EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDIES

This module provides the framework of understanding for you, regardless of your domain of practice, to be able to recognise children at risk, identify signs of abuse, understand the legislative framework, and the concept of interagency working, which underpins practice, and enables you to act swiftly to ensure that the best interests of the child are served.

Clear leadership and management is essential within the early childhood sector if you are to provide a quality environment for children. This module examines what leadership and management means within the context of the early childhood sector, what the differences between leadership and management are and, the range of skills that are necessary for you to be a good leader and a good manager within a formal setting.

This module will develop your understanding of Special Educational Needs and Disability in Early Childhood, exploring the concept of SEND and the legislative framework underpinning practice in early childhood. The importance of inclusive practice and environments will be investigated, along with appropriate adjustments, interventions and resources to meet children's needs and promote their development. You will explore the importance of working with parents and children in ensuring equitable provision.

This module aims to provide you with the opportunity to engage in semi-independent research and to further develop your personal, graduate and professional skill sets within a vocational field. It develops knowledge and expertise of the design, implementation and evaluation of research and offers a series of transferable skills which can be utilised in both employment and higher-level study. The module encourages you to take a critically reflective and reflexive stance to your own practice, specific institutional practices, research as a process and to professional standards.

This module will encourage you to develop a comprehensive and critical understanding of the key principles and theoretical underpinnings of development and learning in children within the Early Childhood sector. Both classical and contemporary developmental theories (and the differing range of perspectives which inform them) will be thoroughly explored and evaluated to identify how such theories might be used as a means of understanding normative and atypical development.

This module recognises the underpinning significance of play in children's learning and development and is concerned with raising awareness of the necessity to develop the creative ability of children. Pedagogical implications for fostering imagination, motivation, problem solving, making connections and divergence within early years settings will be examined, alongside the factors which may affect the development of creativity. You will examine current theories and debates related to creativity and the arts and its role in children's learning and have the opportunity through placement, to develop your own practice to maximise the opportunities youcreate to nurture young children's natural creativity.

During this module you will explore the concept of gender through a sociological perspective, its categorisation and the development of gender diversity within British society. You will consider: The development of children's sexual identity, age awareness and prevalence, considering concepts such as 'Gender Neutral', 'Gender Neutrois', 'Gender Binary', 'Biological Sexual Ambiguity', 'Gender Affirmative Model' and 'Transgender' within society. How gender identity can be communicated age appropriately to children, parents and colleagues whilst exploring the challenges that you may face as a practitioner when doing so. You will investigate and evaluate a range of strategies for the promotion of positive gender difference in early childhood. You will develop the ability to explain and analyse a variety of theories of gender, and gender identity within the context of the child and identify how these can be communicated sensitively and appropriately to children, parents and colleagues.

Engaging in individually selected and directed research is one of the highlights of an undergraduate degree and in this module you will be introduced to the skills and competences needed to explore your selected topic in depth to ensure you gain the most from this opportunity. Research at this level can be a daunting process but you will be appointed a dissertation tutor who will help guide you through this important and rewarding process.

Developing and recognising graduate competencies for the early years workforce will enable you to set yourself apart from the crowd, presenting to future employers the skills necessary to undertake your professional role in a competitive employment arena. The vocational practice you experience on this module will enhance your professional development by advancing and consolidating your theoretical knowledge, increasing your professional skill set skills and enriching your personal and professional confidence.

An enabling environment is known to nurture children's learning and development, promoting curiosity, exploration and outcomes. It encompasses a way of 'thinking and being' concerning the environment including links to nature and the use of natural materials. This module will encourage you to consider a range of play and learning environments both indoors and outdoors as well as theoretical perspectives related to these. There will be opportunities to reflect on aspects of practice and provision including the role of the adult, planning, health and safety, inclusion and opportunities for learning. Additionally, you will explore how the environment can influence behaviour, wellbeing, motivation and development across all seven areas of learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

You will explore the concept of children's voice through a range of legislative and theoretical perspectives. In doing so you will develop a critical understanding of how to support children's voice, participation and agency in a professional context.

You will draw on concepts and principles of psychological and theoretical perspectives to explain children's behaviour. By exploring the areas of biological, cognitive, social, developmental, and individual differences psychology, you will develop a critical understanding of why children think, feel and behave the way they do. This knowledge will support you in developing appropriate interventions for managing a range of children's challenging behaviour in real-world scenarios.