Early Childhood and Primary Education BA (Hons)

The BA Early Childhood & Primary Education course contains core modules at each level of study, which are shared with Level 4 students on our BA Education course. This non-QTS course offers you an in-depth exploration of early childhood and primary education which prepares you for employment in a wide and varied sector.

In Year 1 (Level 4) you will be introduced to holistic child development. This offers essential knowledge for everyone who is considering working with children and underpins all of our thinking about childhood. This focus informs our understanding of how children develop and learn as they enter the school system. You will begin to consider how children live and flourish and you will gain an understanding about what is right for them and their unique needs.

You will begin to consider and reflect on the history and philosophy of childhood education and will be invited to question how school and educational systems have developed and will start to assess whether they suit the needs of all children and families. We explore how we could ensure that the educational system embraces childhood and develops emotionally strong, competent and capable learners.

This first year also develops the foundation of play, which sits at the heart of all that children do. Did you know that play is the child’s work? It creates happiness in children and promotes their grasp of school-based concepts such as maths, literacy and holistic aspects like creativity, awe, wonder and motivation.

Towards the end of your first year, you will be offered the opportunity to choose a pathway which focuses your specialism in either early years or primary education studies. This will offer you a more in-depth view of the 0- 8 age group or the 5-11 age group. This offers you an excellent strength in your future career and your chosen pathway influences your teaching in your second year.

MODULES

• Exploring Education: Looking Back to Look Forward (40 Credits) Core: This module introduces you to the historical and contemporary landscape of childhood education, focusing on key educational theories, practices, and systems. It will explore how education has evolved from ancient times to the present day, and how different societal, political, and cultural factors have influenced its development. Students will engage with issues such as equality of access to education, the function of the state, the role of women and the changing aims and values of education.
• The Playful Mind: Creativity and Learning through Play (20 Credits) Core: This module introduces students to the fundamental role of play in human creativity, learning, and development across the lifespan. By examining key theories, concepts, and practices surrounding play, students will explore how playful activities stimulate cognitive, emotional, and social growth. The module aims to empower students to appreciate and apply the dynamics of play in both educational and professional contexts, emphasising its interdisciplinary relevance in fostering innovation, problem-solving, and collaboration.
• Holistic Development: Unveiling the Mysteries of Childhood (40 Credits) Core: This module introduces students to the multifaceted nature of child development and education, exploring cognitive, emotional, social, and physical domains. Students will engage with key theoretical frameworks and critically analyse how various environmental and cultural factors shape children's growth. The module encourages a holistic approach, examining the interrelationship between different developmental aspects from birth to early adolescence. By unveiling the complexities of childhood, students will gain a foundational understanding to support future studies in education, psychology, social work, and related disciplines.
• Stepping into Practice: An Introduction to Placement Learning (20 Credits) Option: This module provides students with the opportunity to engage in a professional placement focused on child-centred practice. Students will develop practical skills, reflective abilities, and a deeper understanding of how to support children's holistic development. The placement experience aims to enhance students' capacity to work with children in diverse settings, emphasising child welfare, rights, and inclusive practices.
• Language Module (20 Credits) Option

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

Year 2 (Level 5) develops all that you have learnt in your first year and engages with more complex learning that offers you the opportunity to reflect on the contemporary issues in childhood that contribute to children’s lives. Poverty drives children’s health and wellbeing and underpins many avoidable health challenges faced by children. We consider how children live, what contributes to their overall health and how, as educators, we can support and promote children to be healthy.

This Level also introduces you to how research is conducted and equips you with the early skills to undertake a small piece of research. This is a great practice for your dissertation module in your final year.

MODULES

All Routes:

• Fostering Communication, Language, Literacy and Mathematical Development (20 Credits) Core: This module aims to develop an understanding of how children acquire and develop key skills in communication, language, literacy and mathematics. It explores theoretical perspectives, pedagogical approaches and practical strategies to foster a lifelong love of language and numeracy. The module will examine the role of educators, parents, and wider society in shaping children's experiences with communication, reading, writing and mathematics.
• Mastering Research Methods (20 Credits) Core:  This module will develop your knowledge of research methods, as appropriate to education, and how they are applied in the field. The module will engage students in reflections and support the development of student inquiry. The module will support you to engage in the processes necessary to write an academic research proposal for consideration and adaptation at Level 6.
• Developing Practice: Building Transferable Skills in the Workplace (40 Credits) Option: This module provides students with the opportunity to engage with professional practice in the children, young people, and families sector. Through placement experiences, students will develop and apply key skills in practical settings. The module emphasises the transferability of these skills, enabling students to adapt them to a range of roles and professional environments. By focusing on skill development and consistent practice, the module helps students build a solid foundation for a wide range of future careers.
• Language Module (40 Credits) Option

Early Childhood Studies:

• Working Together in Early Childhood (20 Credits) Core: This module focuses on the central role of effective communication in the development of positive relationships with young children, with their parents, with colleagues in the workplace and with other professionals and agencies. You will examine the importance of respectful partnerships with parents/caregivers and explore the ways in which practitioners and parents/caregivers can work together to support the learning and development of young children. You will also consider the importance of working as a member of a team and in multi professional contexts and investigate the barriers to successful teamwork and how to address these in the workplace.  The role of the leader in early childhood settings will also be explored.
• Growing Strong: Nurturing Health and Happiness in Early Childhood (20 Credits) Core: This module explores the health and wellbeing of children from conception to 8 years of age. The module critically examines current agendas and policy drivers, equipping students with the knowledge to address challenges and promote healthy lifestyles and inclusive practices. The module prepares students to support the wellbeing of children and their families in diverse professional contexts.

Primary Education:

• Working Together in Primary Education (20 Credits) Core: This module focuses on the central role of effective communication in the development of positive relationships with primary age children, with their parents, with colleagues in the workplace and with other professionals and agencies. You will examine the importance of respectful partnerships with parents/caregivers and explore the ways in which practitioners and parents/caregivers can work together to support the learning and development of primary age children. You will also consider the importance of working as a member of a team and in multi professional contexts and investigate the barriers to successful teamwork and how to address these in the workplace.  The role of the leader in educational settings will also be explored.
• Strong Minds, Strong Bodies: Health & Wellbeing in Primary Education (20 Credits) Core: This module aims to deepen students’ understanding of the role of health and wellbeing in primary education. It examines the connection between physical and mental health and children’s academic, social, and emotional development within the primary school setting. The module encourages future educators to adopt a holistic approach, addressing the physical, emotional, and social needs of children to support their health and overall wellbeing.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

In Year 3 (Level 6) you will become an independent, critical thinker and, as such, you will be well prepared to further explore the complexities and debates which surround the lives of children, both in their personal and educational experiences. At this level, you will become ready to question your academic reading and to write confidently and with authority.

You will continue learning and developing your philosophy, integrating all the knowledge and skills acquired throughout your studies. Staying in your pathway, you will focus on critical discussions relating to children who have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities, the marginalised child and you will explore key debates which influence children’s lives.

MODULES

All Routes:

• Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood & Primary Education (20 Credits) Core:  Exploring Key Debates This module critically explores contemporary issues and debates in early childhood and primary education, equipping you with an in-depth understanding of current policies, pedagogical practices, and challenges within these fields. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives, the module will challenge you to engage with key societal, cultural, and political factors influencing education today. Topics include equity and inclusion, early years pedagogy, the role of technology, the impact of policy reforms, and the evolving expectations of educators in a global context. Through critical reflection, students will analyse how these debates shape both educational theory and practice in the UK and internationally.
• Beyond the Margins: Social Equality for Children & Families (20 Credits) Core: This module explores social equality for children and families, focusing on how inequalities manifest and impact children (0-11 years) from marginalised communities. It examines the social, cultural, political, and economic forces that shape children's experiences, opportunities and their understanding of diversity, including the development of social norms and biases. Using a critical lens, the module explores policy, practice, and theory surrounding diversity, inclusion, and equity. The aim is to equip students with the knowledge and tools to challenge inequality and foster environments that promote equality for all children, regardless of their background.
• Critical Explorers: Research into Practice (40 Credits) Core: The Critical Explorers Research into Practice module provides you as a final-year student, with the opportunity to undertake an independent research project, investigating a topic of your choice related to education, children, young people and/or families and communities. This module is designed to develop your skills in critical thinking, research design, and reflective practice, preparing you for professional roles in your chosen sector or further academic study.
• Classroom to Careers (20 Credits) Option: This module aims to bridge the gap between academic study and professional practice in children and young people’s settings, equipping you with the skills, knowledge, and critical thinking needed for a successful transition into an appropriate career. The module focuses on reflective practice, professional development, and the application of theoretical knowledge in real-world settings. It encourages you to explore their professional identity and role within the sector, considering the complex social, cultural, and policy-related factors that influence practice.

Early Childhood Studies:

• The Heart of Early Childhood: Exploring Foundational Principles (20 Credits): This module is designed to explore the essential principles that underpin early childhood education and care. It examines the critical role of early experiences in shaping lifelong development, emphasizing theoretical, practical, and ethical considerations. Students will critically analyze foundational theories, explore contemporary issues, and apply principles in real-world early childhood contexts.
  
  

Primary Education:

• Reimagining Learning: Innovation in Primary Education (20 Credits): The primary aim of this module is to engage students in critical exploration and reimagination of learning and teaching practices in primary education. Students will examine innovative approaches that challenge traditional pedagogical methods, focusing on creativity, inclusivity, and the integration of technology. The module aims to empower students to envision new possibilities for the primary classroom, grounded in contemporary research, policy developments, and real-world challenges.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

Students from countries outside the UK are expected to have entry qualifications roughly equivalent to UK A Level for undergraduate study and British Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for postgraduate study. To help you to interpret these equivalents, please click on your country of residence to see the corresponding entry qualifications, along with information about your local representatives, events, information and contacts.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and consider all applications individually on merit. We may also consider appropriate work experience.

English Language Requirements

• IELTS Academic: Undergraduate: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each band)
• Postgraduate: 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each band)

For more information on our entry requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

In November 2024, as part of the government’s Autumn Budget, it was confirmed that some foundation years from September 2025 will have a fee of £5,760 for the first foundation year of a four-year course. This is mainly for courses in the Humanities, Business, and Social Sciences disciplines. The following three years of these courses will be the standard fee of £9,535 per annum.

* For courses which accept applications from International Students

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials.

Students often elect to purchase a laptop; where students choose to do so, the cost is likely to be around £800-£1,000.

Most software specific to your course is available free to students through agreements we have with the software vendors. 

Occasional, optional field trips may be offered, depending on student demand. These are typically within the UK and, where chargeable, the cost is likely to be under £100. Students are not required to participate in order to successfully complete the course. 

If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.