Bachelor of Arts Early Years Care and Education

Why take this course?
On this course, you will learn to make a difference to the lives of babies and young children by understanding how they develop and learn. You will learn how to meet the needs of children, and to understand the role of the family and society.

The programme promotes a child-centered approach to care and education, taking account of physical, educational and emotional needs of babies and young children.

What will I experience?
The aim of the level 7 degree programme is to equip you with the theory and hands-on experience and practical skills required to provide quality support for children’s development (0-6 years). You will experience the variety of the early years’ sector through placements in different early-years’ settings, thus providing the opportunity to link classroom learning with work-based practice. The primary curricula and quality frameworks used in all early years’ settings are Aistear curriculum framework and Síolta quality framework

The programme takes account of wider policy developments, which highlight the importance of both care and education for pre-school children. The simulated early years’ setting in the AIT early years’ lab and module assignments will provide you with opportunities to plan for and supports children’s interests and abilities. You will study the influence of the family and society on child development. Throughout the duration of the course, you will develop knowledge and understanding of the value and ways of working with parents, and of inter-professional collaboration to support the best interests of children.

You can expect development in the following areas:

• Academic development
• Skill development
• Professional development
• Personal development
• Key Points:
• Students develop an understanding of children’s (0-6 years) health, welfare and development through integration of theory and practice
• Over the course of the three year programme, students undertake a minimum of 500 hours practical placement in a working environment offering care and education for the preschool child (0-6 years)
• Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
• Understand the importance of child development; education and play; the social environment; communication, management and administration and personal and professional development in diverse early years’ settings;
• Plan and implement learning opportunities which supports the diverse needs of children (0-6 years);
• Apply the knowledge gained from your degree to promote the importance of quality education and care provision

What opportunities might it lead to?
Graduates from this programme are eligible to apply to join AIT’s one year add-on Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Early Years’ Care and Education. As a graduate you can reasonably be expected to work as an Early Years’ Educator (various roles such as Assistant, Room Leader, Assistant Manager, Manager) in full day crèche settings, part-time, sessional (ECCE), afterschool, breakfast club, naíonraí (with Irish language); parent and toddler groups and drop in care settings. Curricula approaches most frequently identified in early years’ settings, which incorporate the Aistear curriculum framework and Síolta quality framework, are Montessori, HighScope and play-based. There may also be opportunities to work in outdoor preschools/Forest Schools. This role may include such responsibilities as the development and evaluation of programmes of care and education which support learning and development; to work as part of a team to develop quality improvement strategies to enhance the quality of experience for all children and staff.

Additional Information
National Vetting Bureau:

All students on this programme will undertake National Vetting Bureau procedures prior to commencing their work placement. Failure to disclose previous convictions will result in students being dismissed from the programme. Previous convictions, depending on their nature, could result in student dismissal from the programme.