Early Childhood Studies

Early childhood studies examines the first years of human life, a period of extraordinary development in which the foundations of language, cognition, social behaviour, and emotional regulation are established. The discipline draws on developmental psychology, sociology, education, and policy to understand how children learn and grow, what conditions support positive development, and how the social and institutional environments surrounding young children can either nurture or harm their flourishing. It is a field with direct relevance to some of the most significant policy debates in education, health, and social welfare.

At Teesside University, you will study early childhood studies over three years full-time, engaging with the history and theory of early childhood education and care, the developmental science of the early years, safeguarding and child protection, and the policy frameworks that shape provision for young children in the UK. You will learn to think historically and critically about education policy, situating current debates in the longer story of how childhood has been understood and responded to by society. The programme develops your capacity for reflective practice alongside your theoretical and empirical knowledge, and it includes professional experience in early childhood settings as part of your formation.

The typical entry tariff is 88 UCAS points.

Graduates of early childhood studies work in nurseries, pre-schools, children's centres, primary schools, social care settings, and voluntary sector organisations working with young children and families. The degree is also a pathway to postgraduate training in primary school teaching, social work, educational psychology, and related professions. Many graduates continue to further study to gain the professional qualifications needed for particular roles, using the undergraduate degree as a foundation for specialist practice in the early years workforce.