Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status (Full-time) (CertHE)
The Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status is a full-time, one-year CertHE programme designed for those interested in making a real difference in the lives of young children. This course combines engaging lectures with valuable practical experience to help students gain the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in the early years sector.
The timetable is structured to ensure students have ample time to engage in both placement experiences and university-based learning. Suitable placements for this programme may include:
- Maintained and non-maintained nurseries
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- Cylchoedd Meithrin (Welsh language playgroups)
- Foundation Phase classes in primary schools
- Flying Start Centres
These placements allow students to work hands-on in different environments, gaining insights into how children learn and develop from birth to age eight. This holistic approach helps students understand the importance of nurturing young minds and supporting their growth.
Graduates of this course will not only earn a CertHE but will also hold a qualification that enables them to practice in a range of early years settings. This can lead to exciting career opportunities, whether in nurseries, schools, or community organisations. With the emphasis on care and the well-being of children, students will be prepared to become effective practitioners who can respond to the diverse needs of families and children.
The skills learned during this programme are highly valued in the sector, making graduates attractive candidates for employers. By completing the Early Years Education and Care programme, students position themselves at the forefront of early childhood education, equipped with the necessary tools to support the next generation.
If you are passionate about working with children and want to contribute to their development during such a crucial stage of their lives, this course is an excellent opportunity. Join us in shaping the future of early years education and care.
Course details
- On-campus
- Full-time
- English
- Welsh
- Bilingual
Tuition Fees 25/26
Home (Full-time): £9,535 per year
Overseas (Full-time): £15,525 per year
Why choose this course?
What you will learn
The Early Years Education and Care: Early Years Practitioner Status CertHE programme promotes an interactive, child-centred approach to learning, grounded in both theory and practical experience. Our teaching philosophy emphasises inclusivity, reflective practice, and professional development, preparing students to meet the highest standards of early childhood care in diverse settings.
Throughout the year, students will explore key areas of child development, focusing on the first 1,000 days, children’s play, and multilingual practices. Modules include human development, safeguarding, and professional practice, integrating theoretical insights with practical application in real-world settings. Students will also develop research skills, engage in reflective practice, and learn to foster inclusive, child-centred environments, preparing them for roles in early childhood education and care.
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
Disclaimer
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The modules outlined above provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this course based on recent academic teaching. We continuously review our courses to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course includes optional modules, these are to provide an element of choice within the course. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.
You’ll typically complete 120 credits per year of study on a full-time course. For more information visit our Student Agreement.
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Staff
Our People
You will be taught and supported by a wide range of professional staff and teams here to help you get the university experience you are looking for. Our teaching staff were ranked 2nd in Wales for Teaching, Assessment and Feedback and Academic Support (NSS 2024) meaning that the support and feedback you get will help you learn and develop strong academic skills. Our students have placed us 1st in Wales for Learning Opportunities and Student Voice (NSS 2024) meaning that there are a wide range of opportunities available to enhance your studies and that students play an active role in shaping their learning experiences. Our commitment to your learning has seen our students place us as 1st in Wales and joint 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction (Times Higher Education, 2024, ‘Overall Positivity’ measure). Find out more about our academic staff who teach across our courses.
Further information
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88 UCAS tariff points 
- e.g. A-levels: B/A, BTEC: DMM, IB: 29
The UCAS tariff score is applicable to you if you have recently studied a qualification that has a UCAS tariff equivalence. UCAS provides a  for you to work out what your qualification is worth within the UCAS tariff. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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GCSE grade A*-C (grade 9-4 in England) in English and Mathematics is also required. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Alternative entry routes 
If this course interests you, but you don’t have the entry requirements to join our bachelor’s degree you could consider: 
- ‘with Foundation Year’. This route is designed to give you extra support as it provides you with an additional year (full-time) of supported study.  
Once you successfully complete your Foundation Year studies, you will automatically advance onto the main degree.  
- Certificate in Higher Education (CertHE). This is a one-year course and is equivalent to the first year of the three year, full-time bachelor’s degree. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Once you have successfully completed your CertHE studies, you will be eligible to progress for the remaining two years of the bachelor’s degree. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
These are ideal routes if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied this subject, or if you did not achieve the grades you need for a place on this degree.  
Admissions Advice and Support 
We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, such as your background, experiences and individual circumstances. This is known as ‘Contextual Admissions’. For specific advice and support you can contact our enquiries team for more information about entry requirements. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
English language requirements 
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Visit the International Applications section of our website to find out more about our English Language Requirements and pre-sessional English Language Courses.
Visa and funding requirements 
If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
For courses of more than six months’ duration you will require a Student visa. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship.  
For full information read our visa application and guides. â¶Ä¯â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
All applicants will be required to provide a satisfactorily enhanced disclosure document from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
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All our programmes are assessed by 100% coursework. There are no exams.
We have found that using a varied range of assessment methods increases employability skills. Employers seek graduates who are problem-solvers and who have a range of transferable employability skills.
Assessment provides opportunities to develop skills such as the ability to work in a team, have effective oral and written communication while using a range of information-sharing methods, including briefing papers, academic posters, group debates and professional discussions.
There are also opportunities for practical work experiences, supporting employability, professional development and careers.
Bilingual and Welsh-medium study is at the heart of our provision; you can choose to enrol on the Welsh-medium or English-medium programme and present your assignments in either language.
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This is a Welsh Medium Course. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
This means this course is available fully in Welsh (360 Credits / 100%). â¶Ä¯â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
If you choose to study your course through the medium of Welsh, you may be eligible to apply for scholarships and bursaries to support you with your studies.
Extracurricular Welsh Opportunities
Additionally, there are many ways to engage with Welsh culture and life at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, including joining clubs and societies for Welsh speakers and becoming a member of our vibrant Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol branch. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Opportunities to Learn Welsh
We also provide a variety of opportunities to learn and develop your Welsh language skills. 
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Students are required to apply for, and obtain, a ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Enhanced Disclosure Barring Check (DBS). The fee for this is dependent on the DBS and is approximately £44.
Students are required to gain the equivalent of 700 hours’ practical experience in places such as early years settings. This will incur travelling costs and refreshment costs. (Only applies to Early Years Practitioner Status programmes.)
Students may incur additional costs as they are required to attend some module lectures with appropriate clothing for study outdoors.
Mandatory study experiences and enhancement activities are organised for students studying Early Years. The cost of travelling and the study on offer is covered by the Early Years discipline. However, students would need to supply their own refreshments for some visits.
Additionally, Early Years organises optional opportunities for students to gain additional qualifications during the latter part of their programme, for example, Health and Safety, Safeguarding. These incur costs for the students; the cost is determined by the provider.
The School of Early Years also offers students optional opportunities to partake in visits beyond the campus, for example, Cardiff, London, Sweden and Canada. The costs of these optional visits are incurred by the students.
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You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available, please visit our Bursaries and Scholarships section.
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Graduates go on to careers in a variety of fields including:
- Additional learning needs support
- Afterschool Leader
- Childminder
- Children’s Charity Roles (e.g. Barnardo’s)
- Community Support Officer
- Family Facilitator
- Family Support Officer
- Parenting Officer
- Pastoral Support
- Play Workers
- Room Leaders
- Setting Managers
- Youth Workers
Further Study
Some of our graduates progress to other further studies. Some students have progressed on to our own MA programmes, including our MA Early Literacy and MA Early Years Education and Care.
Postgraduate programmes such as these offer opportunities for students to up-skill and deepen their understanding of young children and their families. Such studies have enabled postgraduate students to progress in their existing field of work and for others to move to new careers.
Route into teaching
As a ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Early Years student, you will be guaranteed an interview for the PGCE Primary programme, subject to meeting entry qualification requirements. When applying for the PGCE Primary programme we, in conjunction with Initial Teacher Education, will support you through a mock application and interview process.
Postgraduate Study and Alternative Routes
Graduates will also be able to progress on to a number of postgraduate courses in their area of interest, a good degree classification in Early Years Education and Care meet the entry requirements for many postgraduate routes.
Below are a few examples of routes previous graduates have taken:
- Family and Communities
- Nursing
- Play Therapy
- Policy and Government
- Research
- Social Work
- Speech and Language Therapy