BA Early Childhood Education (Graduate Practitioner)
About this course
BA (Hons) Early Childhood Education (Graduate Practitioner), an education degree focused on child development, professional practice, and policy in early years settings. Core topics include Research Methods and Global & Comparative Perspective. The course maps to Department for Education Graduate Practitioner Competencies and requires completion of eighty days of practical placements across the degree. The first year introduces foundational themes through compulsory modules such as Constructions of childhood, Early child development, Early years curriculum studies, Key concepts in education, and Developing practice in early childhood settings. The second year builds upon this via Research methods, Early representations of literacy and numeracy, Inclusive education in the early years, and Inclusive practice in early childhood settings, alongside optional choices like Developing teaching practice and Education and social justice. The final year involves advanced study through Professionalism, leadership and management in the early years and International perspectives on early childhood education, alongside options such as Children and young people's wellbeing and Media representations of disability, culminating in a compulsory independent Dissertation.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
96 UCAS tariff points including 80 from at least 3 A-levels or equivalent. An Enhanced DBS check is required. With Foundation Year: 48 UCAS tariff points including 32 from at least 1 A-level or equivalent. An Enhanced DBS check is required.
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What students say
Based on about 9 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 98%
- Learning opportunities: 82%
- Assessment and feedback: 84%
- Academic support: 100%
- Organisation and management: 90%
- Learning resources: 97%
- Student voice: 97%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 10 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 75%
- Left higher education: 10%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 20%
What graduates do next
Based on about 11 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 70%
- Working and studying: 15%
- Further study: 10%
Most common jobs
- Teaching Professionals: 60%
- Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation: 5%
- Welfare and housing associate professionals: 5%
- Teaching and Childcare Associate Professionals: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 100%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 75%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 100%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 210 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 2%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 1%
- East Midlands: 12%
- West Midlands: 1%
- East of England: 49%
- London: 19%
- South East: 12%
- South West: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 95%
- Other HE qualification: 5%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Bronze overall, Silver for student experience, Bronze for student outcomes.
Modules
- Constructions of childhood
- Early child development
- Early years curriculum studies
- Key concepts in education
- Developing practice in early childhood settings
- Research methods
- Early representations of literacy and numeracy
- Inclusive education in the early years
- Inclusive practice in early childhood settings
- Developing teaching practice
- Education and social justice
- Dissertation
- Professionalism, leadership and management in the early years
- International perspectives on early childhood education
- Reflecting on quality in early childhood settings
- Children and young people's wellbeing
- Media representations of disability
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Early Childhood Education (Graduate Practitioner) at University of Bedfordshire earn?
The median salary is £26,000 after 15 months, £21,000 after 3 years, £26,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £18,500 and £30,500. The £26,000 median after five years is £2,000 more than the UK median for Education.
What do graduates of BA Early Childhood Education (Graduate Practitioner) at University of Bedfordshire do next?
95% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2022-23).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Early Childhood Education (Graduate Practitioner) at University of Bedfordshire?
98% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2024-25.
What grades do I need for BA Early Childhood Education (Graduate Practitioner) at University of Bedfordshire?
The average entrant had 101 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BA Early Childhood Education (Graduate Practitioner) at University of Bedfordshire?
75% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.