Foundation Degree in Early Years

Achievements The only recognised British University that exclusively offers supported distance learning No.1 for student satisfaction (Sunday Times 2006) 25,000 + students p.a. in 37 countries University ranked 5 th for quality of teaching

Benefits to you Internationally recognised qualifications Ability to earn while you learn Flexibility to harmonise study with lifestyle Greater professional confidence Enhanced job performance Transportable – you can carry on if you move location Practical skills that can be immediately applied in the workplace Better career prospects

Resources You control your own learning backed by our extensive support and a range of multiple media resources: New technology –CD-ROMs, on-line conferencing, Internet and specialised software. Traditional print based materials –Workbooks, readers, course guides. Traditional media – Audio and video Face- to -Face contact – Induction, Tutorials, Residential School

Tutor Support You have access to considerable level of support and networking: Face-to-Face contact with tutor at tutorials with contact and networking with other managers from other industry sectors Telephone support from tutor Contact with tutors through and on-line conferencing and networking with other managers Learning feedback from tutor through assignments (TMAs)

What is an Early Years Sector- Endorsed Foundation Degree? May 2001 DfES announced proposals for new career pathway to lead to Senior Practitioner status based on a new Foundation Degree Institutions would be required to meet the Statement of Requirement (SOR) in developing their Early Years Foundation Degrees in order to qualify for recognition

EYSEFD contd.. The Statement of Requirement sets out the content and delivery of EYSEFD Learning outcomes underpinned by national occupational standards-endorsed by employer representatives Linked to support package for students to 2006

EYSEFD contd.. A key part of governments Workforce Strategy – to provide more access to training for early years workers at different levels to strengthen the quality of service provision An important progression route to Early Years Professional status 146 institutions offering EYSEFDS Between 2003 and ,662 students began on EYSEFD. (DfES)

OU Sector Endorsed Foundation Degree in Early Years The Core Features of Foundation Degrees are: Employer involvement The development of skills and knowledge Application of skills in the workplace Credit accumulation and transfer Progression – within work and/or to an Honours Degree

Foundation Degree in Early Years Experienced practitioners You will study five or six courses 4-5 years part-time Support as before TMA, Projects and /or exams Require use of a computer and must have internet access

Foundation Degree in Early Years Level One Compulsory Courses E123 Working with children in the early years (30 pts) and E124 Supporting children’s learning in the early years (30 pts) APEL route from July 2007 Final level one course: E115 Personal Professional Development: Early Years Settings (60 pts)

Foundation Degree in Early Years Level 2 Option Courses 60 points from one of the following: ED209 Child Development (60pts) U212 Childhood (60 pts) K204 Working with Children and Families (60 pts) E230 Ways of Knowing: Language, Mathematics and Science in the Early Years (30 pts) and E243 Inclusive Education: Learning from Each Other (30pts) Level 2 Final Compulsory Course E215 Extending Personal Professional Development (60pts)

Openings Course: Understanding Children New to Study Open to anyone 20 week Course Two assignments and one end of course assessment. No exams! 10 credit points at Level 1 (All OU qualifications are modular - you are awarded credit points from each course, and the qualification is awarded when you have enough points). Tutor support – via telephone & , no tutorials. Can use a computer but don’t have to.

Certificate in Early Years Practice E123 Working with children in the early years. E124 Supporting children’s learning in the early years

Certificate in Early Years Practice. A Certificate in Early Years Practice is awarded on successful completion of E123 and E124. It is on the QCA National Qualifications Framework at NQF level 4 and is recognised by Ofsted for regulatory purposes. It is on the new Children’s Workforce Qualifications list

E123/E124 The Course Materials Guide to your studies 14 study topics CDRom and DVD Media Guide Course Reader Assessment Guide Course Calendar Web site First Class Conferencing

E123/E124 The Study Topics Each study topic designed to be 2 weeks study 15 hours in total, 7-8 hours each week Approximately 7 hours reading, 7 hours activities 8-10 activities per study topic. Includes reading, reflection, observations/tasks to do in setting, video and audio activities.

E123 Study Topics ST 1 - Provision for Children in the Early Years ST 2 – Roles and Responsibilities ST 3 – Children, Families and Transitions ST 4 – Play and Learning ST 5 – Observing and Listening to Children ST 6 – Curriculum ST 7 – Creativity and Learning ST 8 – Language and Learning ST 9 – Working with Others ST 10 – Parents as Partners ST 11 – Growing and Developing ST 12 – Health and Well-being ST 13 – Approaches to Teaching and Learning ST 14 – Moving On

E124 Study Topics ST 1 – Supporting Children’s Learning ST 2 – Children’s Rights and Inclusive Education ST 3 – Inclusive Education: Race, Language and Gender ST 4 – Supporting Children from Birth to 3 Years ST 5 – Enabling Creativity ST 6 – Communication, Language and Literacy ST 7 – Mathematical Development ST 8 – Planning and Assessing Learning ST 9 – ICT and Learning ST 10 – Knowledge and Understanding of the World ST 11 – Personal, Social and Emotional Development ST 12 – Promoting Physical Development ST 13 – Developing Positive Learning Environments ST 14 – Professional Development in Practice.

Learning Outcomes: Summary: Knowledge and Understanding A knowledge of curriculum frameworks and the Foundation Stage, including teaching and learning practices and observation and assessment for young children; An awareness of how policies and provisions relating to the regulation/promotion of children’s status, welfare and learning impact on children (and adults) in home, school and other contexts; An understanding of the value of and ways of working with parents and of inter professional collaboration.

E123/E124 Students Range of backgrounds and experiences Students may: Be new to study or already have some qualifications See the course as a complete entity or as part of a Foundation Degree or BA Degree

E123/E124 Students contd.. Students will need: to have been working in an early years setting for at least 6 months full time or a year part time before starting to study to be able to work directly with young children for a minimum of 5 hours a week during the courses permission from their employer to carry out course activities. Employers are asked to sign a Permission Agreement Form as part of the registration paperwork for these courses.

Study Topic Example: Study Topic 7: Creativity and Learning Study topic 7 looks at creativity and why it is important, creative learning, creativity and the curriculum and fostering a creative climate. 5 activities within ST 7 to complete.

Example activity Study Topic 7, activity 3: Reading and Observation The first part of this activity (the reading) may be done at home, but the second part (the observation) must be carried out in your setting. Find a copy of the curriculum policy document on creativity that applies to your setting, and identifies the sections in it that focuses on the development of creativity. Spend about 30 minutes reading these through, familiarizing yourself with their content. Then, keeping those in mind, choose a child to observe in your setting. Spend 15 minutes observing his/her behaviour; then spend another 15 minutes jotting down, in your notebook, your thoughts on the following questions What opportunities were there for you, as a practitioner, to develop the child’s creativity within the terms of the formal curriculum for your setting? What was done to support or extend the child’s creativity? What possibilities do you think may have been opened up for that learner, and what was done to enable that to happen? What else could be done to extend the opportunities for fostering this child’s creativity?

Assessment As well as completing the various activities within the 14 study topics you will be asked to complete work which will be assessed. E123 continuous assessment: 3 Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) TMA 01 Me and My Setting (1000 words) TMA 02 Observing and Listening to Children (1,500 words) TMA 03 Policy and Practice: data gathering (2,000 words) E123 end of course assessment (ECA). E123 ECA Reflecting on theory and practice. (3,000 words) E124 will be assessed in a similar way *(Access to a computer is preferable but assignments can be hand written)

TMAs Example: E123, TMA 01: Me and my setting (1000 words) Part One (250 words): Describe the setting in which you work (Number of children and practitioners, what kind of building do you work in? is there access to outside? what are it’s opening times? etc). Part Two (250 words): What attracted you to working with children in the early years, and what skills do you bring to the work? (Professional and personal reasons, where and how have you acquired your skills etc).

TMAs contd.. Part Three (250 words) What are your key roles and responsibilities in your setting? (the different activities you do daily, what responsibilities do you have for the children in your care? Who do you work and liaise with in your working hours? etc). Part Four (250 words) How do you expect the course to develop your thinking and practice? (What aspects of your work would you like to explore further, what skills would you like to develop? etc). Builds on your work in study topics 1-3 All work must be referenced to the course materials.

Support Tutor –post, phone & Tutorials –face to face contact with tutor and meet other students On-line discussion group OU Regional Centres –advice if you fall behind with your study, directions to tutorial venues etc

What next?

Time Frames Openings Course Understanding Children Next start date - 1 st March weeks Certificate in Early Years Practice Next start date - 3 rd February 2008 E year to complete E year to complete It can take 1 or 2 years to obtain the Certificate as the courses can be studied together in 1 year. Foundation Degree Next start date - 3 rd February 2008 It takes 4 or 5 years to complete part time dependent upon how many modules are taken at the same time.

The Open University More information about the individual courses, the Certificate in Early Years Practice and the Foundation Degree in Early Years can be found at: /