Childhood Practice

Childhood practice is a professional and academic discipline concerned with the care, education, and wellbeing of young children, and with the development of the practitioners who work with them. It draws on developmental psychology, sociology, pedagogy, and social policy to build a comprehensive understanding of how children grow, learn, and flourish, and what conditions of care and education best support those outcomes. It is a field that has grown in professional significance as early years education and childcare have come to be understood as foundational to children's long-term development and to social equity more broadly.

At the University of Edinburgh, one of the UK's leading research universities, this programme is offered on a part-time basis, making it accessible to practitioners who are already working in early years and childcare settings and want to develop their professional knowledge and qualifications alongside their employment. This reflects the realities of the sector: many people who work with young children have extensive practical experience and are looking for a degree that recognises and builds on that while developing their theoretical understanding and leadership capability. You will study child development, learning and pedagogy, policy and legislation, leadership in early years settings, and the ethical and sociological dimensions of working with young children and their families.

Edinburgh's distinguished tradition in education research provides a stimulating intellectual context.

Childhood practice graduates are well placed for leadership and management roles in early years settings, including nurseries, primary schools, childcare centres, and local authority children's services. The qualification is particularly relevant to practitioners seeking to move into senior or management positions in early years and childcare in Scotland, where the graduate-led workforce is a policy priority. Postgraduate study in childhood studies, education, or social work is a natural next step for those who want to develop research expertise or move into more senior professional or academic roles.