BA (Hons) Early Years, Education and Care (Level 6) — Full-time
Course outline
Make a real difference to the lives of young children and their families.
You’ll understand the steps children take on their learning and developmental journey, and learn how to support them along the way.
This new degree focuses on the holistic development of infants and young children - from conception to the age of eight - developing knowledge of professional practice within the early years.
The programme enables progression to a career in the early years' sector through a variety of roles in education, health and social work.
On completion, graduates can undertake a PGCE or relevant teaching qualification.
The BA (Hons) Early Years, Education and Care programme is designed for those who want to develop their career working with younger children, and gain skills and knowledge around early childhood. You'll learn how to support child development and education, preparing for a career working with young children in many sectors including education, health and the community.
The degree aims to develop the individual’s experience of working in the Early Years, exploring through the lens of theory, policy, research, wider reading and practice.
A feature of this programme is that students undertake Early Years’ practice within the sector and this experience will be integrated within each of the modules covered.
Applicants who have already achieved (or expect to pass) a full Level 5 qualification (such as an Higher National Diploma, Diploma of Higher Education or Foundation Degree) in a relevant subject area can apply for direct entry to Year 3 (Level 6) of the programme. (subject to validation).
Year 1 (Level 4) indicative modules
- The Developing Child
- The Developing Practitioner
- Paly, Learning and the Early Years Curriculum
Year 2 (Level 5) indicative modules
- Safeguarding Children
- Inclusive Practice
- Parents and Professional Relationships
Year 3 (Level 6) indicative modules
- Language, Literacy and Communication
- Dissertation/Primary Research Project
Useful links:
- Programme Specification
- Open University Students Guide 2024-25
- Open University Validation Regulations 2024
Nottingham College is proud to have been awarded the Teaching Excellence Framework Bronze Award for high quality student experience and outcomes. You can read more about this on the Office for Students website.
How to apply for this course
Entry onto this course is via UCAS. Alternatively, if you are interested in applying directly to us, you can choose our fast track application option below.
- Institution code: N30
- UCAS code: CHL3
Location:
111 Canal Street
Nottingham NG1 7HB |
Date:Start: Tuesday 16th September 2025 |
Fees / reductions:The tuition fee is per year. Various bursaries are available for some Higher Education courses. Tuition fee: £8,250 |
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Course code: C042867 / Q042868 |
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| Qualification | Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Early Years, Education and Care |
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| Duration | 3 years |
| Level | Level 6 |
| Entry requirements | We expect applicants to be working at (or to demonstrate competency at) Level 2 or above in English/literacy and maths/numeracy. We accept GCSE passes in English Language and maths at Grades 9 to 4 (previously A* to C). Applicants must also have a minimum of 48 UCAS points from:
Other combinations of qualifications and experience will also be considered, as will Level 3 qualifications not currently listed on the UCAS tariff. Mature applicants not meeting the standard entry criteria but with relevant industry or life experience are very welcome to apply. |
| Teaching & assessment | A mixture of traditional and innovative assessment methods will be used, including individual and group presentations, discussions, report writing, case studies, presentations, research and project work, reflective journals and work-based projects. |
| Progression | Graduates will be well-placed for careers in a wide range of educational settings in the public, private and voluntary sectors. They will possess key transferable skills sought after by employers such as: communication, time management, teamwork, critical analysis, negotiation, problem-solving, and the ability to deal with challenging situations. This degree is an excellent springboard to roles such as teacher and teaching assistant, nursery practitioner and manager, learning mentor, special educational needs teacher, out-of-school worker, family support worker, social worker and youth worker. Some of these roles require postgraduate study or relevant experience. Please note: this programme does not qualify you as a teacher. However, the qualification is an excellent route towards Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) via a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), or other postgraduate study options. |
| Additional information | 
You can view the Open University Students Guide 2022 here. In addition, you can view the OU Validated Award Regulations here. Subject to validation |
