Working with Children and Young People
My course has given me even more aspirations with the desire to reflect and improve still very much at the forefront of my practice.
”Lisa Snell, current student
There's a growing demand for qualified practitioners working in the early years and young people's sector, so you'll be well placed to get a job or further your career when you finish any of our courses.
Your pathway to a career that makes a real difference
It's important that children and young people are supported effectively, and empowered to achieve to their potential. Being a part of this work is hugely rewarding and inspiring, but it requires a diverse skill-set, from specialist knowledge, to communication, leadership and team working skills, empathy and dedication. Gaining these skills will help you on the path to a career that makes a real difference to the lives of children and young people.
And there are more career opportunities than you might think; our graduates find employment in settings as diverse as early years' environments such as nurseries, youth offending teams, care settings, rehabilitation centres, community mental health settings, the voluntary and third sector. Quite simply, there are a wealth of options for a career working with children and young people.
To reflect the diversity in career options, we offer a number of courses to help you gain the necessary skills and knowledge to work effectively in your chosen career. We offer courses at foundation, undergraduate and professional level so you can be sure to find a course to suit at whatever stage you're at in your career or training.
Which is the right course for you?
FdA Children's and Young People's Services
- This part time course is for students who are already working at least two days a week in the children's and young people's services sector, and are looking to gain a qualification to support their professional development. The course is made up of two pathways, early years and teaching assistant, which are endorsed by the CWDC and the TDA, allowing you the flexibility to focus on an area that fits with your current work or career aspirations.
BA (Hons) Applied Community and Youth Work
- This course focuses upon development work with young people and community development, with a placement in each year. If you're keen to work with young people in a wide range of settings this course is for you as it's accredited by the National Youth Agency (NYA) and provides you with the professional award for community and youth workers. Because of the 'community' aspect of study, this degree also prepares you for working with adults in diverse roles such as in homelessness, offending, health projects, women's projects and more.
BA (Hons) Child and Youth Studies (0-19 years)
- This course focuses on the breadth of childhood and youth from 0 -19 years. This means that it's a great choice if you'd like to retain the option to work with children and young people over the full age range. There's a strong focus on 'learning through working' on this course; you'll be on placement two days per week, making it a very practical course.
BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies (0-8 years)
- If you're confident that you would like to go into a career working with children aged between 0 - 8 years then our Early Childhood Studies course is the perfect choice. The course has a strong academic base and will provide a thorough grounding in early years from children's development to the services they use. You can also start this course in stage two or three, by applying for our Direct Entry Early Childhood Studies course.
Early Years Professional Status
- Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) is a Government endorsed accreditation which aims to validate the outstanding practice of our best practitioners. Training to become an early years professional has been specifically designed to welcome candidates with different backgrounds, levels of experience and qualifications. We welcome new graduates as well as those already working in the early years sector. We welcome and encourage people who are working in other sectors, but feel that they would rather work in a more rewarding environment, to get in touch, and find out what a career as an early years professional could do for them. Early Years Professionals (EYPs) work in a wide range of roles within the private, voluntary and independent sector, as well as within the maintained sector and as early years advisors. They lead practice, support other practitioners and are central to helping children develop from birth until the age of five, a crucial time in a child's life.
