Early Childhood Development and Learning BA (Hons)
Study level: UndergraduateHNC/HND courses

Working with children on educational and personal development can be an extremely rewarding career. Focusing on ages 0 to 8, this course aims to produce graduates who can contribute to early years provision.
Year of entry
Location
CU Coventry (Coventry)
Study mode
Full-time
Part-time
Duration
3 year - Degree
2 year - HND
1 year - HNC
Flexible part-time
Course code
X300 / X301 / X302
Start date
July 2023
Course overview
Success in this field demands creativity, empathy, logic and a great deal of knowledge alongside the ability to draw upon life experiences.
As no two days are the same in this industry, this course focuses on policies, processes, best practices and practical learning to help you understand the key fundamentals of child development2.
- Opportunities to engage with students at other international universities and industry experts through initiatives like our Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) project.
- Conduct critical research with our highly-experienced staff.
- Opportunity to take part in invaluable practical placements2,5 (if taking the Graduate Practitioner route.
- Additional option to work towards obtaining Graduate Practitioner status in early childhood settings*
- Undertake an investigation into a topic relating to early childhood enabling you to make informed recommendations for future policy, research and practice.
- You are encouraged to draw on your own personal experience and make links between your study at university, your personal experience and your professional practice in the field of early childhood.
- You can explore a range of international perspectives on early childhood, which you can apply to your own research area.
*Subject to meeting all the competencies set out by The Early Childhood Studies Degree Network (ECSDN), which includes securing and passing work-based assessed placements. Successful completion of all modules (across all three levels) and assessed placements will lead to an Honours degree with Graduate Practitioner Competencies. Please check the ECSDN website for further information.
Why CU Coventry
We offer a style of education which is flexible and designed to fit around your life, allowing you to benefit from a modern, forward-thinking higher education institution, reinforced by the quality and reputation of Coventry University. We aim to provide career-focused courses, wherever possible, coupled with placement opportunities to help prepare you for the world of work. We are dedicated to making higher education accessible and enjoyable to everyone, so we keep our fees low and made it a policy to cover one module at a time, allowing you to become a specialist in each topic before moving onto the next.
Memberships
- The Early Childhood Studies Degree Network (ECSDN)
- Sector-Endorsed Foundation Degrees in Early Years Professional Association (SEFDEY)
How can we help?
Chat with an advisor now or leave a message and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
What you'll study
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
How you'll learn
There are two main taught options for this course. It is available as a full-time three year programme with local placement in stage 1 and 2 or an optional four-year sandwich course where you undertake a work placement or study year in a related field2,5. Alternatively, part-time study is also available.
Our teaching methods are varied, offering a number of teaching styles to suit the needs of all our students, so in addition to lectures, we also utilise a blended learning approach, including online aspects, workshops and group work. We also operate an open-door policy, with additional availability via email and our current online learning platform, Aula.
Progression through the modules develops knowledge and skills, including communication (written and oral), study skills, research methods, project management, presentation and career development. We will also encourage you to consider your employability and/or entrepreneurial development.
Unlike traditional institutions, there are no end of year exams. Instead, learning is assessed through coursework and practical assessments, which is more reflective of our learning model.
Students who undertake the Early Childhood Development and Learning degree will have the opportunity to undertake assessed placements at each level (levels 4, 5 and 6). Upon successful completion of these placements, students will obtain a licence to practise, in line with best practise in the early childhood sector. As they have acquired the ECSDN Graduate Practitioner Competencies in early childhood settings. The competencies have been developed by members of the Early Childhood Studies Degrees Network (ECSDN) in consultation with students and employers, with an aim of ‘strengthening a graduate-led Early Childhood workforce that is responsive to workforce needs and improves outcomes for children’ (ECSDN, 2018).
Full-time
If you choose to study full-time you can expect up to 20 hours of learning activities per week, made up of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, online classes and independent learning.
Part-time
If you choose to study part-time you'll usually receive up to 11 hours per week of blended learning, including classes, tutorials and online learning. Outside of this, there will also be independent study and online support. Please note: part-time courses run subject to numbers.
The learning outcomes of modules, assignments and projects will be clearly stated. Your work will be marked according to how well you achieve these learning outcomes and your final feedback will refer to each outcome, as well as providing an overall percentage grade.
Assessment methods vary and include, practical class and project performance, written practical reports, project thesis, oral presentations, tutorial tasks and assessments which take place at the end of each six-week block.
Course Breakdown:
- Coursework
- Practical Assessments
Teaching contact hours
The number of full-time contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is likely to be around 20 contact hours per week (excluding during placements and optional placement year).
Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of up to 30 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules.
The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.
As an innovative and enterprising institution, the University may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2022/2023 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.
Assessment
This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.
Assessment methods include:
- Formal examinations
- Phase tests
- Essays
- Group work
- Presentations
- Reports
- Projects
- Coursework
- Exams
- Individual Assignments
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.
Entry requirements
Typical offer for 2022/23 entry.
Tuition Fees
We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees which we review on an annual basis. Course fees are calculated on the basis of what it costs to teach each course and we aim for total financial transparency.
Student | Full-time | Part-time |
---|---|---|
UK | £8,050 per year | £8,050 |
International | £16,650 per year | Not available |
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How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.
If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.
Facilities
All our facilities are located at Mile Lane. Our building has been designed to enable collaboration, creativity and innovation to flourish, and includes (subject to availability):
- Indoor and outdoor social spaces, including a café
- A library that includes loan laptops, over 115,000 eBooks and a silent study area
- Open access IT suites and 83-inch teaching screens
- Engineering lab, science lab and a moot courtroom
- Student support and careers advice teams
Careers and opportunities
Presentations, both in small groups (between 5 and 20) and individual, will also be used to ensure that students are effective communicators.
This skill is valued by employers and vital for a career working with children in education or other contexts. Reflective statements may also be submitted alongside a presentation to ensure that academic writing continues to be a focus throughout the course. All assessment will be designed to enhance student development, both personal, professional and academic, through the application of skills and the synthesis of theory and practice.
Opportunities to progress in your career during and beyond the course, with your study with us opening up a number of avenues for future career development in areas such as:
- Teaching in early years and primary schools, educational leadership and management
- Working in services relating to Inclusion and SEND, safeguarding
- Children’s mental health, speech and language therapy, play therapy
- Family support worker, social work
- Early childhood education and care research, publication
- Further studies in Early Childhood at postgraduate level
Where our graduates work
Graduates from previous Early Childhood Development and Learning BA (Hons) degree have gone onto work in:
- Primary schools
- Private day nurseries
- Forest schools
- Local authority
- Further education colleges and schools
- Child-minding
Further study
- Early Childhood MA
- Education MA
- Leadership and Management MA
- PGCE
- SCITT
- EYITT
How to apply
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UK students
Full-time UK undergraduate students apply through UCAS. Otherwise, you will need to apply to CU directly. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form
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International students
International students should apply directly to CU directly. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
How to applyFor further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International pages or Coventry University Group's International hub.
If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form
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Disclaimers
Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.
1Accreditations
The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.
2UK and International opportunities
Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.
3Tuition fees
The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For Home Students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.
For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.
4Facilities
Facilities are subject to availability. Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
5Placements
Satisfactory health clearance may be required. However, an enhanced criminal record disclosure will be required. As part of the health clearance checks you will be required to provide information about your immunity and vaccination status. You will also be required to provide information about your COVID-19 vaccination status. We therefore recommend that you are fully vaccinated including the COVID-19 vaccine. The information you provide will be used to determine your eligibility to go on placement(s). Placements are provided at the placement provider’s discretion. The University is therefore unable to guarantee the provision of placements or the location and type of placement offered.
Enhanced DBS and health clearance may be required dependent on provider.Student Contract
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2022/23 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the CU Group will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.