The Foundation Degree  in Early Years Education being offered by the College is nearly full. The course starts in April and the next intake is not until 2019 so don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to progress your career in Early Years Education.

Course description

This qualification is delivered in collaboration with the University of Brighton and the qualification is the Early Years Care and Education Foundation Degree (FdA).

Course description

The programme runs over three academic years. Covering Levels 4 and 5, this course is delivered at the Delancey Campus in a three-hour session on a Wednesday evening (there may be a requirement to attend some university led sessions during the day). It includes a range of taught sessions and your reflections on your practice in the workplace.

The modular design of the course enables you to reflect on your professional experience, to increase your awareness of current issues and practices, and to develop your academic and research skills.

Units covered

• The practitioner as learner
• Children and young people’s learning and development
• Professional reflective practice
• Play as a developmental learning process
• Communication, language and literacy development
• Assessing children’s achievements
• Safeguarding and promoting welfare and wellbeing
• Further professional reflective practice
• Families in communities: the role of the setting
• The positive learning environment
• Equality and inclusion
• Pedagogical approaches and the adult

Assessment method

The learning outcomes of the modules are met through a range of taught sessions, student presentations, workshop activities, online discussion groups and reflective learning, as outlined in the module descriptors.

Progression opportunities

This Foundation Degree is seen as an efficient and effective route for practitioners who wish to progress their childcare careers towards a senior level status – providing they meet any additional requirements. You could potentially ‘top up’ to a BA Hons degree.

Course Duration

Three years, part-time.

Entry requirements

• Preferred core GCSE grades maths and English (can also include Level 2 English or Level 2 maths).
• Applicants must be working in an early years/childcare setting and normally have been employed within such a setting for at least two years. You should also be able to provide evidence of completion of a normal HE access route (A Levels, NVQ Level 3 in Childcare, HE Access course) or other evidence of capability to undertake study at higher education.
• Agreement from the workplace/employer to support the student through workplace learning facilitations.

Student testimonial

“Studying at this level has had a huge influence not only on my practice but on how I value myself and the way I interact with both children and adults.”
Elaine Allen – owner of Butterflies Pre-School and current FdA student.

For further information contact Julie Jones email juliej@gcfe.net or tel 750200