Колледж Норленд, BA (Hons), Early Childhood Studies

Modules include: child development; the creative child; working with families; supporting literacy development; supporting mathematical development; the team around the child; the child's world; an important aspect of course is the practical experience working with children; the student spends every other week working in early years placements, which are changed every term; this gives the student 6 varied experiences within early years settings, caring for 3 different age ranges (from 0-8) and the opportunity to see varying early years practices; the placements, which are all in and around Bath, include: day nurseries, nursery schools, primary schools (reception and junior classes); paediatric, maternity and special care baby wards of local hospitals; Tumble Tots; a short time in a special needs placement (for example working with children who have hearing impairments); 2 week residential family placement (2nd year); the placements are in a combination of both private and publicly funded settings; all placements are specially selected and monitored by the placement coordinator; this part of the course is something that the students particularly enjoy; it is an ideal opportunity for the student to put into practice what they have learnt in their theoretical and practical lectures and enables them to reflect on their own and other professional practice.

This course aims to meet the needs of students who wish to combine degree level study with the competencies needed to achieve the qualification necessary for professional childcare practice (National Vocational Qualification Level 3); on successful completion of the 1st 2 years of the course the student achieves the Diploma of higher education in early childhood studies with a rating of 240 credit accumulation transfer (CATS) points; they also achieve the National Vocational Qualification Level 3 in children's care, learning and development (CCLD) validated by The Council for Awards in Children's Care and Education (CACHE).; the next step is for the student to work towards the Bachelor of Arts (ordinary) in early childhood studies which includes reflective practice and workshops; this runs alongside the probationary year of employment; the final step is to complete the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in early childhood studies; this comprises the completion of a dissertation and the attendance at a series of University of Gloucestershire workshops (London, Bath or Cheltenham based) on a part-time basis, while continuing in employment; alternatively the student can complete the final part of the degree course (step 2 and 3) after they have completed their Norland probationary post (their 1st year of employment).