Our Children, Schools and Families (Top-Up) course builds on your existing experience in child-based education to help you develop a career working with children, young people and the services that support them.
This course draws on subject areas including education, sociology, psychology, social policy and social work to give you a solid grounding in your career.
You’ll get the chance to complete modules in a wide range of key topics, such as children’s lives, examining the services, systems, policies and work practices that relate to children and young people in schools, with families and in care settings.
What’s more, you’ll complete a work placement as part of your degree which involves taught sessions to help you get a better understanding of how policy translates into practice, and how you can make a positive difference to people’s lives.
Why study with us
- A great opportunity to top-up your foundation degree to get a full honours degree in Children, Schools and Families
- You’ll have the opportunity to follow the Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies (ECGPC) route alongside your top-up degree.
- Our Social Work provision is ranked 4th in the UK and 2nd in England in the Guardian League Table 2021
What you'll do
- You’ll learn about policy developments in the organisation of children’s services, the meaning of childhood in society, and the social and educational experiences of diverse groups of children.
- Real-world learning is integral to this course. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to practise the theories you’ve learnt in the classroom through work placements.
- We have excellent links with a range of placement providers – including primary and secondary schools, children’s care homes, pupil referral units and family support services.
Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner
From September 2022, students studying on this course will also be able to work towards attaining a professional practice award that qualifies the student as a Level 6 Graduate Practitioner with Children. The ECGPC meets the statutory requirements for practitioners working with children under 8 years old in early years settings, schools, social care, working within family support.
Students will gain Level 6 recognition through undertaking an assessed placement alongside the course, that focuses on the topics learnt throughout the degree. The Graduate Practitioner Competencies (Level 6) is recognised and endorsed in the Department for Educations career progression mapping.
Students who achieve the Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner competencies will meet the nine competencies through a combination of assessed observations during their 80 days of practice, work-based tasks and academic assessment.
The Early Childhood Graduate Competencies are:
- Advocating for young children’s rights and participation
- Promoting holistic child development
- Working directly with young children, families and colleagues to promote health, well-being, safety and nurturing care
- Observing, listening and planning for young children to support their well-being, early learning, progression and transitions
- Safeguarding and child protection
- Inclusive practice
- Partnership with parents and caregivers
- Collaborating with others
- Professional Development
Module overview
Compulsory modules
• C13108: Professional Practice in Children's Services - Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner
• C13699: Dissertation
• SW3033: Working with Children, Young People and Families
• SW3601: International Perspectives on Children's Lives
Optional modules
• C13604: Wellbeing in Early Childhood Practice
• ED3215: The Education of Vulnerable Young People
• PS3075: Psychology in Practice
• SW3045: Drugs and Society: Critical Analysis
• SW3819: Youth Matters: Critical Analysis
• SW3820: Sex and Power: Critical Analysis
• VO3005: Empowering and Engaging Marginalised Groups
Course delivery
This course is taught face-to-face at one of our UK campuses.
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. As well as to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.
Future careers
Our graduates have gone on to enjoy a wide range of successful careers working with children and young people. Many have achieved professional status in teaching, early years and social work.
This course will prepare you for a range of careers in educational settings including children’s centres, schools, nurseries, and family and community support. Many former students go on to become family support workers, learning mentors, child minders, nursery managers, youth workers, social workers and teachers.
You could also progress to further study. You may be interested in our MA Social Work and MA in Contemporary Practice with Children and Young People courses.
Many students have progressed to external teacher training courses relating to primary and secondary school teaching.
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