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Code

CW_HXECA_B

Location

Wexford

Campus

Summerhill Road

  • Level Level 8
  • Duration 4 years
  • Credits 240
  • Delivery Part-time
  • Application Status Open

What is Early Childhood Education and Practice?
Early childhood education and practice involves supporting babies and young children to become competent and confident learners through loving relationships with others. Children require high-quality education during their formative years. Research indicates that the higher the professional qualification of the educator working with the children, the higher the quality of the setting and the children’s experiences in it.

The programme is eligible for the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF) will support early years educators to undertake approved degree-level qualifications while continuing to work in the early learning and care (ELC) sector. It aims to help meet the Government objective of achieving a graduate-led workforce in ELC services by 2028. Detailed information around eligibility, conditions, and rules for the pilot NSLF can be found on www.gov.ie/NurturingSkillsLearnerFund.

Course Structure
This honours degree in Early Childhood Education and Practice enables the student to study a diverse range of subjects in order to gain a deep understanding of babies and children from birth to six years of age. Students develop a knowledge and understanding of Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework and Síolta, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education, essential for professional work in this area of practice.

Is this course for you?
Are you interested in supporting the learning, development and wellbeing of babies and young children and their families? Would you like to learn how to provide a positive and enriching learning environment while promoting children’s play, creative and critical thinking skills? 

  • Academic Writing and Enquiry in Higher Education
  • Introduction to Sociology
  • Creative Arts Practice in Early Childhood
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Early Childhood Education and Practice
  • Play-based Pedagogy
  • Introduction to Children’s Social Policy
  • Children’s Health, Care and Wellbeing
  • Child Development
  • Supervised Professional Practice 2
  • Language and Multilingualism in Early Childhood Practice
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • School Age Childcare Practice
  • Creative Arts Practice for School Aged Children
  • The Psychology and Sociology of Children & Childhoods
  • Critical Perspectives on Children’s Health and Wellbeing
  • Regulation and Inspection in Early Childhood Education
  • STEM Curriculum for Early Childhood and After-school Education
  • Law for Early Childhood Practice
  • Advanced Pedagogical Practices
  • Educational Needs
  • Supervised Professional Practice 3

All applicants will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Lifelong Learning reserves the right to require applicants to attend for an interview to determine their suitability for the course.

Ideally, applicants should currently be employed in an Early Childhood setting.

NB: Because this course must undertake Supervised Professional Placement that will bring students into contact with children and vulnerable adults, SETU is committed to ensuring that only suitable candidates are allowed to undertake these courses. SETU uses the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) vetting service to assess the suitability of all applicants. Therefore, offers on this course are conditional and could subsequently be withdrawn if applicants do not meet the Garda Vetting requirements. In year 1, work based learners must complete a minimum of 120 professional Placement hours in Semester 2. In year 2, work based learners must complete a minimum of 265 hours of supervised professional practice. In year 3, work based learners must complete a minimum of 265 hours of supervised professional practice

Career Opportunities
Graduates will have the knowledge, competencies and skills to work directly with, or on behalf of, babies and young children in a range of early childhood settings, particularly in the ECCE ‘free’ pre-school year funded by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. Professional employment opportunities can include roles as room leaders, managers and leaders in early childhood settings such as: pre-schools; crèches; special needs services; family support centres and community services. Opportunities may include leadership roles in county childhood care committees, specialists with Better Start National Early Years Quality Development, or inspectors with the Department of Education and Skills. 

Further Studies
Graduates have gone on to pursue master’s qualifications in speech and language therapy; primary school teaching; play therapy; Montessori education; applied behaviour analysis; child, family and youth studies; and further education studies (leading to registration with the Teaching Council). Graduates are eligible to apply to progress onto the Masters in Leadership in Early Years Education and Care or research masters through socialCORE at South East Technological University