Early Years Services (Childcare) Foundation Degree

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If you would still like to enrol on a full time course that started in September 2025, please contact our admissions team directly – admissions@wolvcoll.ac.uk

Early Years Services (Childcare) Foundation Degree

Attendance: Part Time

Course level: 4/5

Location: Wellington Road Campus

Course code: Q2078

Start dates:

14/09/2026

Age:

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Is this course right for me?

Delivered in partnership with The University of Wolverhampton*, the Foundation Degree in Early Years’ Service is designed for professionals currently working in early year’s settings—such as nurseries, children’s centres, or family support services—who are seeking to enhance their qualifications and advance their careers.

This degree offers a robust platform for professional growth, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to take on more specialist, leadership, or managerial roles within the sector. It deepens your understanding of child development theories, learning processes, contemporary practices to supporting and managing behaviour and the educational and care needs of children from birth to 19 years, drawing on current research and best practice.

You will explore how to effectively support families, provide pastoral care, and respond to the needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The course also fosters reflective practice and critical thinking, enabling you to evaluate and implement inclusive, age-appropriate teaching approaches aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

Throughout the programme, there is a strong focus on developing your personal and professional attributes, including leadership, communication, and collaborative working. You’ll gain insight into current legislation, policy frameworks, and service developments that shape the early years landscape.

Upon successful completion, you’ll be well-positioned to progress to the BA (Hons) Special Educational Needs, Disabilities and Inclusion, with Childhood and Family Studies at the University of Wolverhampton, further enhancing your career prospects and professional impact.

*APPLY NOW – applications for this course should be made directly to the University of Wolverhampton via this link

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Course details

Entry Requirements:

To access this course you are required to:

Be employed or have one-to-two years’ experience working with children and families post qualifying or be in a long-term voluntary placement in an early years setting
Hold a Level 3 qualification in a related subject – eg NVQ Level 3, Diploma in Childcare and Education, BTEC National Diploma, NNEB Diploma or Level 3 Diploma Teaching assistant

We also offer the opportunity to accredit prior certificated learning at Level 4 through the APL system

You will also be required to have a satisfactory DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check

What will I learn?

During this course you will study the following topics:

Reflective practitioner
The role of play in childhood
Child development
Safeguarding
Children, family and society
Language and literacy in the early years
Developing critical reflection and practice
Developing knowledge and understanding in young children
Families and communities in context
Research methods

What skills will I gain?

By studying this course you will:

Develop practical, personal and professional attributes
Gain knowledge and understanding of early year’s policy and practice
Be able to challenge assumptions and responding to different views in an enterprising way
Adopt collaborative ways of working with children, parents and other professionals
Become digitally literate, share knowledge, reflect on practice and develop professionals who are enterprising with their ideas

How will I be assessed?

Throughout the course you will be assessed in the following ways:

Practical, written and online assessments
Written assignments
In class assessments
Presentations
Viva Voce (verbal assessment)

What can I do next?

Completion of this course will enable you to:

Progress to a the BA (Hons) Special Educational Needs, Disabilities and Inclusion, with Childhood and Family Studies
Pursue a career in early years’ education in a number of roles including teaching, social work, health education, early year’s management, children’s information services, play services and community family support work
Apply for early years’ professional status through the best practice network

Early Years Services (Childcare) Foundation Degree

Course code: Q2078

Part Time

4/5

Wellington Road Campus

Apply Now

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