Children's Development and Learning

Children's development and learning is the study of how children grow intellectually, emotionally, socially and physically from birth through to the end of primary schooling, and of what this means for the professional practice of those who work with young children. It draws on developmental psychology, educational theory, sociology and child welfare research to build an understanding of how children's development unfolds, what factors support or impede it, and how early years practitioners and teachers can create environments that allow all children to flourish. It is a discipline directly relevant to some of the most important professional work in society.

At the University of Reading, this two-year full-time degree is delivered in partnership with local settings and is designed for students who are already working or volunteering in an early years or school environment alongside their studies. This means your academic learning is continuously connected to real professional experience, allowing you to observe, reflect on and draw from the children and settings you encounter in your workplace as part of your degree. You will study child development theory, the characteristics of effective early learning environments, inclusion, language and literacy development, and the professional frameworks that govern early years and primary practice in England.

Graduates move into a wide range of roles working with young children and families, including early years practitioners, teaching assistants, family support workers, children's centre coordinators and early years advisory roles. For some graduates, this degree forms the foundation for progression to qualified teacher status through a postgraduate route. Others move into management roles in nurseries, childminders' agencies, children's centres or local authority early years teams.

The combination of academic knowledge and situated professional experience developed through this programme is a strong foundation for any career dedicated to children's early learning and wellbeing.