Course Description
BA (Ord) Early Learning and Care – Online Degree
The Open College
Why is this Early Learning & Care Degree for me?
The Early Learning and Care Programme has been developed for childcare practitioners progressing from 6M2007 QQI ECCE Level 6 Major awards and seeks to prepare you to take a professional and leading role in ELC provision. This may be in a formal leadership position or through mentoring, training and supporting roles in the workplace. As part of this preparation, you will gain a clear understanding of how children grow and learn, and of the interaction between learning and development.
You will recognise the important role of play in learning and development and apply this critically and reflectively to planning, leading and evaluating activities for young children. Observing children and analysing your observations will enable you to create an appropriate learning environment for each child that takes account of their stage of development, their interests and their needs.
Recent government initiatives, in the example of ‘First 5’ indicate predictors for growth and demand in the market, whereby it is intended for Ireland to have a graduate led ELC workforce, with at least 50% of staff (i.e. all room leaders, assistant manager and managers) working directly with children in centre-based ELC settings and coordinators supporting the work of childminders to hold an appropriate degree-level qualification. This new Degree has been designed in accordance with the Professional Award Standards for Early Learning & Care set out by the Department of Education.
What will I study?
Our two year online BA in Early Learning & Care Degree curriculum has been designed and organised to allow you to develop your skills in a logical and progressive manner over the 2 years.
You will complete a minimum of 200 hours of practice placement per year in a TUSLA registered early years provider with an appropriate balance between caring for children aged 0 – 2.5 years and 2.5 – 6 years.
Skills, knowledge and attributes are built upon to allow you to constantly extend your proficiencies with the aim of becoming competent early learning & care practitioners and leaders of the sector. Additionally, you are supported to increase your potential to extend your range of knowledge and skills throughout the programme. The objective of the programme considers a three tired learning approach building on prerequisites for entry as follows;
Successful completion of the QQI Level 5 & 6 Early Childhood Care & Education Major Award (prerequisite for entry): you will have gained knowledge and understanding of the key theoretical concepts and proficiency domains which will have been observed in practice, whilst under the supervision of registered practitioners. Both level 5 and level 6 Early Childhood Care & Education Major Awards are offered by The Open College so that learners can progress through.
Year 1: You will become responsible for the application and implementation of knowledge gained whilst being aware of your individual level of skill, knowledge and competence. This is carried out under the supervision of registered practitioners as part of a wider team.
Year 2: You will start to become independent reflective practitioners and leaders through the demonstration of a higher level of competence associated with each of the proficiency domains.
How online learning works?
Our online BA Degree in Early Learning & Care Degree programme will be delivered fully online using a combination of suitable online teaching and learning activities.
In many ways, learning online is like learning in a classroom. There are classes, readings, activities and discussions (individual and group) with your lecturer and your fellow classmates. The difference is that it is all done from your own home. With online classes you can join the live classes with your classmates or catch up on past or missed classes at your own pace.
Between classes, you will have readings, discussions and other activities that link with what you are learning in your online classes. Assignments have a set time they must be completed by but other than that, learners have great flexibility with when and where they learn.
Modules / Structure:
Over the duration of this two year online BA (Ord) in Early Learning & Care Degree programme students will complete a range of modules which will link both theory and practice, and will be assessed in a range of contexts.
The full Degree programme consists of 13 modules totalling 240 UK credits (120 ECTS credits). Where indicated, a single module has 15 credits and a double one has 30 credits.
https://www.theopencollege.com/courses/new-courses/ba-hons-early-learning-care-online-degree/
| Course Code | BAH-ELC |
| College Name | The Open College |
| Course Category | Early Childhood Education, Education |
| Course Type | Online Learning |
| Course Qualification | Ordinary Bachelor Degree |
| Course Location | Leopardstown, Dublin, Ireland |
| Location Postcode | Dublin 18 |
| Course Start Date | 6th September 2021 |
| Course End Date | 30th April 2023 |
| Course Fee | POA |
| Course Duration | 2 Years |
| Course Times | The full Degree programme consists of 13 modules totalling 120 ECTS Credits. 60 ECTS Credits will also be awarded by Oxford Brookes for modules completed as part of the QQI Level 6 Early Childhood Care & Education Major Award – 6M2007 through recognition of prior learning process and so you will be awarded a total of 180 ECTS upon the successful completion of the programme. You will complete a minimum of 200 hours of practice placement per year in a TUSLA registered early years provider with an appropriate balance between caring for children aged 0 – 2.5 years and 2.5 – 6 years. A core theme of the programme is to provide you with the opportunity to reflect on practice using work-based examples and shared experiences via guided online discussions. 35% of the course hours has been allocated to practice placement related learning. Furthermore, online lectures will be delivered in such a way that you will develop graduate attributes of academic literacy, research literacy, digital and information literacy, critical awareness and personal literacy and active citizenship. The range of appropriate online teaching and learning strategies adopted by the college will aim to; - Introduce you to and encourage you to engage in new areas of knowledge. You will also be given the opportunity to broaden and deepen your existing knowledge. - Encourage you to engage in critical analysis of concepts, theories and practice and to assess your understanding through ongoing engagement and activities. - Give you the opportunity to acquire practical experience in a range of activities relevant to your role in the early years’ environment. - Encourage you to engage in critical reflection. You will be asked to reflect on new knowledge and understanding and on your own experiences. This two year online BA in Early Learning & Care Degree programme will commence in September 2021 with the first cohort of students graduating in May 2023 – details of graduation events will be confirmed nearer the time. See below for details of the intended two year timetable semester plan. |
| Title of Awarding | BA (Ord) Early Learning & Care degree awarded by Oxford Brookes University. |
| Entry Requirements | - Applicants will ideally be adult learners, aged 20 or over and employed in an early childhood setting with up to 2 years experience working in the sector. - A QQI Level 6 Major award in Early Childhood Care and Education, at Distinction Level. - Experience of paid or voluntary work in the ELC industry. This experience should be sufficient to enable the student to clearly demonstrate their commitment, motivation and understanding of early learning and care in practice. This understanding may be validated through the submission of an employer’s reference and/or interview where appropriate. - An admissions interview will be required for entry onto the course to better understand applicants experience, career goals and to assess suitability. - Students must be available to undertake a practical supervised work placement throughout the duration of the course (400 – 500 hours minimum) across a range of ELC settings. Students may normally be in employment but must be able to work in an appropriate setting whilst undertaking the Practice Placement aspect of the Degree. - English Language Requirement: Applicants must be competent in both written and spoken English. For any applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate their level of English is acceptable, by achieving a score in a recognised test such as: British Council IELTS: normally minimum level 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in the reading and writing components. - Garda Vetting is required for all Early Learning & Care placements and students can apply for this through the college who in turn apply to the National Vetting Bureau (NVB) which helps to assess the suitability of all applicants on this programme. It is important to note that participation in or completion of this programme may be affected by subsequent disclosure/discovery. Depending upon the outcome of the vetting process, the college reserves the following rights: to not register a student, to remove an existing registered student, to delay the student’s practice placement modules. In all circumstances, it is the student’s responsibility to proactively disclose any convictions/cases pending. - Students undertaking this programme must have basic IT skills and access to the necessary equipment to enable them to undertake an online programme: computer, broadband, recording equipment necessary for some skills demonstration tasks, and where applicable any other specialised software/equipment. - TUSLA Children First E-Learning Programme must be completed by all students prior to commencing work placement. The programme has been written to support people of all backgrounds and experience in recognising concerns about children and reporting such concerns if they arise. |
| Career Path | This course was developed in response to the identified needs of childcare practitioners who already posses a recognised qualification at NFQ levels 5 or 6 and who wish to upgrade their qualification that will support their continued employment and their workplace. It is particularly suitable for: - Childcare practitioners in Crèches, pre-schools, school age childcare services, special education services and childminding settings - Managers of Crèches, pre-schools, school age services, special education services - Practitioners in the child and family support sector - Early Years Specialists working in advisory or mentoring roles, or those aspiring to such positions. |
Course Provider
The Open College
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The Open College
Ballyogan Road, Leopardstown, Dublin
Ireland
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