Early Years Studies (with Early Years Educator) Foundation Degree in Arts - FdA

If you work with young children in a setting such as pre-school, childminding, day nursery or children’s centre, this Foundation degree has been designed to fit around your work commitments. It combines academic study with your work experience, preparing you to work in multi-disciplinary teams in early years settings. On completion, you also have direct entry to one of our one year top-up pathways (Early Years, SEND or Education), enabling you to gain a full BA (Hons) degree.

The course offers opportunities for students to study through blended learning in which 60% is online and 40% attending Saturday study days (six per academic year).

On this course pathway, you gain the Early Years Educator (EYE) qualification alongside your Foundation degree; EYE status further supports those who may not currently have a licence to practice, enhancing your employability and progression within the workplace.

Course accreditation

The Early Years Educator qualification has Department for Education accreditation.

Facilities and Specialist Equipment

* Designated online classroom and learning space

* Resourced early-years classroom leading to our Forest School and garden space

* Forest School where you can deepen your understanding of the long-term educational benefits of outdoor learning opportunities

* Specialist Early Years and Sensory Centre to support your understanding of how teachers teach and children learn, within early years and SEND contexts

* Multi-media space for webinars and podcasting.

* Designated study space and activity agenda for all Saturday study days

Career-powered links

As one of the largest providers of teacher education in the eastern region, we have well-established partnerships with more than 500 schools and other associated organisations, including lead training partnership agreements for closer collaborations; this network puts us at the forefront of educational developments. 

Your student experience

Learn with tutors who have a wealth of experience in building student competence and confidence.

Our Bedford campus is a small, thriving academic community where academic staff get to know you well, offering personalised, student-centred learning.

On this Early Years Educator course you have the support of a workplace mentor and a University tutor, who visits your workplace to support and validate your practice against EYE outcomes.

You also benefit from the support of your own personal tutor and the additional support of our experienced library staff, all of whom will help you throughout your student journey.

You attend weekly sessions online that are enhanced and supported by the independent tasks your unit tutors allocate to you.

The weekly sessions are extended during your Saturday study days, of which there are six across the academic year; these offer a unique mix of group work, tutor-led sessions and cross-course collaboration.

Work-based learners also have a unique opportunity to be a purposeful and active part of the Students’ Union-affiliated Work-based Learning Student Society.