Start Dates:
- September 2025
Level:
5Mode of Attendance:
- Part Time
Our Foundation Degree programme aims to equip you with the tools to become a successful practitioner by emphasising the importance of critical reflection and work-based experience. Studied part-time over three years, the Foundation Degree aims to give you a firm grounding in children’s and young people’s services. For the duration of the course, students must be working for at least 16 hours per week within the sector. This can be paid or voluntary.
As a University of Derby validated course, you can take advantage of the facilities provided by both Loughborough College and the university.
Awarded by:
Key Facts
Course
Content
EARLY YEARS PATHWAY (PART-TIME)
The Early Years Pathway is a three-year course aimed at individuals who have a keen interest in early years education and who have at least one year of experience working with children aged 0-5 years. This course is ideal for practitioners wanting to study a Higher Education course whilst actively working in the industry.
TEACHING ASSISTANT PATHWAY (PART-TIME)
This course is designed for experienced teaching assistants who want to develop their professional knowledge and understanding through a combination of theoretical and practical study. Whichever pathway you choose, this programme will develop you as a confident, knowledgeable and effective practitioner. Your academic study will be reflected in your practical work, and your working environment will be used for projects, activities and research. With an emphasis on employability and transferable skills, everything that you learn in college will be relevant to your everyday practice, and you will need to identify a workbased critical friend who can support and advise you.
Modules
Year 1
- Starting to Study
- Early Years Provision and Practice OR Supporting Teaching and Learning
- Work Based Reflective Practice (1)
- Equality and Diversity
Year 2
- Integrated Services
- Children and Young People Communicating
- Understanding Behaviour
- Work Based Reflective Practice (2)
Year 3
- Working with Parents and Carers
- Research Methods and Practice
- Children, Young People and Families' Rights
- Secondary Research
Entry
Requirements
A relevant Level 3 (or equivalent) qualification.
Progression
Opportunities
Graduates of this course with a pass/40% are automatically considered for progression onto our final-year BA (Hons) Education Studies degree. Other students have completed degrees at university or furthered their careers in the early years and primary sectors.
Course Costs
Programme Costs (Per Year):
Part Time (PT):
- UK / EU Residents: £4,500
- Non EU: £4,500
The fees and information stated on this page are for the 2024/25 academic year and may change for the 2025/26 academic year. We will update fee and course information for 2025/26 as soon as it is available.
You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included, while studying a course within the Care department are listed below:
- DBS checks, where required, are included in the fees.
- The cost of all assessments at first attempt are included in your course fees, but if you do not pass at first attempt you will be responsible for resit fees, at a cost of £40 per module.
- Field trips may be available during your programme. Costs of these are normally covered but you will be expected to make a contribution towards food, which varies depending on duration of the trip. Some trips may require a refundable deposit (normally £20) which will be returned upon attendance on the trip.
- The department runs a number of day trips and additional workshops/ qualifications which students do not pay for. A refundable deposit may be asked for which is normally around £20. The deposit is refunded upon attendance/ successful completion of the course. There may be some food and drink costs and you should budget for day trips which will vary depending on duration and venue.
- All work is electronically submitted. You may need to provide a printed copy of your final dissertation and poster. The estimated cost for this is around £20-£25 per student in the final year.
Please click here for a full breakdown of our fees policy
Find out more about the course costs and Financial Support available, or contact our Undergraduate Admission Team for more information.
Disclaimer
Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information contained on this website is correct, the College accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Please note that details are subject to change without notice with regard to the provision of courses, course times and dates and the fees and charges levied.