Curious about studying Early Childhood Studies with Graduate Practitioner Competencies - BA (Hons)at Birmingham City University? We've gathered all the key details—entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Hear from real students by checking out reviews, or take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
City Centre Campus (The Curzon Building)
Full Time
Sep 2027
3 Year
BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies with Graduate Practitioner Competencies is a course designed to support you to develop the skills, knowledge, and experience to work effectively in meeting the needs of babies and young children from 0 – 8 years old, and their families. The course covers theoretical and practical aspects of early childhood, with a strong commitment to social justice and promoting equity. As you progress throughout the course, you will develop the skills and confidence needed to be an agent for change, discovering and building on your passion in advocating for children to make a positive contribution both to their lives and to the early childhood sector. Through both course modules and on placement, you will work towards Graduate Practitioner Competencies, gathering knowledge and practical experience in understanding the fundamental aspects of working with babies and young children. This is part of our commitment to supporting you in preparing for the world of work. This course can open doors into a variety of professions related to Early Childhood, and we will support and guide you as you discover the role that suits you best. Placement opportunities across all three years of the degree will enable you to work and learn alongside a variety of professionals delivering services that support the wellbeing, development and learning needs of babies and young children. Student placements can include early years settings (nurseries), primary schools, and health and social care sectors (so can include hospitals, home visits). Opportunities may include charities such as Barnardo's, children and family hubs, museums, family support centres, Action for Children, Children's Quarter (an organisation for inclusion), SEND settings, playgroups, and libraries among many other organisations. We also draw on employers and professionals who provide some guest lectures, offering insight into their experiences alongside our own tutors. Our tutors on the programme come from a wide range of professional backgrounds and are research active, understanding the demands of study, work, and family life. They are committed to the same agenda of social justice, social mobility and social responsibility that forms the underpinning philosophy of the programme. Gaining knowledge and understanding of babies’ and young children’s developmental, well-being and learning needs is a common theme throughout the course. You will build the skills and knowledge necessary to enable you to meet those needs and discover how you can respond in creative, reflective and analytical ways to issues relating to early childhood, being mindful of the need to adopt a resourceful approach. As well as learning about policy, practice, and provision within the field of Early Childhood, we will encourage you to become a graduate who is outward-looking with an awareness of global issues that relate to the field of Early Childhood. We will support you to develop your personal and professional skills, including your resilience, to become self-assured and assertive so that you can be influential in developing practice, policy, and provision in your future career. We provide you with a supportive and nurturing learning environment, which will enable you to take risks as you explore and find out new things about early childhood, as well as yourself.
This module recognises that transitioning into higher education represents a significant milestone in a student's academic journey, signifying a period of personal growth. However, it can also present challenges, as students must adapt to a range of increased academic demands and expectations. The module is specifically designed to support students through this transition by equipping them with essential academic skills and strategies necessary for success in their undergraduate studies. Its primary objective is to provide new students with the necessary tools to effectively manage their studies, enhance their academic writing and research skills, and cultivate their critical thinking abilities.
The Children and Families module focuses on the importance of working with families in a holistic way. We will consider what we understand by the terms ‘Family’ and ‘Children’ and how we can establish a family-focused ethos. This module will encourage you to think about and explore a range of contemporary issues, such as changing family structures, diverse families, social justice, cultural capital, socioeconomic factors and policies and legislation to ensure that our practice promotes inclusive and informed approaches.
Child psychology describes and explains children’s development from birth to adolescence and the transition to adulthood. This perspective on children and childhoods is interested in how children think, feel, and behave, and is often divided into specialised areas. The module focuses on the physical, cognitive (thinking), emotional, and social development of children from infancy through adolescence. It explores various theories, milestones, and factors that contribute to the overall growth and well-being of children. The module introduces you to some key issues and delve deeper into specific aspects of child development that require you to apply your knowledge and critical thinking skills to analyse and evaluate different scenarios and research findings.
This module encourages you to become confident and reflective practitioners and to recognise the value of observation and assessment in the context of childhood. This module will also support you to develop your understanding of how observation can be used to document the child’s learning journey and support planning for future development. This module is designed to provide students with an understanding of the ethical principles associated with the documentation of children’s learning. You will make connections between this module and The Developing Child as well as the Children and Families module exploring how the practical application of this content and observation and assessment might support an understanding of how to document learning and plan for future development.
In line with the aims of the course, Contemporary Perspectives of Early Childhood introduces you to a range of perspectives that influence childhood. From a local and global perspective, this module encourages you to consider how differently childhood is experienced by different groups, and to acknowledge how a range of factors can influence early childhood. Across the module we will explore a different topic each week, as we begin to unpick and challenge key ideas about perceptions of childhood. Together we will explore the factors which may impact upon childhood experiences, and we will challenge dominant perceptions in society with the aim of promoting social justice and inclusion.
This module explores reflective practice in early childhood. You will learn about the main theories and principles of reflective practice, drawing on concepts and findings from across the associated literature and your practice. This module focuses on helping you to reflect on personal values, beliefs, and assumptions in relation to developing practice and the implications of relevant theory and research on your own practice when working with young children. You will develop a sophisticated understanding of the nature and significance of reflection and how this can be utilised to learn more about yourself, and to develop your professional skills.
This module is an introduction to carrying out research projects. As well as developing your understanding of key aspects of research in education, this module will also prepare you for your final research project at Level 6. The module will support you to engage in a critical analysis of contemporary issues and debates in research, policy and practice related to your field of study. You will identify and design a small-scale study, in readiness for your research project module at Level 6.
This module will explore the significance of safeguarding and child protection and will support you to develop the necessary skills, values and attributes to be an informed professional, aware of your safeguarding responsibilities in practice. This module aims to make connections between policy and legislation, key literature and informed practice. You will develop your awareness and competency by focusing on the roles and responsibilities of professionals in a safeguarding context. There will be a focus on identifying children who have, or are likely to suffer significant harm. You will consider discrimination which affects individual children, young people and families and factors and experiences which can make children more vulnerable within the safeguarding context. We will evaluate processes which exist to support and safeguard children and develop our awareness of how to ensure that children’s voices are heard and how we can be empowering advocates for children.
This Level 5 module enables you to explore and examine key aspects of promoting children’s health and well-being. Largely drawing on practical experience in placement, you will develop the knowledge and understanding of how to promote healthy development and well-being for young children. We will explore and critique key policies and legislation that focuses on promoting healthy development in the first eight years of a child’s life, alongside gaining hands-on experience through undertaking risk assessments, Paediatric First Aid training and engaging in nurturing care routines in practice. The module offers a blend of learning approaches, with time spent on campus studying, alongside spending time in placement as you observe and engage in health-focused, and nurturing care activities.
This module introduces you to the National Curriculum and children’s progression from the Early Learning Goals through to the end of Key Stage 1. You will take part in a series of lectures and practical experiences to explore ways of making learning more playful and creative. There will be a focus on inclusive practice to enable all learners to thrive and achieve.
This module enables and supports you to conceive, plan, and conduct a small-scale research project that attends and adheres to key ethical principles, in an area relevant to your programme of study. This module encourages you to engage in independent and collaborative critical analysis of contemporary issues and debates in your research focus area, in policy and in practice. You will be provided with an opportunity to clarify your understanding of key research terms, as well as to consider the link between epistemology, methodology and methods, and the impact that your own personal philosophies have upon the design of your study.
This module explores children’s rights and child voice in an Early Years context. It explores theory and practice concerning Children’s Rights and Child Voice and considers what they mean in the context of empowering the lives of children. Practical ways to ensure children’s rights and voice are realised and sustained in a wider range of contexts will be examined.
This module links to the overall aims and philosophy of the BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies course by supporting students in becoming reflective practitioners. In this module, you will draw on learning from placement experience, modules and the impact on your knowledge and skills, volunteering experience and work, and engagement with roles outside of university. Reflection will help you to self-evaluate your progress and development of praxis, personal and professional skills. Career pathways will be explored. You will also benefit from support sessions delivered by the Careers team.
The module aims to enhance awareness, knowledge, and skills to foster a more inclusive and equitable society. It encourages you to challenge your own biases, be open to different perspectives, and take action to promote equity and inclusion in various settings. This module will explore the theoretical and practical aspects of anti-racist practice within the context of childhood, youth, and communities and you will draw on your placement experience to reflect on issues of inequity and inclusion.
CCC Grades/points required
Not currently available, please Contact University for up to date information.
4.2
