Explore how physical and mental health, relationships and wider environmental factors influence children’s holistic development and wellbeing. You will examine areas including trauma, stress, socioeconomic circumstances, transitions, secure attachments and nurturing personal care. Through workplace-based learning, you will develop the skills to create safe, inclusive environments, apply statutory safeguarding guidance and work effectively with families and multi-agency professionals. You will also build the leadership, communication and advocacy skills needed to develop, implement and present policies that promote and protect children’s health, safety and wellbeing.

Explore how to design relevant, inclusive and adaptable curricula that meet the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage in England. You will evaluate different approaches to curriculum planning, teaching and enabling environments, considering how they support children’s social, emotional, linguistic, physical, cognitive and creative development. Through expert guidance and workplace practice, you will learn to distinguish statutory requirements from guidance, compare approaches used across the UK and beyond, and develop the knowledge and skills required for the Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship.

Develop the knowledge and skills to support young children with special educational needs and disabilities, alongside their families. You will explore theories of disability and inclusion, early identification and assessment, relevant statutory guidance, and approaches to creating accessible learning opportunities. Through workplace practice and expert feedback, you will learn to provide personalised support, work effectively with families and multidisciplinary professionals, and apply a child-centred, Froebelian approach that places children’s rights, wellbeing and holistic development at the heart of practice.

Complete a second block of assessed practice in an early years setting, developing your professional skills in line with the Early Years Teacher Standards. You will apply the knowledge, skills and behaviours gained across the first and second years of the course, bringing together university learning and workplace practice. With expert guidance and feedback, you will strengthen your confidence, reflect on your progress and develop the professional competencies required for the Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship.

Develop the advanced knowledge, professional judgement and leadership skills needed to lead high-quality, inclusive and ethically informed practice in early years settings. You will examine safeguarding, child protection, children’s rights and multi-agency working, drawing on current legislation, policy and research. Through workplace practice and expert feedback, you will learn to make informed decisions, support colleagues, influence organisational culture and work effectively with families and professionals across education, health and social care.

Undertake an action-research project to evaluate and improve an aspect of practice in your early years workplace, focusing on language and communication, inclusive provision for children with additional needs, or outdoor learning. You will draw on research, policy and reflective practice to design and assess an evidence-informed intervention. Working with colleagues, families and other professionals, you will develop the leadership, quality assurance and decision-making skills needed to improve provision, support setting-wide change and create inclusive, rights-respecting learning environments.

Complete your final block of assessed practice in an early years setting, developing your professional skills in line with the Early Years Teacher Standards. You will bring together the knowledge, skills and pedagogy gained throughout the course and apply them confidently in the workplace. With expert guidance and feedback, you will refine your practice, reflect on your professional development and demonstrate the competencies required for the Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship.