Are you fascinated by how children learn and develop? Do you want to understand how adults can make a difference to their development, learning and wellbeing, and support them to have the best start in life?Learning from research-active lecturers with extensive experience in the children’s workforce, you’ll follow a curriculum that reflects national and international policy, practice and research.About this courseYou’ll develop an understanding of what shapes children’s personalities and behaviour, gathering theoretical knowledge of progress through the early years of a child’s life and exploring what opportunities should be available for them to reach their full potential.This degree offers the chance to explore a wide range of issues and theoretical perspectives relating to young children, from safeguarding and wellbeing to effective learning and development. You will explore how play is a vital component for young children’s holistic development. You’ll also examine the difficulties and problems children may face, from child protection issues to disability and specific needs.In your first year you will learn how to support the wellbeing, learning and development of children through an introduction to play and its relationship to learning safeguarding and child protection child development and health, safety and care routines.Your second year will build on this learning to extend your knowledge, skills and abilities and to explore your own ideas and thoughts on the topics studied. The focus of your final year of study is pulling together all of your knowledge and skills about society, diversity, children, families and education.Throughout your course, you’ll have the opportunity to visit professional practitioners in a range of early childhood settings to support your knowledge and understanding of concepts.