Early Years Education and Practice (with Early Years Practitioner status) BA (Hons)

This Early Years degree focuses on working with children from birth to eight years. It equips you with the understanding and skills to support the learning and development needs of young children.

You'll undertake a placement for one day per week, as well as in week-long blocks throughout the year. This will allow you to link theory to practice around areas such as activity planning, assessment and recording procedures, and Welsh language development.

You'll also develop a range of professional and entrepreneurial skills by working as part of a team with practitioners in a range of settings.

USW's Early Years Education degree is recognised by Social Care Wales (SCW) and can be found on their List of Required Qualifications. Graduates will achieve Early Years Practitioner status alongside their academic qualifications.

Career paths typically include those in education, working in schools, nurseries, children's charities and integrated children's centres, as well as some graduates going on to gain their Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and becoming qualified teachers.

Teaching

The BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Practice (with Early Years Practitioner status) degree is taught through a combination of work based learning, placements, lectures, seminars, workshops, external visits, directed study and independent study.

High quality learning and teaching is the key focus.Teaching occurs through directed lectures and knowledge is shared and guidance provided to extend understanding via reading, which is needed to consolidate the learning independently.

Guest lecturers and experts in their field also share their knowledge, experience and practice to inform you of key areas that are unique in different educational settings.

On average students will receive approximately 18 hours of contact time a week which includes a full day in a placement. This can vary from the timetable being delivered over four days a week in year one, to three days a week in year three, where more onus is on the student to conduct their independent study and research.

Careers

A Early Years Education degree can lead to a range of interesting careers when you graduate. Career paths typically include those in education, with graduates working in schools, nurseries, children’s charities and integrated children’s centres. A number of graduates also go on to gain their PGCE qualification and become qualified teachers.

Recent graduates have gained employment in a variety of roles in early years settings as well as project officer roles within local community projects and in charities.