Bachelor of Arts (Hons) - 

 EARLY CHILDHOOD AND PRIMARY EDUCATION STUDIES

Have you always been fascinated by how children learn and experience childhood? Are you passionate about their emotional wellbeing, development and rights?

If so, BNUs BA (Hons) Early Childhood and Primary Education Studies course could be for you. You’ll develop into a thoughtful and flexible practitioner, acting as an amazing advocate for young children. You’ll benefit from practical work placements, smaller classroom sizes and one on one support.

Why study this subject?

How children learn and experience childhood has never been more important in education, together with a whole host of other areas including emotional wellbeing, safeguarding and the rights of the child.

Early Childhood and Primary Education Studies could lead you into primary age teacher training via School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT), Early Years Initial Teacher Training, or Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). You could also choose to progress into a leadership role in early years, social work, special needs, play therapy, special needs, charities and international development work.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

Studying a BA (Hons) Early Childhood and Primary Education Studies degree at BNU will give you the deep insight and knowledge you need to become a valued and trusted support for the children and families you'll work with in your future career.

It’s important to us that we provide you with not only the academic theory but also the practical experience you’ll need to step into your future confidently.

BNUs lecturers are experts and have rich experiences to share that will make your learning come to life. They're all former practitioners themselves meaning they can tell you about the realities of working with children in different settings. It also means your learning will always be linked to real-life practice.

Their intimate student community and friendly teaching team on this course makes studying at BNU unique. You’ll always have someone there to talk to and share your experiences with.

Best of all, you’ll have the opportunity to meet and work with front-line professionals who will understand exactly what you’re going through. They can help prepare you to be confident and resilient no matter what you choose to do beyond graduation.

What will you study?

BNU will work hard to develop your knowledge and understanding of how young children learn and develop in areas like play, school-based learning, emotional wellbeing, and importantly their place within family and society.

The mental health and wellbeing of children is a core theme within this course and is specifically where you’ll cover the difficult but important topic of supporting them through loss and grief.

At BNU, we’re always thinking about your future career so it's at the heart of everything we do. This programme will give you the opportunity to develop important employability and transferable skills like teamwork, giving presentations, role play, and communication both with colleagues and, crucially, with the children and families you support. You'll be able to take all of these important skills with you to flourish, whatever career path you choose.

How will you be taught and assessed?

This course is offered as a four-year programme, which includes the addition of an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate degree.

This programme aims to assist you in developing a solid understanding of the principles of working with children in early years and primary education.

You’ll be taught through classroom learning, lectures, group discussion and seminars, enabling you to learn from your tutors and reflect on your experiences with your course mates. This sharing of experiences is seen as an important part of your development to prepare you for becoming a reflective practitioner in your future career.

You’ll take part in individual tutorials, guided independent study, workshops and presentations as well as benefiting from visiting guest speakers including social workers, headteachers, nursery managers and playworkers who will enhance your learning by sharing their ‘real-life’ experience.

The delivery of this course has been designed in a way to allow you to have a part-time job or to volunteer in an educational setting while you study.

BNU will assess your work in a number of different ways to reflect the different learning styles their students have. You’ll work on essays, literature reviews, reports and reflective assignments, and be given the opportunity to show your creative side through collages, storyboards and poster presentations.

What are your career prospects? 

Throughout your time with Buckinghamshire New University they’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. They will help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. We also help you find employment after graduation.

Once you’ve graduated with your degree in Early Childhood and Primary Education Studies, you’ll be well qualified to think about a number of different careers.

You could consider completing teacher training via School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT), Early Years Initial Teacher Training, or even a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

If teaching isn’t your thing, how about progressing into a leadership position in early years, social work, special needs, play therapy, charities and international development work. You could even consider training and assessment in the public or private sector – your options really are endless!