UWTSD Home - Study With Us - Subject Areas - Early Years Courses - Student Experience
Student Experience
We have designed an experience which makes study engaging and supports you to make the most of your Early Years’ experience with us at UWTSD. The Early Years team offer full-time daytime programmes or fulltime evening programmes designed for early years practitioners. There is also an opportunity for direct entry into level 5 or into level 6 in order to ‘Top Up’ your current qualifications either in the day or evening.
Kirsty Goff, level 6, 2018
"I am so glad I came here, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else doing any other course."
Emma Blofield, graduated 2017
"Studying the degree as helped me immensely not only to build on my knowledge and skills but also to enable me to believe in myself. With the support of the University, friends old and new, my supportive family and my own determination to succeed, I successfully completed the degree graduating with a first!"
Induction
Daytime three-year programme BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care and BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status
- A supportive and fun induction week designed to welcome you to University life. You will meet your lecturers and other new students and have an opportunity to partake in activities and explore the campus. You will also have an opportunity to become familiar with your timetable and learn how to get support with using the University’s Library and IT systems. This first week is a great opportunity to make new friends and to settle into University life. The week also includes a visit to a local attraction to support students get to know each other and the locality.
- The timetable is designed to support placement or You will have at least two days a week free from lectures and this makes committing to regular placement/volunteering throughout the year possible.
Pastoral Care
Daytime three-year programme BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care and BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status
The Early Years team offers excellent pastoral care with every student having a personal tutor who is there to offer guidance and support whenever needed (link also to student services). Lecturers in the Early Years are keen to get to know their students very well and maintain strong supportive pastoral as well as academic roles throughout their time of study.
Block Teaching
Daytime three-year programme
BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care and BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status
The Early Years team are very experienced delivering block teaching. This has been the format in the school for several years,
At every level, you will study six modules. Each module is taught separately, over one block. Each block is about 4-5 weeks each in duration.
Assessment work for each module is completed towards the end of each module. This means you are only working on one module at a time and will not be overwhelmed by several pieces of coursework at the same time.
Timetable
Daytime three-year programme
BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care and BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status
Practical hands-on learning experiences
Daytime three-year programme
BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care and BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status
Our programmes are not just lectures. We have designed a learning experience which is based on linking early years theory to real situations. You will be part of class discussions, role play, games, play activities and outdoor learning which makes your personal reading and research meaningful.
Teaching Methods
Daytime three-year programme
BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care and BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status
We use a variety of teaching methods. We do not only rely on lectures. Instead, we take you to see new ideas in places which have early years expertise. As part of modules, there will be visits to places of interest such as Down to Earth and Pentref Bach.
There are a variety of guest lecturers. We arrange guest lectures from a range of different early years’ organisations which allows you to hear new ideas and recent research from several different experts. Insert photo of guest speakers from one drive
We have NO EXAMS. Your assessment will be 100% coursework. You will have a range of assessments including group discussions, role-play, storytelling, portfolios, creating activities for children, designing resources for practitioners and parents, presentations and reports. Our coursework is designed to support both academic and employability skills.
Induction
Evening two-year programme (Swansea and Carmarthen)
BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care and BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status
When you start your programme, the first sessions will be dedicated to enrolment and induction. You will meet your lecturers and other new students. You will also have an opportunity to become familiar with your timetable and learn how to get support with using the University’s Library and IT systems. These sessions are a great opportunity to make new friends and to settle into your study.
Pastoral Care
Evening two-year programme (Swansea and Carmarthen)
BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care and BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status
The Early Years team offers excellent pastoral care with every student having a personal tutor who is there to offer guidance and support whenever needed (link also to student services). Lecturers in the Early Years are keen to get to know their students very well and maintain strong supportive pastoral as well as academic roles throughout their time of study.
Block Teaching
Evening two-year programme (Swansea and Carmarthen)
BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care and BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status
At every level you will study six modules. Each module is taught separately, over one block. Each block is about 4-5 weeks each in duration.
Assessment work for each module is completed towards the end of each module. This means you are only working on one module at a time and will not be overwhelmed by several pieces of coursework at the same time.
Timetable
Evening two-year programme (Swansea and Carmarthen)
BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care and BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status
The degree programmes are delivered one evening a week Monday, 4.30pm-8.30pm) and on occasional Saturdays. This allows students to maintain work commitments and study at the same time. The two-year fast-track flexi programme is designed in such a way that three years of study content is delivered in two years by using traditional University vacation time.
Practical hands-on learning experiences
Evening two-year programme (Swansea and Carmarthen)
BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care and BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status
Our programmes are not just lectures. We have designed a learning experience which is based on linking early years theory to real situations. You will be part of class discussions, role play, games, play activities and outdoor learning which makes your personal reading and research meaningful.
Teaching Methods and Assessment
Evening two-year programme (Swansea and Carmarthen)
BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care and BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status
We use a variety of teaching methods. We do not only rely on lectures. Instead, we provide opportunity for discussion and peer learning where students can compare their own work practice with the research literature.
There are a variety of guest lecturers. We arrange guest lectures from a range of different early years’ organisations which allows you to hear new ideas and recent research from several different experts. Insert photo of guest speakers from one drive
We have NO EXAMS. Your assessment will be 100% coursework. You will have a range of assessments including group discussions, role-play, storytelling, portfolios, creating activities for children, designing resources for practitioners and parents, presentations and reports. Our coursework is designed to support both academic and employability skills.
Daytime three-year programme and Evening two-year programme (Swansea and Carmarthen)| BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care and BA (Hons) Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status
We offer extra experiences to supplement the programme. This includes Employability week) where a range of training events/short courses are available. These are useful additions to your CV. To date, training has included First Aid, Safeguarding, ELKLAN, Baby Yoga, MAKATON and Additional Learning Needs.
We also offer opportunities to study specialised certificates as part of your modules such as the John Muir Award or UNCRC training.
We can offer these unique opportunities because we have a team of staff with a range of skills, expertise and interests These include experience as teachers, police child protection officers, nursery owners and managers, health visitors and family support workers, researchers, Additional Learning Needs support experts, Forest School leaders.
You will also benefit from the unique UWTSD Swansea and Carmarthen campus experience.
