Early Years Studies

Early years studies is the field concerned with the development, care, and education of children from birth to around eight years of age. It draws on developmental psychology, education theory, sociology, and health to understand how young children grow, learn, and form relationships, and how the environments and relationships they experience in those early years shape their long-term wellbeing and potential. The early years workforce is at the front line of ensuring that all children, regardless of background, receive the care and educational experiences that give them the best possible start.

At Bedfordshire this two-year full-time foundation degree is designed specifically for people who are already working with young children, in pre-schools, childminding settings, day nurseries, or children's centres. The programme is structured to fit around your work commitments, combining academic study with your existing work experience in a way that is mutually reinforcing: the theory you study is immediately applicable to your professional practice, and your practice provides the context in which the academic content comes alive. You will also work towards the Early Years Educator qualification, which is a recognised professional credential.

The programme prepares you to work in multidisciplinary teams in early years settings, developing understanding of child development, curriculum and pedagogy, observation and assessment, safeguarding, and the policy environment that governs early years provision. On successful completion of the foundation degree, you have direct entry to a one-year top-up pathway in Early Years, SEND, or Education, enabling you to achieve a full BA (Hons) degree.

Graduates move into roles as early years educators, nursery and pre-school practitioners, children's centre workers, teaching assistants, and managers of early years settings. Further study through the top-up degree opens paths into primary teaching, SEND, and early years leadership.