The Foundation Degree (FD) in Children and Families is managed and delivered by the Faculty of Health and Social Care in partnership with the Faculty of Education. It is designed for people who work with children in a variety of settings and is a vocationally orientated programme which is studied while remaining in work.

Content and Structure

Students studying this Foundation Degree (FD) will undertake 6 core modules at Level 1 and 3 core modules at Level 2 as well as 3 modules that are specific to their role in the workplace.

LEVEL 1 CORE MODULES

• Skills for learning
• Children’s cognitive development
• Physical and emotional development in children
• Contextualising children and families
• Children’s communication
• Keeping children safe

LEVEL 2 CORE MODULES

• Integrated working in the assessment of children
• Child protection in the multi-agency context
• Critiquing research methods

GENERIC ROUTE (CHOOSE 3 FROM 5)

• The challenge of adolescence
• Children with learning difficulties
• Understanding children’s occupations
• Mental health in childhood
• Project

MANAGEMENT

• Developing a role in the workplace
• Working in teams
• Understanding organisations

SOCIAL CARE / FOSTER CARE

• Values in social care
• The organisational context of social care
• Social care practice.

Methods of Assessment

The learning will be assessed by University lecturers with the advice and involvement of employers. All assignments will require existing workplace application and will be evidenced through a variety of methods such as essays and reports, seminar presentations, skills demonstrations, poster presentations and reflective logs.

Important Information

Entry requirements are, by the conventional route, NVQ Level 3 attainment or equivalent, and a current history of experience of working with children. However, all candidates who apply with only work experience in this sector will be granted an interview where candidates will be expected to provide evidence of a range of learning skills developed through work which will be critical to their ability to complete the programme successfully.

The programme requires students to attend classroom based sessions during the working week at some point in all modules, thus written confirmation of their employers’ support for this will be needed by interested students.

In addition, students need to offer a clear justification of their need to gain a Foundation degree, their commitment to work at an intermediate level and how it will benefit their career.

Fees

For information on current tuition fees, please visit our finance pages.

How to Apply

Applications should be made directly to the institution.

Email rowena.boyns@canterbury.ac.uk for an application form.

Or contact:

Health Faculty Information Office
Canterbury Christ Church University
North Holmes Road
Canterbury
Kent
CT1 1QU

Tel: 01227 782628

Department of Health, Wellbeing and the Family