Early Years Degree

Course Details

LEYF offers both the Foundation Degree in Early Years Services and then, if you wish, you can do our (BA) Hons in Early Childhood Studies as a top up.

The LEYF  Foundation Degree is a 2.5-year course* and is accredited by the University of Wolverhampton, but delivered and assessed by LEYF tutors.

There is a cost to the course, however you will likely be eligible for funding if you don’t already have a degree. You will also have access to the full range of services available at the University of Wolverhampton and a range of student discounts. If you are a full-time LEYF member of staff, you will be paid your full salary on training days and will be fully supported by LEYF tutors.

*The duration may be reduced from three years to two and a half where two modules may be replaced with Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Foundation (Level 5) Degree in Early Years Services

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The Foundation Degree in Early Years Services is a comprehensive course of study for professionals working in Early Years, enabling them to better understand young children and build on their own practice.

What will you study?

Level 4 modules

• Introducing the LEYF Social Pedagogy
• Child development
• The role of play in childhood
• Safeguarding and multi-agency perspectives

Level 5 modules

• Health in the Early Years
• Understanding children’s worlds
• Communication, literacy and language
• Becoming a Researcher
• Developing critical reflection
• Young lives, parenting and families

BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Studies (Level 6)

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The BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies with the University of Wolverhampton will develop students’ understanding of a child’s most formative years – when their body, personality and understanding of the world are still growing.

Linking theory and practice is integral throughout the degree, and students will do work placements to gain experience of working with babies and young children. This will allow them to consider theory in relation to the implications for practice, so they can evaluate and develop creative approaches to working with babies and young children.

Level 6 modules:

• Leading for sustainability
• Learning in the outdoors environment
• Evaluating the Early Years Curricula
• Leading quality
• Dissertation project

Eligibility to study

To be eligible to study with the LEYF degree, you must:

• Hold a full and relevant Early Years qualification at level 3
• Have strong literacy skills, ideally level 2 Functional Skills or GCSE English at Grade C/4
• Have a good standard of written and spoken English
• Be working in an Early Years setting or willing to undergo a placement in an Early Years setting
• Be willing to participate in and disseminate the action research undertaken as part of the programme with your colleagues.
• Be willing to undertake study in your own time

If you are an internal applicant, you must:

• Have the support of your Line Manager
• Have successfully completed your six-month probationary period
• Be a permanent member of the team

Interested in taking the next step with us? Get in touch about the LEYF Degree today at degree@leyf.org.uk.