FdA Early Years and Education (Foundation Degree)

This exciting and fulfilling course is focused on extending your knowledge, skills and understanding of contemporary issues in the childhood studies sector. This degree is accredited by Anglia Ruskin University.

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Course Description

The course blends theory with practice as there is the expectation that you will complete a placement, or be employed, in an early years setting or school for the duration of your studies.

The multi-disciplinary programme prepares students for careers in early years and care or primary education as a teaching assistant or class teacher, family support, health and social services.

The course is taught by a highly experienced professional team with expertise in the fields of education and the early years sector.

You will have the opportunity to explore theoretical perspectives and work based practice through lectures, workshops, presentations, work based projects, presentations and assignments. There is a strong emphasis on the development of ICT, communication and presentation skills.

With the foundation degree in Early Years, Playwork and Education you may be able to progress on to one of our top-up qualifications, Graduate Practitioner or Primary Education, which will provide you with the opportunity to gain a BA (Hons) in Childhood Studies.

If further study is not for you, you may be able to gain senior practitioner status in an early years setting, move into management in a setting or work as a higher level teaching assistant.

Modules

These are the modules for the last academic year. These are currently under revalidation so some of these modules can be subject to change

Level 4

Module name	Credits
Learning and Development	30
Play, Health and Wellbeing	30
Researching Childhood	30
Work-based Learning 1: Professional Practice	30

Level 5

Module name	Credits
Supporting Children's Learning - Comparing Curricula	15
Supporting Children's Learning - Practical Project	15
Safeguarding Children	30
Embracing Diversity	30
Work-based Learning 2: Professional Practice	30

Entry Requirements
You will need:
- 64 UCAS tariff points from a relevant level 3 qualification, such as Early Years Educator or Supporting Teaching & Learning. (Not all relevant level 3 qualifications carry UCAS points and therefore levels of experience in working with children will be taken into account).
- A grade 4 (C) or above in GCSE English language (or equivalent level 2 qualification in English)
- Two years of proven work experience in an early year or school setting
- An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
International (EEA) applicants:

International applicants from the European Economic Area (EEA) may be asked to complete IELTS and achieve a level 7 if there are significant doubts about an applicant's level to communicate. A NARIC statement of comparability will be required to translate grades into their UK equivalents.
Course Length

How long is this course?

2 years

When does this course start?

02/09/2026

How many hours / days per week is this course?

2 afternoons per week (10 hours attendance). Days TBC but likely to be Tuesday and Thursday. Plus 2 x full days in work or placement. This course is delivered face-to-face on the university centre campus.
Progression Opportunities
What can I do after this course at CWA?

The College of West Anglia offers many opportunities to continue studying from entry level through to degrees at University Centre West Anglia. Some of the courses available for those who have successfully completed this course include:
- BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies (King's Lynn)

Course Fees

Academic Year	Fee for the year
26/27	£9000

We set our course fees annually. As students pay a fee for each year of their course, the fees set for future academic years may be higher than those set in this academic year.

For each future academic year of your course of study, your fees may be subject to review and increase on a basis in line with the Retail Prices Index (RPI) plus 3%. RPI is a measure of inflation published monthly by the Office for National Statistics which measures the changes from month to month in the cost of a representative sample of retail goods and services bought by consumers within the UK. This means that your course fees will not be increased each year by more than RPI + 3% from the previous year's fees and will not ever exceed the maximum amount that the government allows higher education institutions to charge students in the related academic year.

Fee information

Information about course fees and student finance can be found below.

Finance at UcWA

Additional Information

What qualification will I achieve?

FdA in Early Years and Education.

How is my course assessed?

Assessment activities include written essays, poster presentations, portfolio building, article writing, group work, group presentations and a number of practical activities to be carried out in the workplace or placement setting, for instance, child studies, activity planning, implementation of activities and work based learning projects.

Are there any additional costs?

DBS check: £45 (if required)

How many hours am I expected to self-study?

Approximately - 1st year - 12 hours, 2nd year - 14 hours

Work placement:

If not employed in the industry, work placement is expected in a school or early years setting of the students choice for 2 days per week

The course team

Kathryn Le Serve spent many years working in various early years and school provision before working as an Early Years Advisor in Norfolk. She taught on various early years courses in the county before coming to teach at the university centre. Kathryn is Course Director for the BA Hons and the Foundation Degree and has been teaching on the degree programme for 16 years. Her areas of specialism include outdoor play and learning and early years pedagogy.

Jeanette Nowrung has been working in the early years sector of over 30 years. Currently she is the manager of 2 outstanding settings (Ofsted 2019 and 2020). She has been teaching at the university centre on a part time basis for over 25 years. Her areas of specialism include safeguarding, embracing diversity and leadership and management. Jeanette has taught on the degree programme for 18 years, currently teaching on the second and third year.

Carol Renard spent 10 years working as a Nursery Manager and Early Years Practitioner before joining the College of West Anglia in 2006. Carol joined the degree teaching team in 2023. In addition to her degree teaching, Carol is Course Director in Children's Play, Learning and Development and teaches on a range of other courses at the college. Her areas of specialism include theories of learning, health and nutrition and sustainability.

Terms and changes to programmes

Every effort to ensure the information on this page is accurate, however there may be scenarios where the college is required to make amend or alter aspects of the programme, college provision or delivery. Should this occur after you have accepted a place at the college, you will be consulted and agreement sought. You will be entitled to withdraw from any obligations to the college, and where relevant receive any refund or compensation, as per your Terms and Conditions and the Student Protection Plan of the relevant validating awarding organisation. More information is available on our Terms page.