BA (Hons) Early Years and Childhood Studies

How might modern day pressures be impacting on children’s mental health? How do our individual experiences of childhood influence our views and perspectives? How can children and young people participate in society and how can this contribute to changes in policy?

From exploring feminism and queer theory to analysing the thinking of key philosophers, on this course you’ll study the complex factors that affect children’s lives and ways to positively shape and influence their futures.

In each year of the course, you’ll learn about the different elements that impact on a child’s development. Studying subjects such as psychology, sociology, philosophy, and criminology, you’ll consider ethics, welfare, and the importance of policy and legislation relating to children, such as the Human Rights Act (1998). You’ll also learn about how childhood has changed over time both in the UK and globally and consider alternative perspectives to child development, including post-structuralism, socio-cultural theory and creative play.

You’ll reflect on your own experience of childhood and explore how it was shaped by society. You’ll also consider the diverse experiences of children, young people, families and communities and how policy on local, national and international levels affects children’s lives.

This degree will give you the opportunity to study for an Early Years Education Level 3 qualification alongside your degree. When you graduate you will receive a degree, and a Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification which meets the National College for Teaching and Leadership requirements.

In each year of the course, you’ll study the complex factors that affect children’s lives, challenge theories and question social norms. You’ll learn about the different elements that impact on a child’s development and the ways to positively shape and influence their future.

There are two different routes you can take on this course, a ‘standard’ route or a ‘practice’ route. If you’d like to study for the Early Years Educator level 3 qualification alongside your degree, you can choose to study on the practice route.

When you graduate from this route, you will receive a degree and a level 3 Early Years Educator qualification, which meets the National College for Teaching and Leadership requirements.