Foundation Degree in Education and Care

This Foundation Degree provides a professional development opportunity for those working with young people in nurseries, schools, youth centres or similar settings.

The course mixes academic rigour in a work-based context that can inform your professional practice. Modules include: ‘The Social Context of Childhood’, ‘Professional Practice in Safeguarding of Children and Young People', ‘Social Policy and Children’s Well-Being’, and Human Development and Learning Technologies.

There is also a strong emphasis on academic development with specific modules on ‘Study and Self’, ‘Thinking Skills, Creativity and Problem Solving’, and Project Design.

In the final year you will design and carry out a project on a topic of academic interest that can be related to your day-to-day employment.

The course leads to a Foundation Degree qualification that will enhance your professional standing in the workplace and make you a more valuable employee. Some students have commented on an enhanced standing whilst still studying for the degree as they are bringing up to date knowledge, skills and understanding to the workplace which have been welcomed by senior colleagues.

It will also help open doors to new opportunities in the education and care of young people. 

To apply for this course, you usually have at least two years’ relevant work experience, and should be employed in a role related to the education and care of young people.

You must also have one of the following in a relevant subject area:

• BTEC Level 3

• NVQ Level 3

• CACHE Diploma in Education and Childcare

And a

• GCSE grade C or above (or equivalent qualifications) in Mathematics and English. If you have studied for a GCSE which has a numerical grade then you will need to achieve a grade 4 or above or a level 2 equivalent in Maths and English.

• A satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check that has an issue date within 3 years at the start date of the programme

All applicants will need a letter of confirmation from your employer or head of your voluntary placement if you are working for approx. 15-20 hours per week.

If English is not your first language, please refer to the University of Sunderland English Language requirements: https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/help/applying/entry-requirements/what-english-language-qualification-do-you-accept/

You will be assessed using a variety of methods, including: presentations, written assessments, reports and reflective accounts along with work which is undertaken within your work practice. The final qualification Fda in Education and Care is nationally recognised and validated by the University of Sunderland.

At the end of the two years study period the student will have a valuable qualification in its own right as well as having knowledge and experience which will allow students to gain new opportunities in the education and care of young people.  Students can continue their studies at University of Sunderland and gain a BA (Hons) in Education and Curriculum Studies.

This programme is offered by Tyne Coast College working in partnership with the University of Sunderland. The award that you will receive will be from the University of Sunderland.

Support Services for University of Sunderland Partnership students

To make sure that you have everything you need on site at South Tyneside College, you will access certain facilities and support at the College rather than via the University. This is to enhance your studies and ensure that you can get the help and support you need as quickly and efficiently as possible. Support services you will access at the College include things like Careers and Employability Services; Disability Support Services and advice on dyslexia or specific learning difficulties; additional teaching support services such as support for numeracy and literacy; Counselling, Health and Wellbeing Services.

Complaints procedure for students studying University of Sunderland programmes at South Tyneside College

To whom Higher Education students on University of Sunderland franchised courses initially complain depends on who is providing the service you are complaining about. If the service is provided by South Tyneside College, then you must first exhaust the complaints  procedure of the College, in accordance with the standard complaints procedure. Complaints about issues not relevant to the University’s provision, including non academic matters, will be managed solely by the College.

Unresolved complaints about services provided by the College (that are relevant to the University’s provision) may be referred to the University once the College’s complaints procedure has been fully exhausted. Any such complaints would then enter the University’s complaints procedure at Stage 2: Complaint Review. The purpose of the Review is not to reinvestigate a complaint but to ensure that procedures were followed at the initial investigation stage. If the service is provided directly by the University, then the University’s Student Complaints Procedure should be used from the outset.

You can find full details of the University’s Student Complaints Procedure in the University Student Handbook or at www.sunderland.ac.uk/studentcomplaints

Student numbers

In order to help ensure that the student experience is maintained at a high level across the life of partnership programmes, there is a minimum of 12 students required to enrol in year 1 of each programme offered by South Tyneside College in partnership with the University of Sunderland in order for it to run. In the event that this minimum is not reached, the University reserves the right to either close this programme and withdraw offers made on it or, if appropriate to the programme, apply conditions to the programme in order to allow it to run with reduced student numbers. If the programme is closed, the University will use reasonable endeavours to help affected students switch to a suitable alternative programme or alternative HE provider if they wish to do so.  If a decision is taken to apply conditions to the programme in order to allow it to run with reduced student numbers, consultation will take place with affected students. Conditions may include things like studying some of the programme at a different venue or merging study with other similar programmes where there is overlap. If these conditions are not acceptable to all students, the programme will close.

For any further questions please see the contact details below;

Denise Whitehead

denise.whitehead@stc.ac.uk

Dates and fees

Start date: 14th September 2021

Cost: £5,500 (annual fee)