BA

Early Childhood Studies with Early Years Practitioner Status

BA Early Childhood Studies with Early Years Practitioner Status Code X322 Attend an Open Day Attend an Open Day

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Key Facts

X322

  • UCAS Tariff

    120 - 96

  • Course duration

    3 years

Available for September start 2025

Further details on entry requirements

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With over 700 hours of placements in Early Years settings, BA Early Childhood Studies with Early Years Practitioner Status at Aberystwyth University is intended to help you to become a skilled and employable graduate. It does this through the development of knowledge, understanding and practical skills.

University study will provide the academic background to your experiences on placement, which will involve working in a team with staff to care for and educate young children. In addition to your placement experiences, you will have the opportunity to engage with professional partners and share in good practice. This collaborative approach ensures that you learn from leading professionals in the field, enhancing your pedagogical practice and professional development. In the first year, these placements are observational, and in the second and third years, these placements are assessed.

Course Overview

Why study the BA Early Childhood Studies with Early Year Practitioner Status at Aberystwyth University?

  • The School of Education at Aberystwyth University has been offering stimulating and innovative study programmes for over 100 years.
  • Research-led teaching informs our syllabus which means that you will benefit from the very latest information and developments in the subject, enabling you to critically engage with the key issues.
  • The BA Early Childhood Studies with Early Years Practitioner Status will enable you to gain a recognised professional qualification as an integral part of your degree.
  • You'll learn about the vital role that practitioners have to play in children’s early years and how to work effectively within this role.
  • You'll have an opportunity to develop an understanding of the complex knowledge associated with children's early years' development.
  • You'll critically reflect on and manage your own learning and performance.
  • You will acquire employability skills and the personal attributes and values that are necessary for employment, training or further education.
Our Staff

Undergraduate lecturers in the School of Education are either qualified to PhD standard or are experienced practitioners in their field. All teaching staff currently possess, or are working towards, a recognised teaching qualification.

Modules September start - 2025

Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Education, Diversity and Equality ED20420 20
Literacy in Young Children ED20220 20
Safeguarding and Professional Practice ED24320 20
Year 2 Early Years Practitioner Placement * ED25860 60

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Communication ED34720 20
Emotional and Social Development ED34820 20
Mathematical Development in the Early Years ED30320 20
Year 3 Early Years Practitioner Placement * ED35860 60

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

About this course

In order to undertake this course, you will need a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) enhanced check through the School of Education at a cost of about £40. In some circumstances the cost may be higher, especially if you’ve lived outside of the UK for a period of time.

Careers

Successful completion of this degree leads to Early Years Practitioner Status. This means that you will have a degree that allows you to work as a professional within an early years setting (subject to appropriate literacy and numeracy qualifications).

Furthermore, successful completion of this degree may also lead to progression to a one-year primary school teacher training course (PGCE). The qualification is also an ideal basis for anyone wishing to work in the social work profession or within different types of educational therapy.

Teaching & Learning

How will I learn? 

In the School of Education we provide a variety of learning opportunities:

  • Lectures in larger groups allow you to gain outline knowledge of the ideas and concepts involved in each module. You will be encouraged to discuss key points with your fellow students, to answer questions and to develop your opinions and consolidate your learning. Recordings of all of our lectures are available for as long as you are registered on the course at Aberystwyth.
  • Seminars in smaller groups involve work in more detail on specific aspects of modules. These may involve more practical applications of ideas from lectures, or detailed analysis of pieces of research or other reading.
  • Workshops are practical. Tasks are set which involve group and individual work on topics like professional practice. Sometimes these also involve visiting speakers. Recent innovations involve the use of Virtual Reality headsets to bring your learning alive. 
  • Placements - You will undertake 700 hours of placements in nursery settings within the Aberystwyth locality in order to gain professional skills. Because of the practical element of the course, you will require an enhanced DBS check which you will need to pay for. There may also be travel expenses within the Aberystwyth area. 

What will I study?

In each year, modules give you a solid foundation in essential aspects of Early Childhood Studies, for example:

  • In Year 1, modules cover topics such as how young children learn, the importance of health and well-being in the early years and learning through play. You will also undertake sessions relating to professional practice in an early years setting.
  • In Year 2, you will explore the importance of literacy development, multi agency working and safeguarding young children. Year 2 also involves an extensive placement opportunity.
  • In Year 3, you will again develop your practical skills through a placement. You will explore the importance of social and emotional development and look at how key communication is to everyone involved in young children's learning and development.

How will my work be assessed?

A variety of assessment techniques will allow you to play to your strengths.

Some modules are assessed through essays, but you may also complete projects, bibliographic exercises, reflective diaries, posters, and presentations. During your placements, you will keep a folder of evidence to show that you have the skills to work as an early years practitioner.

Typical Entry Requirements

UCAS Tariff 120 - 96

A Levels BBB-CCC

GCSE requirements (minimum grade C/4):
English or Welsh

BTEC National Diploma:
DDM-MMM

International Baccalaureate:
30-26

European Baccalaureate:
75%-65% overall

English Language Requirements:
See our Undergraduate English Language Requirements for this course. Pre-sessional English Programmes are also available for students who do not meet our English Language Requirements.

Country Specific Entry Requirements:
International students whose qualification is not listed on this page, can check our Country Specific Entry Requirements for further information.

The University welcomes undergraduate applications from students studying the Access to Higher Education Diploma or T-level qualifications, provided that relevant subject content and learning outcomes are met. We are not able to accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas or T-levels as a general qualification for every undergraduate degree course.
Our inclusive admissions policy values breadth as well as depth of study. Applicants are selected on their own individual merits and offers can vary. If you would like to check the eligibility of your qualifications before submitting an application, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for advice and guidance.

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