an issue by carrying out an independent research project with the support and guidance of a research supervisor. Investigate critical literature relating to your chosen area and implement an investigation strategy to gather research data, then reflect on and analyse the project outcomes, pulling everything together in one conclusion that may make recommendations for further study and/or practice.
Equality and Diversity (20 credits)
Unpack and discuss a wide range of issues in relation to equality and diversity in contemporary society, such as race, class, culture, religion, language, gender, sexuality, disability, mental health, income and education. Discuss, debate and critique why forms and possible causes of inequality manifest, by considering a variety of influential factors. Explore personal, practical, political and ethical dimensions of prejudice, discrimination, and equality in a range of contexts. Strengthen your professional practice and your ability to critique societal responses, legislation and other provisions that are aimed at driving equality now and in the future.
Leading Practice for Children and Young People (20 credits)
Explore leadership theory and how it relates to work within children and young people settings, exploring and making connections between theories and styles of leadership, working collaboratively in teams and multi-agency contexts, leading change and dealing with conflict, quality assurance, reflective practice and continued professional development, as well as leading yourself. Place theory into practice and practice into theory by utilising and connecting the lecture material and readings to recorded leadership conversations with professionals across the childhood and youth sector, case studies, and, where appropriate, your own practice within the childhood and youth sector.
Education and Society (20 credits)
Gain an understanding of the relationship between education and society and explore some of the key ideas and concepts of education, learning and teaching to understand how they have been shaped by historical, sociological, anthropological and philosophical perspectives. Examine the processes and structures in different educational contexts to determine the impact these have on learners in social contexts. Explore how globalisation is impacting upon education and teaching and learning.
Optional modules (choose one):
Creative Teaching and Thinking (20 credits)
Develop your innovation in teaching across all stages of learning, covering a range of groups of children, from large groups to the individual child. Explore and consider all areas of the curriculum and make links to both core and foundation subjects. Strengthen your ability to develop creative teaching support strategies and activities. Examine current political ideology, policy and rhetoric in terms of developing a curriculum that engages all pupils of differentiated ability.
The Foundation Years (20 credits)
Consider the nature of ‘nurturing care’ and learning practices that support health, nutrition, responsive caregiving, safety and security, and early learning. Think about some of the early intervention strategies used in the UK and abroad that aim to support families whose children are in the foundation years of childhood and that provide optimal environments for learning. Examine care giving/learning practices across the foundation stage years including attachment, interaction, early intervention and the importance of routines. Learn about the theoretical approaches that underpin care of practice and learning with children across the foundation stage of childhood.
Children, Young People and Digital Learning (20 credits)
Directed at educators at all levels of education, from early childhood to higher and adult education, develop a common understanding of the digital competence needs of educators. Explore a wide range of content, strategies, techniques and approaches that personalise learning and facilitates students to achieve and realise their potential in practice. Learn how this allows for an emergent competency framework, enabling the identification, evaluation, and development of competencies within an organisation or profession, as well as collaborative learning and digital citizenship.
The Foundation Years with Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies* (20 credits)
Consider the nature of ‘nurturing care’ and learning practices that support health, nutrition, responsive caregiving, safety and security, and early learning. Think about some of the early intervention strategies used in the UK and abroad that aim to support families whose children are in the foundation years of childhood and that provide optimal environments for learning. Examine care giving/learning practices across the foundation stage years including attachment, interaction, early intervention and the importance of routines. Learn about the theoretical approaches that underpin care of practice and learning with children across the foundation stage of childhood. Reflect upon and gather evidence in practice on nine Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies from birth to eight years.
*To select this optional module, you must be on the part-time route, be employment-based and/or have 25 days placement opportunities depending on currency and timely experiences across the age range 0-8 years.
Please note that options are dependent on a suitable number of students taking them, as well as staff availability, and so some options may not run.
Some modules have prerequisites. Read more about what this means in our Help and Advice article.
