BA Early Years
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Degree
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Made up of
- 300 or 360 credit points
Description
Do you work with young children? Do you want to boost your career and develop your practice? This degree course provides a solid, practical grounding for practitioners working in a wide range of early years settings – including home-based carers and classroom/teaching assistants specialising in early years. You’ll develop your critical understanding of early years practice and frameworks from ethical, social, legal, and political perspectives; and gain the knowledge and skills needed to work collaboratively and equitably within an integrated, interdisciplinary workforce. The BA (Hons) Early Years is considered ‘full and relevant’ for the purposes of registration and regulation – which means you’ll count in the qualified ratio of staff at Level 3. It also prepares you for further research, study, enquiry and practice.
How to register
Registration is not yet open for this qualification. For an autumn 2012 start, registration opens on 27 March 2012. If you would like to register your interest, you can order our free guide to studying in 2012.
Career relevance and employability
Early years professionals work in many roles in group settings (such as nurseries and children's centres) and as home-based carers – playing a central role in children’s development from birth to five years. They also lead practice and support other practitioners. This BA (Hons) Early Years is designed to contribute to the development of a highly skilled and effective workforce across the UK – and to integrated, coherent services for children. It’s ideal if you want to achieve Early Years Professional (EYP) Status via the Graduate Entry Pathway (GEP). For further information about EYP Status see the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) website. Outside the UK, this degree course is relevant to anyone working in British Forces schools, or in English-medium early years settings in Europe.
This degree course may be helpful if you’re interested in further training as an Early Years Teacher. However, since the OU doesn’t offer teacher training for this age range, we cannot guarantee automatic progression to ITE training programmes. Check with your local ITE training provider about their entry policy. For up-to-date information see the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) website in England; the Teach in Scotland website in Scotland; and the Teacher Training & Education in Wales website. More information can also be found about routes to entering teaching by downloading our Becoming a Teacher booklet.
There is more information about how OU study can improve your employability in the OU’s Employability Statement from our Careers Advisory Service. You can also read or download our publication OU study and your career and look at our subject pages to find out about career opportunities.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
If you have already completed some successful study at higher education level at another institution we may be able to give you credit that you can count towards this Open University qualification. Further details will be available when registration opens for this qualification.
Classification of your degree
On successful completion of the required modules you will be awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Early Years degree or Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Early Years degree depending on the modules studied at Level 3.
Your honours degree will be classified as first-class honours,, upper second-class honours, lower second-class honours or third-class honours.
You will have the opportunity to attend one degree ceremony. Please note that you can not attend a ceremony for both the unclassified and the honours versions of this qualification.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
About this page
An undergraduate qualification in Childhood and Youth and Education.
Study explained
- Costs
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- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
Your questions
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