In this module we will introduce you to a number of key ideas that you will build on throughout your studies. We will start by introducing the concept of inclusive education practice and encouraging you to explore your own beliefs and values. You will focus on what it means to educate and how inclusiveness is essential to any argument about meaningful 'education' throughout our whole lives. The focus of this module will always purposefully be the interplay between theory and practice and you will be invited to join a community of thinkers and writers about inclusion and educational practices.
You will work with peers on case studies centred on the concept of the family. You will learn how different professions work together through group tasks.
The module is a combination of academic study skills and problem based learning designed to develop your skills and prepare you for undergraduate study. You will learn skills such as critical reading, academic writing and the importance of referencing. You will learn about working with others to solve problems. Learning Outcomes 1) Carry out defined investigative strategies and communicate results effectively in a given format 2) Use a range of digital tools to complete tasks effectively 3) Collect information to inform a choice of solutions to problems 4) Reflect on own and others' behaviours and capabilities against given criteria
This module will introduce you to the topic of child development. After studying the different types of development and exploring the underlying nature/nurture debate, the content of this module will focus on the social and emotional development of children. The issue of how and why children form attachment bonds to their carers (usually family members) will be examined and then the consequences of having these bonds broken, or not forming close attachment bonds at all, will be explored. How pre-school education affects children’s development will then be covered, looking at the advantages and disadvantages of different types of day-care. There will also be a consideration of how wider society and government policy impact on children’s lives. You will learn several established theories in this topic area as well as the research evidence that supports or does not support these theories. A consideration of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities will be included throughout the module.
The module will introduce you to ethical issues within your field of study. You will explore issues of respect for others, cultural awareness, and equality and diversity in your subject. You will be faced with ethical dilemmas and will need to formulate responses that demonstrate your understanding of what it means to be an ethical practitioner.
This module will develop your knowledge and understanding of development during the life course, with a particular focus on child and young person development. You will explore a variety of research and literature relevant to aspects of human development. You will also examine the influence of wider environmental factors such as poverty and also the role of the family and how these can affect the lives of children and young people. As part of your learning you will gain knowledge of societal and political factors, such as race, class, culture and gender and how these can impact on the ways children and young people live and learn in different communities.
In this module you will consider key policies in pre-school, compulsory and post-compulsory education in England. You will also explore a range of historical and contemporary issues and approaches which affect Education Studies, both nationally and internationally. As part of your learning you will have the opportunity to consider different educational settings and the role of education in creating a socially just society. This will include considering if education promotes social justice for all children and pupils in accessing an equal education or does this create inequalities for children and pupils.
In this module you will be introduced to the field of comparative education and develop your knowledge of different education systems in Europe. You will also evaluate and interpret comparative education theories and concepts and relate this to the England and other European countries. As part of your learning you will have the opportunity to assess some of the key aspects of different education systems and make some judgements about influencing factors such as policy, culture and curriculum. You will explore the benefits and challenges of comparing education systems and consider the relationships between education in England and other European countries.
This module supports you in engaging with educational research and information sources, including the collection, and reporting of data to explore different perspectives or myths on current educational issues that inform practice. When developing your own knowledge and understanding in the module you will be able to identify and recognise how social media, fake news, government policy and research can inform educational practice and the benefits and challenges this can bring. As part of this module, you can develop your critical thinking and subsequently reflect on the development of your own personal academic skills as the module will incorporate academic skill development through the lens of considering different issues in education. Learning outcomes: LO1: Discuss a range of perspectives in relation to a key educational issue. LO2: Contrast academic sources in relation to educational issues LO3: Reflect on the development of your own personal academic practice.
This module introduces you to a range of theoretical concepts to explore what ‘childhood’ means in modern society. By exploring the interactions between children, young people, families and society, you will consider how the concept of ‘family’, and family practices, are shaped by wider social influences and social policy. In this module you will also explore the the ways in which a family is seen as a ‘haven’, and children as ‘happy and innocent’, match the reality of children and young people’s lives. You will engage with issues that focus on living in a society where diversity and inclusion are key to community harmony and how social policy interventions can affect life chances.
As part of your learning on this module you will be introduced to current debates around safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults. You will be encouraged to explore how policy, legislation and research evidence inform safeguarding practice. You will also consider the roles and responsibilities of all professionals to safeguard children, young people and vulnerable adults, and as part of this you will be encouraged to reflect on how professionals need to work together. You will explore how risk is managed and how families are supported by multi-agency teams, to ensure the well-being of all children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Research is not just for researchers: as active members of our profession, and indeed society, we all are affected by the research of others. Learning how to conduct your own research gives insight and understanding into such work, and improves your skills as a scholar and as a practitioner. This module prepares you for a successful personal research dissertation in level 6. You will be introduced to a range of techniques and theories on how to gather information, make sense of it, and report it in an effective way.
This module will provide you with an in-depth overview of key theories, issues and debates within wider social, economic, and political contexts that shape practice in schools, colleges, and universities in the 21st century within the UK and globally. As you develop your knowledge and understanding you will be able to appraise and reflect on how these issues relate to the challenges and opportunities experienced by current educational institutions and staff. These challenges and opportunities include, active learning, social media and technology, inequality, the structure of the curriculum and teacher retention.
This module gives you the opportunity to undertake a placement in a setting of your choice which is relevant to an aspect of your professional development. You will develop your knowledge of working with other professionals relevant to the context of your chosen placement. You will observe an aspect of your placement learning such as the role of practitioners, the environment, pedagogy and multi-agency working. As part of this module you will use research and literature to evaluate issues relating to your chosen topic. You will also explore models of reflective practice which will provide you with the opportunity to apply these alongside your experiential learning to assess your personal and professional learning.
The module aims to introduce you to some of the social psychological influences which affect educational achievement. You will be encouraged to reflect on their own learning experiences and how learning may be determined by social psychological factors such as emotional insecurity, motivation, attitude to learning, self-regulation, self-identity, social cognition, group process and prejudice. You will draw on a range of theories and concepts to help you also examine social psychological perspectives, such as disadvantage, gender, teacher support, peer values and mental health and well-being to explain differences in academic attainment.
This module will provide you with the opportunity to examine youth subcultures beginning with a historical context relating to the development of ‘youth’ as a subculture. You will then consider how contemporary ideas relating to social, cultural and political contexts of youth subculture have moved over time drawing on a number of sociological theories and concepts to explore issues relating to the lives of young people. These include, gang membership, representation of youth in social media, poverty and inequality, youth justice, and the use of public spaces. You will also extend and consolidate your knowledge of how the social construction of ‘youth’ is seen as ‘problematic’ and a public ‘moral dilemma’ and how these labels influence young people’s developing identity and their transition into adulthood.
This module will explore exclusion from school and why some children are more likely to be excluded than others. You will have the opportunity to interpret statistical data, research and literature linking to exclusion from school and social justice and why all people should have equal access to education. Your learning on this module includes applying theories and concepts of social exclusion and social justice in educational contexts. You will also demonstrate the influences of government policy and the curriculum on school exclusion and the issues and challenges of social justice and exclusion from school.
This module will enhance your knowledge and understanding of the role of the practitioner when working with children, young people and families. You will explore and show critical understanding on the impact of adverse childhood experiences and other social issues that may affect young lives. As part of your learning you will develop a critical understanding of how policy impacts on a range of diverse and vulnerable families and the challenges that policy may present for you, the practitioner, in your day-to day role. Key theories and therapeutic interventions will be evaluated as your professional knowledge and skills of family support are enhanced.
This module offers you the opportunity to learn about child and youth provision and support from an international perspective. You will have the opportunity to critically compare provision currently offered in the United Kingdom and globally. You will appraise reasons for the diverse approaches adopted in different countries from social and cultural perspectives. You will also be able to critically analyse government policy, curriculum ideologies, professional training and evaluate provision in relation to theories, research evidence and national guidelines/standards.
This module is the culmination your study and practice building upon your learning at level 4 and level 5 and provides you with the opportunity to develop your expertise and independent research skills in an area of your choice. This module builds on the proposal you developed for the module Becoming a Researcher that you studied at level 5. For this module you will develop your proposal into a research dissertation in collaboration with a supervisor you will be given. The Dissertation will involve you drawing on a wide range of literature and research to develop a critical review of previous theories, concepts and research around your chosen subject area. You will also have the opportunity to explore research methodology and methods that you can draw upon to develop your own research design. You will have the choice to undertake primary research or secondary research for your data collection to provide you with the opportunity to analyse key findings and reflect on what you have learnt.
The module aims to introduce you to issues in relation to learning and teaching in challenging educational settings. You will give particular attention to ‘challenging’ and 'effective' urban schools as well as critically evaluating improvement strategies that enhance academic achievement in a range of contexts. You will be encouraged to analyse the role of learners, educators, school leaders and other stakeholders such as the local community; as well as the impact of external factors such as the environment, educational policy, poverty and socio economically disadvantaged communities.
This module gives you the opportunity to critically explore perspectives on the processes of learning and teaching. You will be encouraged to develop your critical understanding of the nature and impact of factors on the learning and teaching process. This includes, meeting the individual needs of diverse learners, the classroom environment, social and emotional resilience and global and national educational theory and policy. It also enables you to connect current research perspectives on learning and teaching with the realities of day-day classroom practices.
Within this module you will explore the ways in which early childhood professionals make provision for play and playful approaches to learning and teaching, how they design play/learning environments, and all the pedagogical decisions, techniques and strategies they use to support or enhance learning and teaching through play. You will also be able to enhance your understanding of critical issues on play pedagogy in theory and in practice by drawing on research and literature that focuses on different types of play, different aspects of play behaviours, child-centred play, and interactions in communities or groups of players. You will also have the opportunity to critically reflect on your own role as an early childhood practitioner in planning for play, using playful pedagogical approaches in adult- and child-initiated activities, and engaging with children on their terms and with respect for their meanings.
In this module you will explore a range of theories and concepts in relation to how inequalities are constructed in society. Throughout the module you will be encouraged to critically discuss the ways in which different social groups are represented within society, for example, through the mass media and government policy and how they are often marginalised and oppressed as a result of their portrayal in society. You will critically examine how inequalities can be challenged when developing provision to meet the needs of children, young people and families from a multi-agency perspective. You will also appraise the potential challenges that practitioners in multi-agency teams can encounter when working with excluded and marginalised children, young people and their families.