Early Childhood and Primary Education BA (Hons)

The education landscape plays a critical role in children’s cognitive and emotional development, and how they progress through later life. This course specialises in the transformative power within both the primary education and early childhood sectors, and is perfect if you wish to discuss, discover and analyse in depth why learning experiences are vital. 

You will explore contemporary thinking relating to play, social and emotional development, and the philosophy of childhood and education. Early education creates intense discussion across political and societal landscapes, exposing tensions between care and education. This course supports you to analyse and assess a range of political and societal ideas about family life and teaching and caring for children that have far-reaching impacts on their schooling and wider society.  

This course offers you a great deal of flexibility, and supports you to follow your professional interests. In your second year, you will be well-poised to choose a pathway to specialise in either early childhood or in primary education, and we tailor modules so that they deepen and widen your knowledge in these areas. 

We’re particularly proud of our third-year offering; in this year you will author a personal (and often inspirational) research project. Examples of dissertations include how gender influences toy choices, perceptions of sign language between parents and practitioners, healthy eating in a school environment, and the ‘Justifiable Lie’: the magic of Santa!

A specialist pathway is your opportunity to further tailor your studies to become an expert in your chosen field. Our pathways provide you with specific modules and opportunities to enable you to tailor your studies towards areas you are passionate about, whether through early childhood studies or primary education studies specialisms. Choose from various modules and optional pathways to align with your interests and career goals.

If you opt for the Early Childhood pathway, you will achieve Early Years Educator status through an assessed observation of practice in your first placement.

When applying for this course with a specialist pathway, you will do so via UCAS. It is important to search for and submit your application for 'Early Childhood and Primary Education BA (Hons)'. Your chosen pathway will be confirmed post-application and this will be the award that you complete your studies with, i.e., Early Childhood Studies BA (Hons). If you choose to study this course without a pathway, your award on completion will be Early Childhood and Primary Education BA (Hons). 

The BA Early Childhood & Primary Education course contains core modules at each level of study.

In Year 1 (Level 4), you will be introduced to the principles of holistic child development and the theories of playful learning. Core modules are shared with Level 4 students on similar courses.

Year 2 (Level 5) will build upon this foundation with more complex learning that offers you the opportunity to develop your thinking about children’s lives in terms of their health and wellbeing. This level also supports you to consider how research is undertaken and equips you with early research skills. At Level 5, you will be given the choice of a module pathway which offers a focus on working in the early years or working in primary education.

In Year 3 (Level 6), you will undertake a dissertation project focusing on your own area of interest. You will continue learning and developing your personal philosophy, integrating all the knowledge and skills acquired throughout your studies, with a focus on critical discussions relating to alternative narratives, marginalised children and what childhood looks like in contemporary society. 

You will be offered the opportunity to undertake Graduate Practitioner Competencies awarded by the Early Childhood Studies Degree Network. These competencies support you to undertake a higher level of practice supported by workplace placements, assessed practice & portfolio and an end-of-year Viva at Level 6.  

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.

Job Prospects

With key transferrable skills, graduates may directly access various professional roles, including teaching assistant, early years educator, children and families support worker, policing, or they may choose to enter the charity sector. 

The course also provides a foundation for further study for entry into other professions, such as teaching, children’s nursing, social work or psychotherapy. 

Careers Service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service, which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.