Hi ... just out of curiosity I went to a local university open day today and found myself chatting to a lecturer and saying I might be interested in applying for the BA(Hons) Early Childhood Studies (cripes!!) possibly for 2008 (voices in my head telling me to do it.. bit of a worry!!). Has anyone got any personal experience of this course at all? I think it may be my way of avoiding paid employment for a while! Any useful insights would be welcome. Thanks in anticipation.

Ann xx

Hi,
No I haven't any experience of it sorry but I would be interested to hear from anyone who has done this course as I'm starting this September. It's one day out of work a week during term time but I just hope I can keep up with all the paper work from work and uni!!!
Gill

Hi Gill, thanks for reply.

Good luck for September. The course I went to look at was full time - well, this is made up of 15 hours contact time and then about 25 or so hours of additional "own time" on top. I don't think I could cope with doing this on top of work, so I had hare-brained scheme to give up work and do that instead!! I think I'm having a mid-life crisis! The chap was also asking whether I had considered teaching!As I am as old as the hills... well 39... and did O'level Biology, not the current GCSEcombined science I would have to do a course to brush up on my physics and chemistry.. am not keen. They told me to go to Rehab (well... okay, science lessons!) and I said NO...NO..NO!!

Tee hee!

thank you Annie -pops love your post made me giggle
andrea

hi, im currently going into my third year of early childhood studies, except that the degree that im doing is Early childhood and education studies. so half the time we are looking at early childhood (as a specialism) and the other half of the time we look at all different aspects of education, such as curriculum and special needs throughout education. I find it is all interrelated.
The course im doing cant be registered on anymore, it only runs as early childhood studies, but the modules are nearly exactly the same. (i.e. instead of doing special needs throughout education it is more specific regarding the younger ages. )

i would recommend the course to anyone, but it can be very demanding. i only work part time but im a manager and i find i have to be really on top of things!!!

I do the course at Bishop Grosseteste University College in lincoln (lincolnshire)

anymore information, just shout.

lucie xx

Hi

I am interested in doing a degree but having looked at the o u site quick calculation of prices £4500 for the foundation degree can't afford this on my pay just wondered if you knew of anywhere cheeper. In my mind this is not very achievable for many people but yet they want mosre qualified staff

thanks

Hi

I am interested in doing a degree but having looked at the o u site quick calculation of prices £4500 for the foundation degree can't afford this on my pay just wondered if you knew of anywhere cheeper. In my mind this is not very achievable for many people but yet they want mosre qualified staff

thanks

sorry think I have put this on the wrong place please excuse I don't know how to start another post under a different heading not very computer illeterate? Too many glasses of wine to spell words.

Hi.. again!

Thanks for info Lucie, I'm definitely going to consider it. I started a degree after I did my A'levels but fell pregnant with my eldest daughter shortly into first year! Eighteen years on I probably feel like I have unfinished business!

Maximoomoo, I agree with you on the prohibitive cost of improving one's mind! Am I right in thinking that a certain amount of funding is available from Sure Start towards the foundation degree?
I think tuition fees for full time courses e.g. BA(hons) degrees are around £3000 per year. Need to look into availability of student loans to mature (oh, what an embarrassing term!) students! These are at a lower rate than commercial loans and you don't have to start repaying them until you earn over a certain figure.

I think funding is probably a major barrier to study and it's particularly hard to justify the costs if you look at it logically in terms of the sort of pay you are likely to receive in this field.

Oh no.. it's really depressing isn't it.. sob, howl ( I'm okay really !!)

hiya, if you contact the uni that you are interested in studying with they will be able to point you in the right direction. They may even have their own finance team who should tell you what you can and cant receive.

lucie xx

maximoomoo -

The transformation fund is available for you to tap into for this funding. Contact your Early Years Team!

Sue

I've just enrolled for Year 2 of the FD using the TF. I got 100% so they paid the full £750 fees plus the £30 registration fee. I wouldn't be able to do the course without funding because those kinds of costs are just way beyond me too.

Hi ann I am currently doing the BA early childhood studies. I just did a talk on it for the 2nd yr foundation degree students at my uni today! It is 5 modules. One of the modules you have to make comparisons to UK provision to another EU country looking at what is available out there for children and their families. Module 2 is creativity, looking at what it is, theories and its place in the curriculum today. module 3 is reflective practice here you make a portfolio of lesson plan, audits, personal statments etc. Module 4 being Health and relationships, so looking at risk facotrs for children, childrens health, early attachment etc. Finally module 5 being dissertation. Different uni's may have slight changes in the formath and context but it is usually 5 modules and a dissertation of 10,000 words.
I am really enjoying it, think you should go for it!!
Good luck
Dee
x x

I studied the BA hons Early Childhood Studies at uni, it was a very good course, the modules included things like Child Protection and Child Law, Working in Partnerships, Child development and Learning, and loads more, it was excellent. I gratuated in 2003 so it's probably changed slightly but I think you should definately do it.

aisha
xoxo

Maz and i (she wont mind me saying) are doing our BA hons in childrens development & learning after completing our foundation degree our modules are: special study/reflective practitioner/child development/organisation & management/supporting individual needs with an 8000 word dissitation

I started off doing this degree with fine art but majoring in ECS- I gave up the ECS in year 2 as I just wasn't happy with the course and how it was run.

I have complete faith in your ability to speak for me in any circumstance Hali - especially if you do my share of the 15 minute presentation as well as yours!!!

Maz

Hi, I'm currently in the third year of a BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Studies, excellent!!! The first two years I did a HND at my local college, which was fantastic as it involved lots of placements (never worked with children before- did office work) and works out cheaper.

All places are different but I've found that the major issues are child development, reflection, literacy, numeracy, science, creativity, health, child protection, inclusion, coloborative working, management.

I would advise anyone to do it, alot of work but well worth it!!

ESSC

owwww Maz now let me think about that one...................................

Maximoomoo you could possibly consider doing it through the Open University, the national Day Nurseries Association are working with the OU to offer this along with the Foundation Degree. I have completed my Foundation Degree and am turning it into a BA in Early Years this year with the continued support of the O.U. As I manage a Nursery I cannot get time out but it is all fully funded - I have not had to pay for any of my studying through the OU for the last 5 years.

Teri

Just realised that i still have a sparkly Christmas Tree !! Oh dear :(

and there was me admiring your preparedness for the festivities

Maz