Adult & Higher Education

The BA (Hons) in Early Years is a one year ‘top-up’ course which has been designed for those who have completed the Foundation Degree in Early Years (or equivalent Early Years qualification at level 5) and want to progress on to achieve a full Bachelor of Arts degree with honours (BA (Hons). The qualification is designed for those working with children from birth, within the Early Years Foundation Stage, to the end of the Reception Year in Schools. It includes those working or wishing to work as nannies and child minders providing that the children being cared for are within the age range.

The course aims to provide a programme which engages with issues in Early Years Care and Education and prepares students for future management and leadership roles. It will encourage learners to use multidisciplinary sources, drawing on academic, theoretical and practical perspectives to inform and develop their understanding of children’s care, learning and development.

Students will have the opportunity to examine policy, research and practice in early childhood education, provision and care and apply multiple perspectives to early childhood issues recognising that early childhood studies involves a range of research methods, theories, evidence and applications.

Students will explore a range of philosophical, psychological and sociological perspectives and consider how each perspective underpins different understandings of children and childhood. Students will also consider a range of social and emotional learning programmes and the theoretical frameworks they are based on to facilitate critical analysis of key issues in research. Students will practice, investigate and research key educational issues such as children's learning and development, behaviour management, diversity and inclusion. In addition students will develop their abilities to plan for the curriculum, assessment, evaluation and improvement of creative learning opportunities, taking account of young children's health and emotional well-being. Students will develop their ability to lead, support and work collaboratively and effectively with others such as parents, carers and other professionals and be able to recognise and challenge inequalities in society and embrace an anti-bias curriculum.

Assessment includes essays, reports, individual and  presentations, case studies, research reports and several work-based assignments. These strategies are also designed to enable the development of key transferable skills in the workplace. There are no examinations.

All eligible applicants will be required to undertake an interview. Students should be employed in an Early Years setting in the private, voluntary or independent sectors and have either an Early Years Foundation Degree (or equivalent Early Years qualification at level 5) or a degree in an unrelated subject with a substantial experience of working with children from birth to 5 years. You should have achieved GCSE at Grade C/4 or above (or recognised equivalents) in English and Mathematics.

The course prepares students for a leadership and/or management role in an Early Years setting as well as progression to Early Years Initial Teachers Training. Successful completion of this one year course will lead to a BA (Hons) in Early Years from Middlesex University.

Students may also wish to progress onto our MA in Educational Leadership & Management.