BA (Hons)

Children, Schools & Families (Graduate Practitioner)

Attendance

Campus

Start

Duration

3 Years

Start

September 2024

UCAS Code

L541

Delivery

Campus Taught

Foundation Entry

Would you like to work with children, young people, and the services that support them? Our BA (Hons) Children, Schools and Families is the course for you.

The course draws on subject areas including education, sociology, psychology, social policy and social work to give you a solid grounding for your future career.

You’ll examine the services, systems, policies and work practices that relate to children and young people in schools, with families, and in care settings.

Observational visits and work shadowing activities are combined with academic study. Integrating theory, policy and practice ensures you are well prepared for the workplace.

Why study with us

Joint
1st
in the UK for graduate prospects (on track)
Complete University Guide (Social Work)
2024
2nd
in the North West for career prospects
Guardian University Guide (Social work)
2024
2nd
in the North West for research quality
Complete University Guide (Social Work)
2024
5th
in the UK for teaching on the course
National Student Survey (Childhood and Youth Studies) (compared with unis in the Guardian University Guide)
2023

You’ll have the opportunity to complete a Paediatric First Aid certificate and to follow the Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies (ECGPC) route alongside your degree.
You'll be taught by an expert team of practicing social workers, researchers, and academic staff who's expertise spans education, social work, sociology, psychology and social policy.
A course built around a high number of placement hours to help develop your practical skills and experience base so you can excel in a career focussed around helping supporting children and families.

Interested?

Download

What you'll do

Placements link what you’ve learned with real-world experience of working with children, young people and families.
When you arrive, you will be allocated a tutor who will oversee your progress and support you throughout your degree.
Alongside compulsory modules, our range of optional modules explores topics such as disability, gender, drugs and social pedagogy.

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Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner

From September 2022, students studying on this course will also be able to work towards attaining a professional practice award that qualifies the student as a Level 6 Graduate Practitioner with Children. The ECGPC meets the statutory requirements for practitioners working with children under 8 years old in early years settings, schools, social care, working within family support.

Students will gain Level 6 recognition through undertaking an assessed placement alongside the course, that focuses on the topics learnt throughout the degree. The Graduate Practitioner Competencies (Level 6) is recognised and endorsed in the Department for Educations career progression mapping.

Students who achieve the Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner competencies will meet the nine competencies through a combination of assessed observations during their 80 days of practice, work-based tasks and academic assessment.

The Early Childhood Graduate Competencies are:

Advocating for young children’s rights and participation
Promoting holistic child development
Working directly with young children, families and colleagues to promote health, well-being, safety and nurturing care
Observing, listening and planning for young children to support their well-being, early learning, progression and transitions
Safeguarding and child protection
Inclusive practice
Partnership with parents and caregivers
Collaborating with others
Professional Development

Module overview

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Year 1

Compulsory modules

CI1501: The Social Construction of Childhood
SW1600: Introduction to Children's Services and Systems 1
SW1602: Transitions in Children and Young People's Lives
SW1813: Supporting Well-being and Development
SW1826: Introduction to Relational Practice

Optional modules

CI1108: Professional Practice in Children's Services 1
CI1502: Learning for Work in Children's Services: Introduction

CI1501: The Social Construction of Childhood

In this module you will explore different representations and ideas about the ‘nature’ of childhood. You will examine social institutions and how ideas about childhood feed into ways we work with children. You will explore the role that children themselves take in shaping our understandings of childhood. You will consider childhood as a social phenomenon.

SW1813: Supporting Well-being and Development

Significant classical and contemporary theories of development for child, adolescent and adult development. Ecological influences on children and their families. Socio-cultural influences on development. Understandings of atypical development. Adverse childhood experiences and safeguarding risk factors. Social and emotional resilience. Social and emotional wellbeing. Professional responses to supporting well-being and development, and enabling the voice of the child, young person or family members to be heard and understood children and families using theoretical knowledge of development. Students are required to undertake and attain a pass mark of 40% or above for the written assessment.

CI1108: Professional Practice in Children's Services 1

This module will introduce you to the role of skills frameworks applicable to professional practice within the children and young people’s workforce. You'll learn about key issues and policies in relation to working professionally with children and young people. And gain the necessary skills that are transferable to academic study and future professional practice within the children and young people’s workforce.

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Year 2

Compulsory modules

CI2009: Diversity and Inclusive Practice
CI2501: Researching with Children and Young People
SW2600: Children's Services and Systems 2

Optional modules

CI2108: Professional Practice in Children’s Services 2
CI2502: Learning for Work in Children's Services Consolidation & Continuing Development
CI2504: Early Childhood: Pedagogy and play
ED2212: Models of Teaching and Learning
VO2005: Youth Development

CI2009: Diversity and Inclusive Practice

Discover the contested nature of key concepts and terminology in the area of diversity and inclusion, challenge oppressive practices and promote an understanding of the diverse experiences of different social groups. Recognise the significance of the interplay between various dimensions of social inequality and gain knowledge and understanding of relevant policy contexts, investigating the relationship between policy and inclusive practice

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Year 3

Compulsory modules

CI3602: Learning from Work in Children's Services
CI3699: Dissertation
SW3033: Working with Children, Young People and Families
SW3601: International Perspectives on Children's Lives

Optional modules

CI3108: Professional Practice in Children’s Services – Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner
CI3602: Learning from Work in Children's Services
CI3604: Wellbeing in Early Childhood Practice
ED3215: The Education of Vulnerable Young People
PS3050: Psychology in Education
SW3045: Drugs and Society: Critical Analysis
VO3005: Empowering and Engaging Marginalised Groups

CI3602: Learning from Work in Children's Services

You will apply organisational and national policies, legislation, and skills frameworks to practice. You will reflect on the role of professionals and best practices within the children and young people’s workforce. You will also consider implications for their on-going professional development.

CI3699: Dissertation

The module provides you with the opportunity to select a field of study involving a particular issue of relevance to children’s lives and services. It will provide an opportunity for you to undertake independent study in an area of your own choosing under the direction and with the support of a dissertation supervisor. You will be able to make a critical analysis of the evidence base in relation to your chosen field of inquiry. You will be able to develop and sustain a logical and consistent argument in relation to the analysis of a relevant issue.

SW3033: Working with Children, Young People and Families

This module will provide you with an overview of critical issues for children, families and young people, taking into account a variety of factors and including the views of service users and carers, theoretical concepts, research evidence and relevant policy and legislation. This module recognises and critically discusses the prominence of children, families and ‘youth’ in Government policies.

CI3108: Professional Practice in Children’s Services – Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner

This module will provide you with the opportunity to apply your understanding of the organisational and national policies, legislation and skills frameworks to their own professional working practice. It'll increase your opportunities for critical analysis and reflection in pursuit of best practice with children and young people including the role of practitioners as ‘change agents’.

SW3045: Drugs and Society: Critical Analysis

This module aims to provide an intermediate appreciation of what drugs are and what they do. The module provides an information relating to the scale and impact of drug use, appraisal of the social and criminal justice policy responses to illicit drug use as well as providing an understanding of theories relating to addiction, and key treatment models operational within services.

Course delivery

This course is taught face-to-face at one of our UK campuses.

100%Face-to-face

Please note the delivery information for this course is accurate for the academic year 2023/24. The information displayed in this section may not yet accurately reflect how the course will be delivered in 2024/25 but this information will be updated by December 2023.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. As well as to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

Visit us on campus

Explore our fantastic campuses on our student-led campus tours. Discover what life is like here at the University of Central Lancashire.

Book a campus tour

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image overlay — The Library (Preston Campus)

Group of students sat on bench near library talking — The Library (Preston Campus)

students focusing in a lecture hall — Lecture theatres

Accreditations

The Institute is at the leading edge of management thinking and are a globally recognised professional membership body for leaders and managers. Their research into new ideas, techniques and methods ensures that ILM courses are constantly improving, helping to develop students' leadership and management skills.

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I loved learning about a wide range of issues young people can face. I’ve made some great friends on the course.

Sarah Gaskell from the Skills Hub presenting Dominic's award at the Award Evening

Dominic Hawke

BA (Hons) Children, Schools & Families (Top Up)

Future careers

Our graduates work across the spectrum of children and young people’s settings, including children’s centres, schools, national charities, nurseries and family and community support.

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Sarah is a Lecturer within the School. Lecturing predominantly on the BA(Honours) Children, Schools and Families programme and is a programme leader for the Children, Young People and Families Practitioner apprenticeship

Saima teaches across the BA (Hon) Children Schools and Families (CSF), her teaching expertise is in the domains of developmental psychology, trauma and approaches to understanding trauma and researching with children and families. Saima also supervises undergraduate and postgrad…

Dr Jackie Williams is the Course Leader for the Doctor of Professional Practice (Dprof) Community and Social Care: Policy and Practice. She started her career as a health professional, working as a Children’s Nurse, Health Visitor and Midwife. She then progressed onto employment …

Fees and funding

2023/24

Full-time£9,250 per year

Part-time£1,540 per 20 credits

International

Full-time£14,900 per year

Additional costs

2024/25

Full-time£9,250 per year

Part-time£1,540 per 20 credits

International

Full-time£16,500 per year

Additional costs

Scholarships and bursaries

We have a wide range of bursaries, scholarships and funds available to help support you whilst studying with us.

Select your country to see eligibility information and how to apply by selecting more info on the cards below.

Select your country/region

Care Leaver Bursary
Our Care Leaver Bursary is for students who need extra support because they have been in care or are estranged from their parents.
Find out more about Care Leaver Bursary
Estranged student support
Estranged Student Support Bursary is for students who need extra support because they are estranged from their parents.
Find out more about Estranged student support
Dependants Bursary
Students with financially dependent children may be eligible for our Dependants Bursary as part of our financial support package. 
Find out more about Dependants Bursary
Contextualised Admissions Bursary
We recognise that the last two years have been very challenging for young people and learning has been impacted. To help support students eligible for a contextualised offer we are offering a bursary of £250 in their first year of study.
Find out more about Contextualised Admissions Bursary

Learning and assessment

A three-year degree qualification typically comprises 360 credits and each 20 credits (a standard module) equates to 200 hours of study.

We promote student-centred learning. That means we encourage you to become an independent learner through a variety of strategies including lectures, group discussions, workshops, seminars and, where appropriate, the use of skills laboratories to practice your skills.

Independent study is an important aspect of your degree course. The exact combination of study time is detailed within module descriptors and will depend on your chosen options.

We use a variety of assessment methods including essays, content analysis, portfolio, presentations and workbooks, a research proposal and a final-year dissertation.

Industry links

Further information

The course draws on a range of subject areas including education, sociology, psychology, social policy and social work.

By combining regular work placements with academic content, the course also integrates theory, policy and practice.

You will carry out observational visits and work-shadowing activities in a relevant setting. If you are not already working with children or young people, you’ll be expected to spend 12 days learning in a children’s services setting during your final year.

You will also have the opportunity to access the Erasmus programme and be part of an international exchange. A range of perspectives from different countries are covered in the course.

On this course you’ll benefit from our Centre for Volunteering and Community Leadership (CVCL) which enables you to get involved in projects which make a positive difference to people’s lives. They offer a range of volunteering projects in the UK and Internationally so you’re bound to find something that inspires you.

Interested?

Download

This course is based in the School of Health, Social Work and Sport

For information on possible changes to course information, see our essential and important course information

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at the University of Central Lancashire on our student contract page

Children, Schools & Families (Graduate Practitioner)

Why study with us

What you'll do

Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner

Module overview

Year 1

CI1501: The Social Construction of Childhood

Course delivery

Visit us on campus

View the course facilities

Accreditations

Future careers

Academic expertise

Fees and funding

Additional costs

Additional costs

Scholarships and bursaries

Care Leaver Bursary

Estranged student support

Dependants Bursary

Contextualised Admissions Bursary

Learning and assessment

Industry links

Further information