Early Childhood and Psychology

Early childhood and psychology is a combination that addresses two of the most important dimensions of understanding young people: the professional and policy context of early childhood education and care, and the scientific study of how children develop psychologically, socially and cognitively. Early childhood studies builds advanced knowledge about young children's lives, drawing on child development theory, the sociology of childhood, early years pedagogy and the policy frameworks that govern services for young children. Psychology deepens this understanding with empirical research on how children develop across cognitive, emotional, social and physical domains, and how inequalities, family context and social environment shape developmental outcomes.

Liverpool Hope University's four-year full-time programme builds advanced knowledge about young children and covers child development, the nature of children's interactions and relationships, and the effects of local and global inequalities on children's lives and opportunities. The programme includes a sandwich year with embedded work placement opportunities and a year abroad, giving you both sustained practical experience in early childhood or related settings and an international academic perspective on childhood and early years provision. The typical entry tariff is around 104 UCAS points, and the programme includes a foundation year component.

You will study early childhood curriculum and pedagogy, child protection and safeguarding, psychology of development from infancy through early childhood, social policy for families and children, research methods, and the advocacy for young children's needs and rights that this field demands. The combination prepares you to understand and champion the needs of young children across a range of professional and policy contexts.

Graduates of early childhood and psychology programmes work in early years education and care settings, children's centres, family support services, local authority children's services, social work, play therapy, educational psychology support roles, research and policy advocacy. Many graduates pursue further professional qualifications in education, social work or psychology. Postgraduate study in early childhood education, developmental psychology, educational psychology or social work is a well-supported next step.