The Early Years and Primary Studies course at University Centre Colchester is designed to produce well-rounded resilient graduates who; understand and support children’s developmental needs and will be an asset to educational and care settings for children.
We welcome all budding Early Years and Primary Studies practitioners on board the programme and look forward to creating a positive and educated workforce within the sector. We care for our students in the same way you care for children which is why we feel passionately about developing and supporting you in your studies and career paths. Our dedicated and experienced tutors will enable you to really grow with the next generation!
Your profile
You are creative, enthusiastic and keen to make a difference in young people’s lives. You want to empower children and provide them with the life skills that will support their development. You enjoy exploring the theory and understanding the debate around early years development. You are ready to grow with the next generation.
Your subject
Working with children aged 0-11, you will be ideally placed to make a lasting, positive impact on their wellbeing and development. As an Early Years practitioner, you will be a key influence in the lives of many children by providing physical, emotional, social and intellectual care. Research shows the first few years of children’s lives are crucial to their development, which is why the government has pledged to invest an extra £66 million into the Early Years sector. Educated practitioners are needed to guide young people’s learning to ensure every child has the best opportunities in life. The Early Years and Primary Studies degree therefore follows a child-centred ethos; children’s rights and how their views can be represented is integral to the programme. You will then have the opportunity to transfer theory into practice through work experience opportunities.
Your course
University Centre Colchester’s Early Years and Primary Studies programmes embed the government’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) standards and the national curriculum into each module. As a student, you will explore how children learn and develop in a diverse and evolving society. You will learn about a range of topics relating to child development, health and training, and put that knowledge into practice through work experience opportunities. You will be taught by experienced lecturers and practitioners who will take you on valuable observational visits to ensure you graduate with a high level of practical and theoretical experience in readiness for the job market.
Your future
Once you complete the programme you will gain real-life experience, training, qualifications and confidence to achieve a career in the education and childcare sector. Upon graduation, there are a wide range of careers you will be able to pursue, from roles in social care, or child development research, to pre-school and primary school teaching, support work or youth work, to name a few. Past graduates have gone on to successful careers in play therapy, children’s rights, family support and work in the education sector.
Undergraduate courses operate on a modular basis that provides flexibility and choice. Each module is worth a specified number of credits, with most modules counting for 20 or 40 academic credits (depending on the programme), with each credit taken equating to a total amount of study time which includes scheduled teaching, independent study and assessment activity.
Most full-time students will take modules worth 60 credits per semester, with part-time students taking proportionately fewer credits per semester. A total of 120 credits per level and 360 credits are needed for an honours degree as a whole. Overall grades for the course and degree classification are based on the marks obtained for modules taken at levels 5 and 6.
Our teaching is informed by research, professional practice and industry engagement and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline.
64 UCAS points* and GCSE maths and English (grades A*-C). Students wishing to progress into teaching will also need GCSE science grade C. All applicants will be interviewed and required to demonstrate that they have relevant experience in working with children, and have good communication skills. They will also need to undertake a written piece as part of the interview. Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)** enhanced check.
Mature applicants with significant work-based experience, or employed within the industry, will also be considered.
An existing level 3 qualification which includes assessed practical competence. Mature students without formal qualifications, but with evidence of practical experience and relevant employment will also be considered for this course. All applicants will be interviewed and required to demonstrate that they have relevant experience in working with children, and have good communication skills.
They will also need to undertake a written piece as part of the interview. . Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)* enhanced check.
To progress into teaching you will also need GCSEs in English, Maths and Science (grades A* – C).
**Please note there is a charge of £44 for a DBS check
*UCAS Tariff points where shown, are for entry on to higher education programmes starting from September 2024.
International applicants
If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 6.0, with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking), or an equivalent English Language qualification.
Additional requirements for International Students:
Progression routes upon completion of the programme could include teaching assistants, family support worker, nursery manager, play worker, and employment in education management roles or health and civil services.
Many students will successfully enter postgraduate study with students previously undertaken Masters in Social Care, Human Rights, Children’s Rights and Social Policy and Justice.
The postgraduate Initial Teacher Training programmes have always been a popular choice of which the degree programme will prepare you well for.
Timetables: Timetables are normally available one month before registration. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week. Part-time classes are normally scheduled on one or two days per week.
Teaching and Learning: You are taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and practicals. Seminars enable smaller group discussions to develop understanding of topics covered in lectures.
When not attending lectures, seminars and practicals or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-directed study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, learning zone or technical learning resources, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for examinations
Assessment: The course provides you with opportunities to test your understanding of the subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module normally contains at least one piece of practice or ‘formative’ assessment for which you receive feedback from your tutor. Practice assessments are developmental and any grades you receive for them do not count towards your module mark.
There is a formal or ‘summative’ assessment at the end of each module. Assessment methods include written examinations and a range of coursework assessments such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations and your final year major project. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.
Feedback: You will receive feedback on all practice assessments and on formal assessments undertaken by coursework. Feedback is intended to help you learn and you are encouraged to discuss it with your module tutor.
All Fees and prices shown on the website are for courses starting in the 2024-25 academic year and are correct at the time of entering/printing information, however these may be subject to change. The College cannot accept legal or financial liability as a result of any such changes.
The course information describes programmes offered by University Centre Colchester at Colchester Institute. The College takes all reasonable steps to provide courses as described, but cannot guarantee provision. The information is for guidance and does not form any part of a contract.
The College reserves the right to update and amend information as and when necessary. University Centre Colchester at Colchester Institute will do its best to provide the courses shown, but may have to modify or withdraw a course depending on customer demand and other factors.