Early Childhood Studies Top-up BA (Hons)

**This course is accredited by the University of Warwick**<br/><br/>**OVERVIEW**<br/>**Do you have knowledge of working with young children and their families? Want a career helping to shape the foundations for the future of the next generation? Our Early Childhood Studies top-up degree course builds upon your existing training for the early years sector and will help you become a highly qualified graduate practitioner ready to enter a rewarding career in this field.**<br/><br/>Covering work with children aged 0-8 years, this top-up course is designed for anyone who has previously studied a relevant subject (up to Level 5), boosting your understanding of childhood, development and growth as well as creating new learning opportunities. You will explore themes of leadership and management and key competencies for the early years workforce, along with a range of optional modules, from pedagogical leadership in play to socio-historical aspects of childhood.<br/><br/>As part of our top-up Early Childhood Studies course, you will conduct in-depth research into a topic that matches your personal interests and ambitions, while you will also undertake a work placement related to your future career. On completing the course, you will be able to pursue a range of careers within the sector, while if you have ambitions to become a teacher, you can progress onto our PGCE Primary Education QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) postgraduate course.<br/><br/>**WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?**<br/>- **Work placement** – Gain invaluable experience working in a real-life setting on a work placement as part of your top-up course<br/><br/><br/>- **In-depth research** – Carry out your own research project on a topic that you are passionate about and is relevant to your professional aspirations<br/><br/><br/>- **Specialise your studies** – Choose from a variety of optional modules, including Childrens Voice and Pedagogical Leadership in Play<br/><br/><br/>- **Enrichment** – Boost your employability with exciting enrichment opportunities as well as additional qualifications including Paediatric First Aid and Food and Hygiene<br/><br/><br/>**PLACEMENTS**<br/>Our top-up course includes a mandatory requirement of 200 hours on placement, with the setting determined by your eventual career choice.<br/><br/>Employers we have worked with include Aston University Nursery and Pre-school, Birmingham Centre for Arts Therapies, Arden Primary School, Queen Alexandra College, James Brindley Parkway, Little Scallywags Day Nursery and St Thomas Centre Nursery.<br/><br/>**CAREERS AND PROGRESSION**<br/>Examples of careers you could pursue following this course:<br/>- Early years teacher/primary school teacher<br/><br/><br/>- Learning mentor<br/><br/><br/>- Family support worker<br/><br/><br/>- Special educational needs coordinator (SENCO)<br/><br/><br/>- Social worker (NHS)<br/><br/><br/>- Mental health nurse<br/><br/><br/>You could also progress onto one of our postgraduate courses at University College Birmingham.<br/><br/><br/>- **Please refer to our website www.ucb.ac.uk for the latest updates to this course**<br/>