Professional Practice: Early Childhood Studies

You'll have the opportunity to develop your subject expertise by exploring contemporary issues in the care, education, health and welfare of young children and their families.

In the context of your own professional practice, you'll evaluate current debates, government strategies and initiatives.

Applying theory to practice, you'll undertake a range of work-based activities, including workplace analysis of the practices and models of management, teamwork, children's learning and experience.

You'll develop an understanding of the key issues related to ethical practice, as well as learn how to reflect critically on workplace practices in a professional fashion.

You'll receive extensive support throughout your studies, starting with a specially designed induction programme. We also encourage you to identify a workplace mentor who could support you with your studies and research.

This degree also offers the opportunity to be recognised as an Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner through completion of Graduate Practitioner Competencies at Level 6.  

You can complete this Professional Practice degree full-time or part-time alongside existing work commitments.

You can complete your degree full-time which will last one year and you'll attend one full day per week (Thursdays 9.00am - 6.00pm). There is an option to study part-time. Your degree will last two years and you'll attend half a day per week (mornings in the first year and afternoons in the second year).

Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner

Our BA (Hons) Professional Practice: Early Childhood Studies degree offers the opportunity to be recognised as an Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner through completion of Graduate Practitioner Competencies at Level 6.  

Developed by the national Early Childhood Studies Degrees Network (ECSDN) and endorsed by the Department for Education, the Graduate Practitioner Competencies aim to strengthen the early childhood workforce and professional practice aspect of a degree.

The assessed practitioner competencies are embedded into the degree programme, leading to a Level 6 award that evidences a holistic understanding of Early Childhood development and the ability to apply, critically evaluate and communicate theoretical knowledge into practice.

Achieving practitioner status can help enhance your employability in the childhood studies sector or support you to progress to postgraduate study or higher-level professional roles.  

During your studies, you will work towards meeting nine competencies through assessed placement tasks, observations of practice and academic assignments. By the end of the competencies you must also hold Level 2 English and maths qualifications grade C or 4 or higher (or equivalent). Throughout your degree, clear goals will be agreed and monitored to achieve positive outcomes.

Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies:

1. Advocating for young children’s rights and participation
2. Promoting holistic development
3. Working directly with young children, families and colleagues to promote health, wellbeing, safety and nurturing care
4. Observing, listening and planning for young children to support their wellbeing, early learning, progression and transitions
5. Safeguarding and child protection
6. Inclusive practice
7. Partnerships with parents and caregivers
8. Collaborating with others
9. Professional development

Successful completion of the competencies alongside your degree will result in an award of BA (Hons) Professional Practice: Early Childhood Studies degree with an Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Certificate (ECGPC).

You will study a variety of modules across your programme of study. The module details given below are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

• Evaluating Current Debates and Developments
• Work Related Project
• The Early Years Professional
• Developing Through Play: Theoretical Perspectives

At Leeds Trinity we aim to provide an excellent student experience and provide you with the tools and support to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional potential.

Our Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy delivers excellence by providing the framework for:

• high quality teaching
• an engaging and inclusive approach to learning, assessment and achievement
• a clear structure through which you progress in your academic studies, your personal development and towards professional-level employment or further study.

We have a strong reputation for developing student employability, supporting your development towards graduate employment, with relevant skills embedded throughout your programme of study.

We endeavour to develop curiosity, confidence, courage, ambition and aspiration in all students through the key themes in our Learning and Teaching Strategy:

• Student Involvement and Engagement
• Inclusion
• Integrated Programme and Assessment Experience
• Digital Literacy and Skills
• Employability and Enterprise

To help you achieve your potential we emphasise learning as a collaborative process, with a range of student-led and real-world activities. This approach ensures that you fully engage in shaping your own learning, developing your critical thinking and reflective skills so that you can identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and use the extensive learning support system we offer to shape your own development.

We believe the secret to great learning and teaching is simple: it is about creating an inclusive learning experience that allows all students to thrive through:

• Personalised support
• Expert lecturers
• Strong connections with employers
• An international outlook
• Understanding how to use tools and technology to support learning and development

Assessment

A variety of assessment methods are used, matched to the learning outcomes for your programme, allowing you to apply and demonstrate the full range of knowledge and skills that you have developed.

For more details on specific assessment methods for this course contact hello@leedstrinity.ac.uk

Leeds Trinity University is committed to recruiting students with talent and potential and who we feel will benefit greatly from their academic and non-academic experiences here. We treat every application on its own merits; we value highly the experience you illustrate in your personal statement.

The following information is designed to give you a general overview of the qualifications we accept. If you are taking qualifications that are not included below, including the recently introduced T Levels, please contact our Admissions Office who will be happy to advise you.

For our Professional Practice degrees, you must have:

• a Foundation degree in a relevant area or equivalent Level 5 qualification
• GCSE English Language or English Literature at Grade C or 4 or above (or accepted equivalent such as level 2 Functional Skills in English)
• Support from your workplace to join the programme and a written reference from your employer which will also confirm whether you already have a DBS check

This course is not available to students on a Student Route Visa.

UK Home Students:

Tuition fees cost £9,250 a year for this course in 2022/2023.

Tuition fees cost £9,250 a year for this course in 2023/2024.

Part-time tuition fees will be prorated accordingly to the number of credits you're studying.

Depending on government policy, tuition fees may change in future years.

Leeds Trinity offers a range of bursaries and scholarships to help support students while you study.

Additional costs

We advise students that there may be additional course costs in addition to annual tuition fees. These include:

• Books - recommended and required reading lists will be provided at the start of your course. All the books and e-books are available from our Library to borrow but you may choose to purchase your own.
• Print costs - the University provides students with a £6 printing credit each academic year which can be topped up either on campus or online.

Download the application form below and return it, along with your references and copies of your qualifications, to:

admissions@leedstrinity.ac.uk

Admissions Team
Leeds Trinity University
Horsforth
Leeds
LS18 5HD

The admissions team will acknowledge receipt of your application, and aim to make a decision within two weeks of receiving your application.

If you've been made an offer, you'll need to accept or decline by emailing admissions@leedstrinity.ac.uk.

Download Application form for professional practice degrees

Graduate opportunities

Providing you with the opportunity to develop the professional skills and experience you need to launch your career is at the heart of everything we do at Leeds Trinity University.

Once you graduate, you'll be ready to begin a career as a nursery leader, family support worker, teacher, playworker, play therapist or social worker (after postgraduate study).

After you graduate, our Careers, Placements and Employability team will help you as you pursue your chosen career through our mentoring scheme, support with CV and interview preparation and access to graduate employability events.

To find out how we can help you make your career ambitions a reality, visit:

Careers and Employability