Through our Early Childhood Studies degree, you'll become an early years specialist and learn how to make a difference to young lives. You'll explore child development from birth to age eight through hands-on learning, expert teaching and practical placements. With access to our specialist Woodlands Day Nursery and Forest School, you'll graduate ready for a wide range of careers across the early years sector.
There are few more rewarding roles than helping children to develop new skills, grow socially and emotionally, and overcome challenges. With our Early Childhood Studies degree you can prepare for roles like this.
You’ll develop a deep understanding of the factors which affect children’s learning, health and wellbeing. You will then put the theory into action, using teaching techniques, play based learning and other practical approaches.
You’ll also build experience across a range of placements. And there’s even an opportunity to spend a summer or a year abroad.
Our graduates go on to work in a variety of places, including schools and nurseries, local authorities, health organisations and charities. Some train to become teachers or move into social work.
There’s no better time to specialise in supporting children and their families.
We offer fantastic University facilities, including access to our £4.4 million Woodlands Day Nursery and Forest School. Our strong links with community groups mean you could also be working with real families alongside experienced professionals.
In your second and third years, you can tailor your degree to your individual interests. Either continue with a more general route, or choose one of the following pathways*:
- Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
- Mental health and wellbeing
Both pathways include outdoor learning using the amazing forest school setting.
For those exploring mental health and wellbeing, placements could focus on pastoral care or other aspects of education welfare and support. The SEND pathway provides an ideal platform for students wanting a career working with children who have additional needs.
The course will also cover the leadership and management of early years settings, what childhood looks like around the world, and early years policy.
As an Early Childhood Studies student, you will also be eligible to:
- Gain an approved qualification which meets the Department for Education criteria for counting in the EYFS staff-to-child ratios
- Earn the title of Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner through assessment against the Early Childhood Studies Degrees Network (ECSDN) graduate competencies.
*Pathways will be offered subject to sufficient interest to create a viable group of students. For students to be eligible for a final pathway award, they will be required to study the associated L5 and L6 modules. Pathways will be subject to availability and viability of group numbers.
On successful completion of study, depending on your choice of specialism pathway, we will issue you with one of the following awards:
- BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies
- BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies (Special Education Needs and Disabilities)
- BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies (Mental Health and Wellbeing)
Duration
University of Staffordshire undergraduate courses are usually 3 years for full-time study.
Courses which offer other study options have longer durations:
- Full-time with a placement year, 4 years
- Full-time with a foundation year, 4 years - the foundation year is in a related subject, Health and Social Care.
Work placements
Work placements will give you first-hand experience of working with young children and help you put your learning into practice. You’ll work alongside professionals in real-world settings, developing your understanding of children’s needs and gaining experience that can support your future career.
All students undertake work-based learning in early years settings throughout the programme. Typical settings include day nurseries, pre-schools, reception classes, children’s centres, and voluntary and community groups. You could also gain experience with a local authority, working on activities such as safeguarding support or speech and language intervention, or with a charity where you could develop experience of managing a project.
Your placement activities will give you opportunities to connect your practical experience with your teaching and learning. These could include observing children and work processes, considering children’s needs, contributing to the planning of activities, preparing work-focused learning materials, and locating relevant policies and resource audits for review and discussion.
You’ll be supported throughout your placement, including by a work-based supervisor within your setting. Placement records will also help you to reflect on and evidence your learning and experience.
We also have international links, including with a university in Cantabria, where you can have the opportunity to study for a year.
All students will attend work placements in early years settings throughout the programme, they will be expected to undertake work based activities in preparation for their teaching and learning sessions. These may include information exercises such as locating relevant policies and resource audits for review and discussion. Observations of children or work processes in the placement/work setting may be used to inform discussion, such as analysing children's needs, involvement in the planning process or the preparation of work focused learning materials. Placement records will provide support for learners on placement and all students will be supported by a work-based supervisor within the setting.