EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDIES

This module provides the framework of understanding for practitioners, regardless of their domain of practice, to be able to recognise children at risk, identify signs of abuse, understand the legislative framework, and the concept of interagency working, which underpins practice, and enables practitioners to act swiftly to ensure that the best interests of the child are served. This module will enable you to: - Provide a comprehensive framework of knowledge in relation to safeguarding children: this can be applied to safeguarding children in practice in a variety of settings. - Provide a flexible framework for assessing and managing risk. - Provide a framework for multidisciplinary practice, and safe and effective cooperation, in relation to safeguarding children.

This module aims to provide you with the opportunity to engage in semi-independent research and to further develop your personal, graduate and professional skill sets within a vocational field. It develops knowledge and expertise of the design, implementation and evaluation of action research and offers a series of transferable skills which can be utilised in both employment and higher level study. The module encourages you to take a critically reflective and reflexive stance to your own practice, specific institutional practices, action research as a process and to professional standards.

Clear management and leadership is essential within the sector if you are to provide a quality environment for children. This module examines what leadership and management means within the context of the early years sector, what the differences between leadership and management are and, the range of skills that are necessary to be a good leader and a good manager within a formal setting.

This module will develop students' understanding of Special Educational Needs and Disability in the Early Years, exploring the concept of SEND and the legislative framework underpinning practice in early years care and education. The importance of inclusive practice and environments will be investigated, along with appropriate adjustments, interventions and resources to meet children's needs and promote their development. The importance of working with parents and children in ensuring equitable provision will be stressed throughout.

This module encourages students to develop a comprehensive and critical understanding of the key principles and theoretical underpinnings of development and learning in children between the ages of birth and five years of age. Both classical and contemporary developmental theories (and the differing range of perspectives which inform them) will be thoroughly explored and evaluated with a view to identifying how such theories might be used as a means of understanding and measuring normative and atypical development. The module requires students to attend a minimum of 200 work-based placement hours and for this to be accompanied by a passed placement appraisal.

During this module you will explore the concept of gender through a sociological perspective, its categorisation and the development of gender diversity within British society. You will consider the development of children's sexual identity, (heterosexual, gay, lesbian and bi sexual), age awareness and prevalence, considering concepts such as 'Gender Neutral', 'Gender Nutroise', 'Gender Binary', 'Biological Sexual Ambiguity', 'Gender Affirmative Model' and 'Transgender' within contemporary Britain.

This module recognises the underpinning significance of play in children's learning and development and is concerned with raising awareness of the necessity to develop the creative ability of children. Pedagogical implications for fostering imagination, motivation, problem solving, making connections and divergence within early years settings will be examined, alongside the factors which may affect the development of creativity. Students will examine current theories and debates related to creativity and the arts and its role in children's learning and have the opportunity through placement, to develop their own practice to maximise the opportunities they create to nurture young children's natural creativity.

Engaging in individually selected and directed research is one of the highlights of an undergraduate degree and in this module you will be introduced to the skills and competences needed to explore your selected topic in depth to ensure you gain the most from this opportunity. Research at this level can be a daunting process but you will be appointed a dissertation tutor who will help guide you through this important and rewarding process.

Developing and recognising graduate competencies for the early year's workforce will enable you to set yourself apart from the crowd, presenting to future employers the skills necessary to undertake your professional role in a competitive employment arena. The vocational practice you experience on this module will enhance your professional development by advancing and consolidating your theoretical knowledge, increasing your professional skill set skills and enriching your personal and professional confidence.

The module explores leadership and management, contemporary issues and current trends in order to enhance quality assurance and to support change that may improve the educational/child centred experiences of children in the early years. The module content encourages students to identify their settings'/ work place needs and to work collaboratively with the staff, other professionals, children and their families in order to devise and implement an action plan for creating improvement and change.

You will explore the concept of children's voice through a range of theoretical perspective. In doing so you will develop a critical understanding of how to support children's voice, participation and agency in a professional context.

This module is designed to provide an insight into the social, historical and cultural construct of 'childhood'. Childhood is made up of a series of discourses influenced by shifts in political policy, economic factors and industry needs, cultural influences, religion, philosophy, technology and the changing needs of society. Content will investigate the impact of such change upon children, the notion of 'childhood', and the place of children within society from a historical perspective. Key factors affecting children's lives throughout the ages will be discussed and the concept of 'childhood' explored through a range of theoretical perspectives and social contexts.