Early Years Education and Care (BA)

Students explore a wide variety of subjects relating to early years education and care with a focus on aspects of childhood, such as holistic development, well-being, play, literacy, safeguarding, outdoor learning and inclusion.

There are opportunities to develop knowledge of the practice and theory of early years education and care, giving students a full and rounded understanding of the subject. 

As well as academic content, students will undertake learning activities that explore the practical aspects of early years provision through hands-on learning, making links between theory and practice.

Learning takes place through group discussions, workshops, study visits as well as lectures, in order to develop a knowledge and understanding of a range of relevant topics. There are also optional residential visits to other parts of the UK and abroad.

The programme is taught in an innovative block teaching method, allowing students to focus in depth on one topic at a time.

We have found that this method is successful in supporting students to gain a better understanding of the topic content.

Students study six topics on each level of the programme, each based on essential knowledge and understanding of specific aspects of early years education and care.

Students study a wide variety of subjects relating to early years education and care, with a focus on aspects of childhood such as holistic development, well-being, play, literacy, safeguarding, outdoor learning and inclusion.

Year One - Level 4 (Cert HE, Dip HE & BA)

• Children’s Play: Theory and Practice (20 credits; compulsory)
• Human Development (20 credits; compulsory)
• Learning in the Digital Era (20 credits; compulsory; Graduate Attributes Framework module)
• Multilingualism, Multi-thinking (20 credits; compulsory)
• The First 1,000 Days (20 credits; compulsory)
• The Professional Practitioner (20 credits; compulsory).

Year Two - Level 5 (Dip HE & BA)

• Awe and Wonder - Mathematics, Science and the Outdoors (20 credits; compulsory)
• Language and Literacy in the Digital Age (20 credits; compulsory)
• Leadership and Teamwork in the Early Years (20 credits; compulsory)
• Research for Learning (20 credits; compulsory)
• Safeguarding: Practice, Legislation and the Multi-disciplinary Team (20 credits; compulsory)
• Well-being, Care and Healthy Living (20 credits; compulsory).

Year Three - Level 6 (BA)

• Catalytic Leadership - Rights, Resilience and Social Change (20 credits; compulsory)
• Early Years Curricula (20 credits; compulsory)
• Inclusive Leadership: Working Together to Support Families (20 credits; compulsory)
• Leadership and Management for Systems of Quality (20 credits; compulsory)
• Regaining Paradise? Sustainability in the Early Years (20 credits; compulsory)
• Supporting Children with Additional Learning Needs (20 credits; compulsory).

All our programmes are assessed by 100% coursework. There are no exams.

We have found that using a varied range of assessment methods increases employability skills. Employers seek graduates who are problem-solvers and who have a range of transferable employability skills.

Assessment provides opportunities to develop skills such as the ability to work in a team, have effective oral and written communication, while using a range of information-sharing methods, including briefing papers, academic posters, group debates and professional discussions. There are also opportunities for practical work experiences, supporting employability, professional development and careers.

Bilingual and Welsh-medium study is at the heart of our provision; you can choose to enrol on the Welsh-medium or English-medium programme and present your assignments in either language.

• Alison Rees Edwards
• Ann Davies
• Dawn Jones
• Glenda Tinney
• Gwyneth Davies
• Natalie Macdonald
• Paul Darby
• Sioned Saer

• A typical offer for this course is 88-104 UCAS points.
• All applicants will be required to provide a satisfactorily enhanced disclosure document from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
• This degree is ideal for school-leavers studying a range of courses, including A-Level, BTEC, CACHE and Welsh Baccalaureate. These course subjects can be linked to child development and care; however, the degree is also appropriate for those with no specific childcare qualifications and who have studied subjects including language, arts, music, drama, mathematics, sciences or humanities.
• Early Years encourages and values applications from students who are returning to education.
• As part of the application process, students will be given an opportunity to attend visit days. This provides applicants with an opportunity to visit the campus, meet the lecturers, ask questions about the degree and have a tour of the site with a current student.
• During visit days, the course lecturers are always interested in the applicant’s experiences of volunteering and working with young children, for example, school/college placements. The team also likes to hear about applicants’ interests, hobbies, and responsibilities.

Careers in Early Years

Graduates go on to careers in a variety of fields including:

• Additional learning needs support
• Afterschool Leader
• Childminder
• Children’s charity roles (eg Barnardo’s)
• Community Support Officer
• Family Facilitator
• Family Support Officer
• Parenting Officer
• Pastoral Support
• Play Workers
• Room Leaders
• Setting Managers
• Youth Workers

Further Study

Some of our graduates progress to other further studies. Some students have progressed on to our own MA programmes, including our MA Early Literacy and MA Early Years Education and Care.

Postgraduate programmes such as these offer opportunities for students to up-skill, and deepen their understanding of young children and their families. Such studies have enabled postgraduate students to progress in their existing field of work and for others to move to new careers.

Route into teaching

As a UWTSD Early Years student, you will be guaranteed an interview for the PGCE Primary programme, subject to meeting entry qualification requirements. When applying for the PGCE Primary programme we, in conjunction with Initial Teacher Education, will support you through a mock application and interview process.

Postgraduate study and alternative routes

Graduates will also be able to progress on to a number of postgraduate courses in their area of interest; a good degree classification in Early Years Education and Care meets the entry requirements for many postgraduate routes.

Below are a few examples of routes previous graduates have taken.

• Family and Communities
• Nursing
• Play Therapy
• Policy and Government
• Research
• Social Work
• Speech and Language Therapy

• Students are required to apply for and obtain a UWTSD Enhanced Disclosure Barring Check (DBS). The fee for this is dependent on the DBS and is approximately £44.
• Students are required to gain the equivalent of 700 hours practical experience in places such as early years settings. This will incur travelling costs and refreshment costs. (Only applies to Early Years Practitioner Status programmes)
• Students may incur additional costs, as they are required to attend some module lectures with appropriate clothing for study outdoors.
• Mandatory study experiences and enhancement activities are organised for students studying Early Years. The cost of travelling and the study on offer is covered by the Early Years discipline. However, students, for some visits, would need to supply their own refreshments.
• Additionally, Early Years organises optional opportunities for students to gain additional qualifications during the latter part of their programme, for example, Health and Safety, Safeguarding. These incur costs for the students; the cost is determined by the provider.
• The School also offers students optional opportunities to partake in visits beyond the campus, for example, Cardiff, London, Sweden and Canada. The costs of these optional visits are incurred by the students.

• BA Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status
• BA Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status - 2 Years
• BA Early Years Education and Care - 2 Years

Kirsty Goff, level 6, graduated 2018
“I am so glad I came here, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else doing any other course.”

Emma Blofield, graduated 2017
“Studying the degree has helped me immensely, not only to build on my knowledge and skills but also to enable me to believe in myself. With the support of the University, friends old and new, my supportive family and my own determination to succeed, I successfully completed the degree graduating with a first!”

Anna Latham, Level 6 student, graduated 2018
“It was really a wonderful week of opportunity and learning, thank you! I feel so privileged and blessed to be studying at UWTSD where I believe the Early Years is second to none. Thank you so much for your incredible commitment and hard work in providing such an excellent course including these extracurricular activities, and for offering us students so much support and encouragement”

Aimee Cousins
"The lecturers are studying themselves and are very passionate about the subject. They big you up! I now understand why we do what we do - theory wise. We know the mathematical and scientific theory, for example, behind wooden blocks (Froebel)."
What's Next: I am now working for 'Action for Children' the course has helped me to make a difference to young children using 'Flying Start' initiatives. 

Scholarships and Bursaries

Visit our Accommodation section to find out more.

If you would like to find out more about studying in Carmarthen or Swansea, you can visit us on an open day.