Early Childhood and Special Educational Needs (with Foundation Year) BA (Hons)

This is a **four year degree** taught at our Hope Park campus. The Foundation Year aims to develop your skills so that after a year, you will be equipped with the necessary skills needed for studying the full BA Hons degree programme.<br/><br/>**Early Childhood**<br/>The early experience of children in today’s society is crucial to their future life experience. Early Childhood is receiving significant attention due to its importance for securing lifelong learning and development. The Early Childhood degree at Liverpool Hope allows you to study early holistic development from a local, national and international perspective. The widening gap nationally and internationally between advantaged and disadvantaged children clearly emphasises the implications of supporting children and their families in their early years. <br/><br/>The degree is taught by academics from a wide variety of backgrounds, including Sociology, Education, Philosophy and Psychology. The teaching team are all actively involved in research and have published in their specialist fields. They are all members of the thriving Liverpool Hope Childhood Research Forum and contribute to a range of research conferences both nationally and internationally.<br/><br/>**Special Educational Needs**<br/>Studying Special Educational Needs at Liverpool Hope University will enable you to understand the relationship between disability and education and will provide you with the knowledge and confidence to educate others about the nature of disability. The degree incorporates insights from education, as well as drawing on work in the arts, humanities and health care, to ensure you gain a broad and balanced understanding of the principal features of education in a wide range of contexts.<br/><br/>A central aspect of the course is an understanding of medical and social constructions of Special Educational Needs and Disability, the legal requirements regarding provision for SEN/Disability and a critical understanding of past and contemporary practices. You will gain a knowledge and understanding of the global perspectives on special education and disability, and issues relating to children and families, as well as having the ability to critically engage with professional expertise.<br/><br/>Special Educational Needs (SEN) is an interdisciplinary subject underpinned by the work of the Centre for Culture and Disability Studies (CCDS). You will become a professional who is knowledgeable and skilled in this field. You will enter your professional life recognising the importance of compassion and understanding of your work with, and on behalf of, those who are disabled and/or identified as having a special educational need.