Early years degree ARGH!!!

Early years degree ARGH!!!

by: Rhiannon - 20-12-08 07:41

Hey there

I am a newbie, Rhiannon from the east mids. I am a part-time nursery nurse with pre-schoolers.

I am looking into doing a degree in early years to become a teacher as I can do this course part-time (I have two children with one yet to start school). I have looked at the OU and also Nottm Trent Uni. The latter requires 200 tarrif points. I have good GCSE grades and four a levels (2 b's and 2 c's) but I don't think this is enough! What else do they bloddy want? LOL! I noticed someone else was doing their foundation degree so can they help me or anyone else?

Blessings

Rhiannon xxxx 

by: purepurple

I have just started a foundation degree in professional practice in the early years, fully funded by the local authority. I work full time so Wednesday evenings are spent at collage. Because the course is part time it is 3 years and then I can do a top up to a BA hons and the EYPS for another year. A long journey but I hope it will be worthwhile! You don't say if you have any childcare qualifications but I think the requirement is a Level 3 for the course. You could always ask your employer to investigate for you as it is in their best interests to have a programme of staff development

by: Rhiannon

Hey there

Thanks for replying.

I have an NVQ level three and five years qualified experience. You say you're doing a foundation degree through college, how does that work? How much support do you get and how intense is the workload? Also what is the cost? I too would get help as I'm supported by tax credits. My problem is that I'm in love with the early years but I don't want to rule out primary in the future! I know I have to decide and it will be Early Years but if I wanted to teach reception could I top-up through a part-time course in the future? How logn would a BA hons be after three years doing a foundation course?

I'd love to do a four years full time doing early years and primary but my children have to eat lol! So the slow path it is!

Blessings

Rhiannon xxxx 

by: rhi

200 tariff points is deffinitely enough. U should have no problems. I'm in the final year of my degree Early Years Development and Education and have 240 tariff points with a B,C and a D at A- level. If you would like to know how they score the tariff system at A-level its A=120, B=100, C=80, D=60, and E = 40. Therefore u have  360 tarriff points with 2Bs and 2Cs at A-level, for GCSE they look that u have at least a grade C in English Language, Maths and Science. If ur looking at doing PGCE (thats what I have just applied for) SOME institutions look for a grade B at GCSE with English Language and Maths and that u have an A-level in a curriculum subject.

Hope that helped 

by: rhi

hi again, just to inform you a part time degree, including if u have done the foundation degree is 5-6 years part time (3 years full time). I don't know how much longer it takes if you do a foundation degree but I do know that in Full time education if u were foing the foundation degree as well as the degree it takes 4 years instead of the 3.

by: Rhiannon

Hey there

Nice name Rhi lol! Thanks for replying. I was confused by the info on the Nottm Trent website but now I get it. Woo hoo no foundation degree for moi! LOL! I am so relieved 360 points cool! I will be going for Early Years and so I don't need GCSE science I have a D! My other GCSE's are all good. College made me re-take my maths and I got my C which I am so thrilled they did. I may re-take my science anyway as it is rather good to have isn't it? Who knows it may clinch a job for me if someone else has a pass and I don't!

Thanks a million

Rhiannon xxxxxxx 

by: purepurple

the foundation degree i am doing is part time so i still work 40 hours a week. it will take 3 years and then I can do the BA top up with the EYPS running alongside which will be another year

is is funded by Lancashire county council, so it costs me nothing, there is money available for books and stuff

as for work load, I have just completed a 3000 word essay on research, I am writing a 2000 word critical reflection on my role and responsibilities and have a portfolio to put together for jan 

I am really enjoying it at the moment and am not finding it too taxing. I suppose I could have gone for the proper degree but i am 41 and have been out of education for a long time!!

RE: RE: Early years degree ARGH!!! - 21-12-08 16:32

by: Mandy

Hi

Dont no if this is of any help i qualified as a nursery nurse (NNEB) in 2000 I left school with English CSE and Maths. I am near the end of a part time degree in Early Years and Special Needs it has took me six years to complete but the time as flown. I was excepted onto the course with my NNEB.I have applied for the PGCE in primary education and have just been informed that you now need science GCSE. Up until last year if you where born before a certain year you didnot need science but due to the age discrimination Act everyone now needs Science as well as maths and English.Also as i am only in university two days a week part time i still work part time.

by: pinkgroove2k

My local authority are funding my Early Years Foundation Degree and are also (hopefully) funding the Top up course at the end of this one. Depending on your local authority, they will ususally fund one (or 2 at the most) member of staff from each setting to do this.

I have a BTEC Nat.Dip in Nursery Nursing and 9 GCSE's at C or above (not including Maths, which i will have to do before starting on the top up) 

by: Rhiannon

Hey there

To qualify as a nursery teacher you don't need GCSE science but I may do it anyway so I've got it. How long would a BA in Early Years Education take part-time? (I wont need to do the foundation degree thanks ton my A levels) I can't find out from my local uni until after the holidays which is annoying. Trust me to start looking into all this right before xmas!

Also there is the question of QTS. The BA doesn't include QTS and it seems as if I'd have to go the work based route which can be difficult. Any thought on this too?

Blessings

Rhiannon  

by: iggyfishtank

Well it may be because someone who has spent 3 year learning about child psychology. development, an theory around the world may have different experience and wider knowledge to bring to the table than someone who has done an equivalent to a few a-levels.

To say they are not needed makes the sector seem reluctant to change and bitter.Also if you believe in getting the best for children then you cannot deny them the chance to work with the highest level qualifications on offer. Some people coming out of university will be rubbish but then so will some people out of college. Some people are rubbish and some are fanstastic, nothing to do with the qualification.

If any doughnut can get a degree then there is little to fear from them.

Ba Early years will take 6 years part time. 

 No one has ever lost anything by doing more training so it really should be something to look forward to rather than to fear. Remember nothing is a threat only an oportunity.

by: Mandy

Hi  Rhiannon

If you decide to do a combine degree this will take you 3 years full time and 6 years part time on completing this you would then need to complete a PGCE which is 1 year full time, or you may decide to do QTS which is 3 years full time. Which ever route you decide everyone now needs Science GCSE i have looked into this over the last couple of weeks and it was brought in that due to the new age discrimination act everyone now needs science.

by: timmylums

just a quick note to say that if you want to avoid science GCSE you need to have been born before 1979 I think that this is because it was not compulsory to complete either an o level or GCSE in science until recently. I would advise anybody to take GCSE english and maths if they have the opportunity and dont have them as these qualifications are invaluable.   

by: Mandy

Hi

Timmylums is right if you were born before 1979 you didnot need GCSE science but that has actually changed from this year everyone no matter what year you were born in needs science GCSE. As i previously stated this has changed because of the new age discrimination act. I was born in 1970 so thought that i didnot need to complete a  GCSE in science but when i applied to do a PGCE was told that i need to complete a GCSE in science even though i was born in 1970.

by: Rhiannon

Hey there

I have checked my local uni website and the BA in Early Years is three years full-time, five years part-time but how many hours counts as "full-time"? That aside my uni offers a GTP (Graduate Teacher Programme) which is one year full-time but is paid I think, So that's cheered me up. There is still not enough info on nursery teaching it's all primary. Still one step at a time, come next week I'll be on the phone to the uni.

 Happy New Year

Rhiannon xxxx

by: timmylums

Hi Rhiannon, when I started my degree it was all based on primary teaching but specialising in early years, only some areas actually focused on nursery or foundation teaching. History, geography and art we geared towards younger children but curriculum subjects covered whole age range, 3-11 as once you qualify as a teacher you can teach across the whole primary age range so I suppose they need to know that you have the knowledge. Full time usually means 4-6 sessions (lectures, seminars,workshops etc.) based over 5days with time allocated for placements etc. but part time can mean one session in uni lasting for half a day or one evening. If you opt for full time with QTS this will involve a lot more time in uni and at least one full day placement each week, it is possible that you can spend almost all week in uni and still need to find time for assignments etc. It is a hard slog but the knowledge gained can be of such great value, so don't be put off by hard work it is all well worth it!!     

by: wendy

Hi i am starting a BAHons degree in early years and I have to do a case study relevant to EYFS curricul I have chosen Mathematics as stopic but need Ideas as to which area and angle to come from can anyone HELP Please

by: purepurple

What an old thread!

I now have my degree in early childhood studies amd have completed my EYPS.

Wendy, what made you choose maths?

You could look at how maths is taught for different ages or how maths is incorporated in to the continous provision.

by: calypso

Congratulations Purplepurple :) 

by: purepurple

thank you calypso :)

by: Margaret Simms

You never know who is reading these posts so using professional language will strengthen your application when you make one. Have you considered a Foundation Degree  e.g. FdA children's and Young Peoples Services? Entry requirements are usually 80 UCAS points from A levels or equivalent quals. 

 Here is the to their website link http://www.derby.ac.uk/courses/childrens-and-young-peoples-services-fda/