Early Years, Foundation Degree

There are many different methods of learning on this course. The teaching is a combination of theory and student-centred activities where formative feedback is provided to support elements of the assessment. All staff delivering on the course have a minimum qualification level at grade 6 and substantial experience of working within a variety of early years settings.

Each module is completed with an assessed piece of work designed to enable exploration of themes that have been studied. Assignments relate to your practice in your own setting and range from within-setting observations of children and in-class presentations to your cohort, to written essays, reports, and critical summaries of academic articles.

On completion of this degree, most students decide to apply for the BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies, also offered by the College, to obtain a BA (Hons) degree. Moreover, completion of the Foundation degree leads to the designation of “Senior Practitioner” and to management-level roles in early-years settings.

Applicants should have relevant work experience in early years prior to commencing the course. For the period of the course you need access to a relevant work setting for a minimum of 10 hours per week. All applicants must have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance when applying for the course and current safeguarding training.

You will also need one of the following:
• An appropriate A-Level or Vocational A-Level
• NVQ Level 3/ appropriately vocationally relevant NQF Level 3 qualification
• An Advanced Modern Apprenticeship in Early Years or another appropriate subject

If you wish to apply you will need a reference from your head teacher (employer) or line manager (if appropriate) and the active support of your setting. Vocational experience will be taken into consideration for mature candidates that demonstrate the fundamental academic rigour to study at Levels 4 and 5.

English Language Requirements (For students whose first language is not English): IELTS 6.0 (with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking). If you need a student visa to enter the UK, you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements: www.brookes.ac.uk/students/isat/visas

We include students with disabilities and/or learning difficulties into the life of the College and seek to offer opportunities for success in all courses at all levels. If you have any particular requirements, please contact our Learning Support Adviser on 01235 216440.

Home/EU Tuition fee £7,570 per year. International Tuition fee £9,270 per year.

Extra Costs: an additional fee of £100 is charged at enrolment to cover the cost of planned extra-curricular activities. Whilst all core text books are available in the College and University libraries and online, students may wish to purchase their own copies. Prices of core textbooks range from £15.00 - £55.00.

You can find information on our fees and on Student Finance at www.abingdon-witney.ac.uk/support/fees-bursaries. Please note tuition fees may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by the University and all college partners.

16 - 18 Fee

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19+ Fee

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19+ Reduced Fee

Foundation Degree in Early Years (FdA), awarded by Oxford Brookes University.

There are many different methods of learning on this course. The teaching is a combination of theory and student centred activities where formative feedback is provided to support elements of the assessment.

All staff delivering on the course have a minimum qualification level at grade 6 and substantial experience of working within a variety of early years settings.

Each module is completed with an assessed piece of work designed to enable exploration of themes that have been studied. Assignments relate to your practice in your own setting and range from within-setting observations of children and in-class presentations to your cohort, to written essays, reports, and critical summaries of academic articles.