Why study this course
Earn while you learn on this work-based programme
National Student Survey for 2021 showed 91% overall satisfaction with the Professional Studies programme
Study with the support from a research active academic team who have relevant practice experience.
Progressing into Teaching? FREE pre-teaching course and guaranteed interview for PGCE
Course summary
Have you ever thought about working towards a degree, but decided against it as you are already in employment or volunteering and don’t want to give that up? Our FdA Education in Practice course is designed for you if you are working and supporting children in primary, secondary, special schools or learners in a further education college.
Key facts
|
Award |
FdA |
|---|---|
|
UCAS code |
X902 |
|
Duration |
2 years |
|
Mode of study |
Full-time |
|
Start date |
September |
|
Awarding institution |
Bishop Grosseteste University |
|
Institution code |
B38 |
About this course
This work-based Foundation Degree programme is a combination of practice-based learning and campus-based teaching sessions that take place once a week, allowing you to continue working or volunteering throughout the course. Throughout the two-year programme, you will integrate your previous experience of working with children into your studies.
In your first year, you will study learning principles as an introduction to higher education and analyse the complex link between practice and meeting the needs of children. You will investigate your role in the education sector to support your professional development. As you go through the second year, you will study concepts of inclusion, equality, and diversity, as well as studying modules on learning and assessment. You will be able to collaborate with students from other related courses who work in a variety of contexts such as early childhood and youth services to increase your employability by broadening your perspectives on working with children and young people.
Many of the students on this course are employed as Teaching Assistants in schools, working alongside a qualified teacher. They support formal learning opportunities for children and young people and may often take whole classes for sessions, or work with children who have a particular need. This Foundation Degree qualification is often seen as a step towards becoming a teacher, progressing in your role as a Teaching Assistant and extending your opportunities to become more senior within this sector. This course has a number of top up degrees to enable you to achieve your goals.
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Entry requirements
Typically, a minimum of one year’s experience in practice with a minimum of two days a week (minimum of 12 hours per week accumulating to 360 hours per year of study in a relevant role, either as an employee or a volunteer).
In exceptional cases, it might be appropriate to recruit students directly from a Level 3 apprenticeship or another course in which it can be demonstrated that there is a significant element of professional practice. In such a case, this decision will be based on and the suitability of the applicant:
- Typically a Level 3 Diploma, NVQs, access to HE programmes, subject/vocational qualifications;
- Written support from the head teacher/workplace manager in which the applicant works or volunteers.
Further information
Click here for important information about this course including additional costs, resources and key policies.
In accordance with University conditions, students are entitled to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning, RP(C)L, based on relevant credit at another HE institution or credit Awarded for Experiential Learning, (RP(E)L).
How you will be taught
This work-focused degree is a combination of practice-based learning and campus-based sessions which run once a week, so that you are able to continue in employment throughout the course. The degree is designed to improve and develop your personal and professional communication skills, allows you to professionalise your approach and further your personal growth.
You will work with a range of experienced academic staff and be supported through peer-led groups, directed tasks and interactive web-based resources.
Assessment
A variety of assessment methods are used including presentations, discussions, debates, poster presentations, essays, portfolios of work, case studies and reflections. All assessments allow you to reflect on your practice and theory as you evidence your learning, building on your personal strengths to develop clear communication skills to share your knowledge and understanding.
Careers & Further study
Graduate opportunities have enabled our students to attain managerial positions within their sector, to lead practice with their setting. Many go on to further study to become teachers through our PGCE routes, or gain a professional status. Others take on professional roles in areas such as special educational needs, mentoring, subject support, school, family and welfare liaison roles in the wider educational community and with local authorities working with the full range of age groups and sectors.
The majority of students advance onto our Top Up Degrees to take their qualifications to honours degree level. Like the Foundation degree, these Top Up Degrees allow you to study and continue to work.
What Our Students Say
Discover what life is like at Bishop Grosseteste University from our students.
Support
Studying at BGU is a student-centred experience. Staff and students work together in a friendly and supportive atmosphere as part of an intimate campus community. You will know every member of staff personally and feel confident approaching them for help and advice, and staff members will recognise you, not just by sight, but as an individual with unique talents and interests.
We will be there to support you, personally and academically, from induction to graduation.
Fees & Finance
A lot of student finance information is available from numerous sources, but it is sometimes confusing and contradictory. That’s why at BGU we try to give you all the information and support we can to help to throughout the process. Our Student Advice team are experts in helping you sort out the funding arrangements for your studies, offering a range of services to guide you through all aspects of student finance step by step.
Undergraduate course applicants must apply via UCAS using the relevant UCAS code. For 2023 entry, the application fee is £27, and you can make a maximum of 6 choices. For 2024 entry the application fee is £27.50.
For all applicants, there are full instructions at UCAS to make it as easy as possible for you to fill in your online application, plus help text where appropriate.
Ethical considerations of doctoral methodologies Podcast
Dr Nyree Nicholson is a Programme Leader on our work-based Foundation Degree programmes. The title of her doctoral research was “Supporting children with identified speech, language and communication needs at two-years-old: voices of early years practitioners”. Nyree utilised a narrative hermeneutic methodology with conversational interviews to explore the lived experiences of fifteen early years practitioners.
Samantha Hoyes is a senior lecturer in Early Childhood Studies and is currently part way through her PhD. Her focus is on working motherhood in the 21st Century and how working mothers make sense of their identities. Applying a post-structuralist feminist approach, Sam has utilised photo elicitation interviews to explore working mothers lived experiences. Sam's sample will consist of 10-15 working mothers living in Lincolnshire with a child/ children aged 0-5 years at the time of data collection. She is currently around halfway through her initial data collection.
In this podcast, Nyree and Sam discuss the methodological approaches taken in the research process and share the ethical considerations they encountered throughout the research process.
For any more question or queries please contact Samantha.hoyes@bishopg.ac.uk and nyree-anne.nicholson@bishopg.ac.uk
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