Working With Children FdA

The Foundation Degree Arts (FdA), Working With Children, is an innovative programme that aims to further your learning and career development. If you work with children in a range of care and educational support roles, this Foundation degree offers opportunities to enhance your professional skills and knowledge in a higher education context. It is a response, therefore, to recent national initiatives that have emphasised the need for extended training and enhanced qualifications in all areas of support work with children. This includes the proposal for Senior Practitioners in the Early Years. Level I is taught at an accredited FE college, making your initial study more accessible (but you are full students of the University of Southampton).

Student Quotes

"Because it fits around my family and job, it allows the flexibility for me to work and study and still have quality time for family life" - Theresa Meany, 3rd year student: FdA Working with Children

"The lecturers have an excellent 'open door' policy" - Angela Bungay, 3rd year student: FdA Working with Children

Hilary Bowen

The Course will:

• Provide appropriate knowledge and understanding required for the care and education of children across the Early Years and Primary Years settings
• Deliver the professional and practical skills and competencies which you require to work as a Senior Practitioner in the Early Years Sector
• Enable you to explore and evaluate the value and belief systems for Early Years and Primary Years settings
• Develop your self awareness and ability to reflect meaningfully on your professional practice
• Develop your ability to understand and apply the principles of evidence-based practice
• Provide appropriate understanding of the regulatory and legislative framework for Early Years and/or Primary Years and prepare you to work within these frameworks
• Provide a suitable basis for progression to Qualified Teacher Status via an appropriate Initial Teacher Training programme if you so wish

We also aim to develop your personal and transferable skills, preparing you for challenges beyond the foundation degree and for lifelong learning.

The programme is divided into two levels. At Level 1, you will be taught by the staff of the FE college which you attend. We aim to develop your knowledge and understanding of theory and practice, building on your experience and previous qualifications to enhance your appreciation of children's learning and development. You will be encouraged to explore the full range of practice in supporting children, evaluate alternative approaches, learn more about the contexts of working with children and develop your own practice through work-based learning. On successful completion of level 1, you will be awarded a Certificate of Higher Education if you decide not to proceed to level 2 studies.

There are seven units at this level all of which are compulsory:

• Learning and Studying in Higher Education
• How Children Learn
• Understanding Children's Development
• The Context of Working with Children
• Children With Special Needs
• Foundations of the Primary Curriculum
• Developing the Skills For Your Working Role (Double Unit)

At Level 2 you will be taught by the staff within the University of Southampton School of Education. We take further the knowledge and skills developed at level 1. We aim to add to your skills those of investigative methods and evidence-based practice and to explore further the factors which make up the effective workplace. Your optional units aim to extend your professional knowledge and develop your working practice to a higher level. Level 2 studies are undertaken at the University of Southampton. On successful completion of level 2, you will be awarded the Foundation degree Working With Children.

There are three compulsory units at this level:

• Action Research (Double Unit)
• Workplace Organisation and Management
• Behaviour Management

A further four units can be chosen from the following:

• Language, Literacy and Communication
• Mathematics and Numeracy
• Science
• The Foundation Stage Curriculum
• Setting up a Play Facility
• Understanding and Managing the Play Environment
• Supporting the Development of Very Young Children
• The Role of the Childminder
• ICT

You will have appropriate educational qualifications including NVQ3 or equivalent in a relevant area, a pass in an approved access course, AS/A2 study, or AVCE, GNVQ or BTEC National Diploma or other equivalent. Specific qualifications such as BTEC Nursery Nursing or City and Guilds 7321 will also be considered.

Applicants will normally be employed as a teaching assistant, learning support assistant, child carer, early years assistant, play worker or similar, either in paid employment or as a volunteer at least one day per week. You will have sufficient working experience to benefit from the Foundation degree programme. Normally we would expect a minimum of two years. We also require English and Maths GCSE at grade C or above)

To Apply

You should contact your local F.E. College for an application form and return it to them. This will be at one of the following four Colleges:

• Taunton's College
• Totton College
• Eastleigh College
• South Downs College

Confirmation of your offer will come from the School of Education, University of Southampton.

To download a copy of the course leaflet please click here. Alternatively, you can request a copy on-line by clicking here.

Details on how to apply for the Foundation Degrees are available here...

Click here to e-mail us.