Exeter College

FdA Early Childhood Studies

Recognised as one of the leading further education college in the country, we offer small class sizes and one-to-one support. We offer courses delivered by friendly staff with industry experience. We offer modern, specialist, acclaimed learning resource centres. The result of studying with us? You earn a nationally and internationally recognised qualification awarded by the University of Plymouth. 

Course details

  • Year 1

  • Core modules

    • Work Based Learning (Continued Professional Development) (EXCE131)

      This module is designed to enable students to demonstrate that they have all the qualities and transferable skills necessary for relevant employment, including sensitivity to the values of others. It requires the exercise of responsibility and decision making, including critical reflection of their practice through the use of a journal/portfolio and the ability to relate their practice to underlying theory and principles

    • Curriculum Activities in Early Childhood Education (EXCE145)

      This module focuses on the importance of effective curriculum activities in the early years 0-8, including cycles of observation, planning and assessment. Students will be expected to carry out activities in the workplace and critically evaluate their effectiveness against a relevant list of criteria and considering the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 National Curricula

    • Communication in Early Childhood Education (EXCE1181)

      This module will review children’s holistic development and the strategies employed to promote communication across a range of subjects. The module will also discuss the theories and strategies to enable adults to communicate successfully in the workplace. It will consider how an awareness of effective communication techniques and strategies can enhance personal pedagogy and considers processes underpinning social change

    • Child Study (EXCE130)

      This module provides an opportunity to study a particular childs development over a period of time within their social context and wider environment. It will give the student an understanding of the relevance of child studies within the early years field. It will help the student to develop an understanding of research methodology with particular relevance to systematic observation of children in their natural setting.

    • Influences on Learning with Young Children (EXCE132)

      This module focuses on the theoretical background of play and learning in the early years. It offers the opportunity to explore the historical background to early years education. It considers social questions, issues and problems. It allows students to make comparisons both nationally and internationally and evaluate curriculum models with current early years research.

  • Year 2

  • Core modules

    • Communication in Early Childhood Education (EXCE1181)

      This module will review children’s holistic development and the strategies employed to promote communication across a range of subjects. The module will also discuss the theories and strategies to enable adults to communicate successfully in the workplace. It will consider how an awareness of effective communication techniques and strategies can enhance personal pedagogy and considers processes underpinning social change

    • Diversity in Early Childhood Education (EXCE136)

      This module encourages students to reflect upon their own values and relate to these in a professional capacity. Demonstrating sensitivity to values and interests of others, whilst describing and illustrating social issues and problems, underpinning social change. The modules focuses on the concepts of equality, diversity and rights, comparing theoretical perspectives. Key themes, are gender, ethnicity and culture

    • Safeguarding in Early Childhood (EXCE236)

      This module focuses on developing a critical approach to safeguarding and child protection within early years settings, whilst describing and illustrating social questions, issues and problems. Enabling learners to recognise types and symptoms of abuse, whilst understanding key historical cases and resulting changes to legislation, guidance, and how this impacts on practice.

    • Supporting Children (EXCE237)

      This module aims to review the requirements of children in settings, and how practitioners can support individual needs. It will consider contributing factors and the physical, emotional and social effects on the child and their families, whilst considering relationships between individuals, groups and social structures. It will also reflect on contemporary health and social issues for example obesity and mental health

  • Final year

  • Core modules

    • Working with Colleagues (EXCE234)

      This module focuses on the importance of working in partnership with colleagues and other professionals. It offers opportunities to study theory and practice in relation to individual roles within a variety of organisations. It gives the opportunity to demonstrate sensitivity to the values and interests of others and appreciate the diversity of human needs and how they can be addressed

    Optional modules

    • Research Project (EXCE235)

      This module allows students to make an in-depth study of an area of the early years provision that is not directly supported by the modules they are taking. This module will reflect an area of individual interest and will be supported by in-depth research. It will enable students to describe and illustrate social questions, issues and problems

    • Safeguarding in Early Childhood (EXCE236)

      This module focuses on developing a critical approach to safeguarding and child protection within early years settings, whilst describing and illustrating social questions, issues and problems. Enabling learners to recognise types and symptoms of abuse, whilst understanding key historical cases and resulting changes to legislation, guidance, and how this impacts on practice.

    • Supporting Children (EXCE237)

      This module aims to review the requirements of children in settings, and how practitioners can support individual needs. It will consider contributing factors and the physical, emotional and social effects on the child and their families, whilst considering relationships between individuals, groups and social structures. It will also reflect on contemporary health and social issues for example obesity and mental health

The modules shown for this course are those currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new modules. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.

Fees, costs and funding

As this course is delivered by one of our partner colleges, please contact the college directly for information on fees and funding.

How to apply

For further information and to apply for this course, please contact the college's admissions team directly using the contact details below. 

Progression routes

Completing this course enables you to progress onto these related courses and programmes with the University of Plymouth at level 5 or level 6, as specifically defined by this programme’s progression agreement.

For further information, including the progression from foundation degree form, please visit https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/business-partners/partnerships/academic-partnerships/study-guide/progression-to-honours-degree

Our partnership with Exeter College

The University of Plymouth has developed partnerships with institutions around the world with the sole purpose of making higher education more accessible to those people who need something just a little different.

Our Academic Partnerships enable students to enrol for a degree at a partnership institution closer to home, or engage in distance learning – even when they’re in the middle of the ocean. They are there for those people looking to return to education, or enhance their professional development. Full- or part-time; foundation degree to masters-level – we cater for a huge variety of needs and aspirations.

Many of our partners offer specialist degrees, unique facilities, and smaller class sizes at a competitive price. And as a student of two institutions, you get the best of both worlds; a supportive learning environment as part of a close-knit community, and a university-level qualification awarded by the University of Plymouth. You’ll enjoy not only the facilities and services your partnership institution provides, but also all of the additional support and resources you need from us, and you’ll automatically become a member of our Students’ Union, too.

We are continuing to grow the number of partner institutions and expand our academic community to new locations around the UK and overseas. Why not visit the Academic Partnerships page on our website for a full list of partners and for more details on studying with us?

One of our partners delivers this particular course – so please visit their website for full course details, entry requirements, tuition fees and information on what student life is like there. 

Please contact Petroc to apply for this course:

Petroc
Old Sticklepath Hill
Barnstaple
EX31 2BQ

Tel: +441271345291
Email: postbox@petroc.ac.uk

Open days

Partner college open days

This course is run at one of our partner colleges. Open days are held at the college and more details of these can be found on the college website. You'll find contact details below, on this page.

University of Plymouth open days

You are also very welcome to attend a University of Plymouth open day, to get a flavour of the courses you can progress to from a partner college. There will however be limited information on this specific course and college.

Studying with Exeter College

We’re proud of our awards – and you can be proud of your education with us. In 2012 we were recognised as the leading further education college in the country after winning two Times Educational Supplement FE Awards.
 
Plymouth students working on a group project