Foundation Degree in Working with Children: Education and Well-Being

This programme will:

• acknowledge and develop your existing knowledge and experience
• provide an opportunity for you to engage critically with concepts, theories and research that are relevant to working with children
• practice and develop skills in critical analysis, argument and reflection in relation to both theory and practice
• consistently provide opportunities for you to reflect on your own practice in working with children.

Features

This programme offers the opportunity to:

• integrate work-based experience with academic study
• complete work-based study tasks which will help you to relate issues raised in the programme to your practice
• study modules designed especially to meet the needs of professionals working with children in a range of settings
• progress to an honours degree and, if you have the required qualifications in place, be in a position to apply for a course leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

Who is this programme for?

Anyone involved in working with children: for example, teaching assistants working in primary or secondary schools, or those working with children in early childhood care and education, youth work, or residential and foster care.

Entry requirements

An NVQ Level 3 or A level qualification or equivalent. However, we look at the complete profile of all applicants with the intention of accepting anyone we feel will be capable of completing the degree and benefiting from it. You should have appropriate experience working with children or young people and must currently be working with children for at least 16 hours a week. You must have the support of your employer in undertaking the programme.

How are you assessed?

Through coursework assignments work-based study tasks..

Attendance

Work-based learning: four days a week in your current job, and one day at the IOE.

Careers information

This programme is a work-based learning programme of study. Students are already in employment and many complete the foundation degree in order to develop their professional knowledge and practice. On completion, students often continue with their studies and transfer to the BEd 'top up' programme in order to gain an undergraduate honours degree. Following this, some students then go on to apply for a QTS course and train to be fully qualified teachers. For more information, see IOE Careers Guidance.

More information

Please see this leaflet for further information about grants and financial support that you may be able to apply for.

Where do our students go?

Graduates of this foundation degree are currently working as:

• teaching assistants
• teachers
• children's centre staff.