Would you like to work with children, young people, and the services that support them? Our BA (Hons) Children, Schools and Families is the course for you.
The course draws on subject areas including education, sociology, psychology, social policy and social work to give you a solid grounding for your future career.
You’ll examine the services, systems, policies and work practices that relate to children and young people in schools, with families, and in care settings.
Observational visits and work shadowing activities are combined with academic study. Integrating theory, policy and practice ensures you are well prepared for the workplace.
Why study with us
- You’ll have the opportunity to complete a Paediatric First Aid certificate and to follow the Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies (ECGPC) route alongside your degree.
- Ranked in 1st in the North West for Research Quality in Childhood & Youth Studies and in the top 3 in the North West for Graduate Prospect Outcomes in Childhood & Youth Studies (Good University Guide 2023)
- 92% of students find this course intellectually stimulating – National Student Survey (NSS) 2022.
What you'll do
- Placements link what you’ve learned with real-world experience of working with children, young people and families.
- When you arrive, you will be allocated a tutor who will oversee your progress and support you throughout your degree.
- Alongside compulsory modules, our range of optional modules explores topics such as disability, gender, drugs and social pedagogy.
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
• C11108: Professional Practice in Children's Services 1
• C11501: The Social Construction of Childhood
• SW1600: Introduction to Children's Services and Systems 1
• SW1602: Transitions in Children and Young People's Lives
• SW1813: Supporting Well-being and Development
Year 2
Compulsory modules
• C12009: Diversity and Inclusive Practice
• C12108: Professional Practice in Children's Services 2
• C12501: Researching with Children and Young People
• SW2600: Children's Services and Systems 2
• SW2601: Safeguarding Children and Young People
Optional modules
• C12504: Early Childhood: Pedagogy and play
• ED2212: Models of Teaching and Learning
• VO2005: Youth Development
Year 3
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 work across the spectrum of children and young people’s settings, including children’s centres, schools, national charities, nurseries and family and community support.
Past students have also gone on to obtain professional status in teaching, social work and early years education.
You can progress to further study on the MA Social Work or the MA in Contemporary Practice with Children and Young People.
Off campus, graduates may choose to progress to external training in primary or secondary school teaching.
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