The Foundation Degree in Childhood Studies is an engaging and innovative work-based course. It is specifically designed to support people who work with children and young people in a school or similar educational setting to build and enhance their academic and professional knowledge. It offers the opportunity to study for a qualification while continuing to work.

Emily Walker-Smith
Head of Professional Learning

Key dates

Course start date: 16 September 2024

Academic Calendar: Semesters

View key dates for this Academic Calendar for 2024-25 including when teaching starts and finishes and when you break for holidays.  

Your teaching timetable 

UniTimetables provides an overview of all teaching activities on a course. Your individual timetable will be available via MyTimetable and is personalised to show you what modules and groups you are expected to attend.

Your individual student timetable can only be produced once you have engaged with online registration and created your computing account. It is essential you complete these tasks when invited, so that your course team can assign you to your teaching activities and publish your individual timetable.

Find out more about all aspects of timetabling for new students including user guides.

Welcome

You will use the professional experience from being immersed in an educational setting and enhance this with a deepening knowledge and understanding of how children and young people learn in different contexts. Through inquiry, debate, reflection, and a purposeful integration of literature and current evidence related to child development and SEND, you will make meaningful connections to develop your practice and impact. On the Special Educational Needs pathway, you will explore the childhood issues related to SEND in greater depth.

You will be taught by a dedicated team of specialist staff and who will support and challenge you on your academic journey.

Attendance at all scheduled events is a mandatory expectation of the course, and key to your success.

We look forward to working with you.


"Through insightful modules and engaging discussion, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of childhood development and learning, which has greatly benefitted my work in an education setting." Level 5 Foundation Degree Student

Getting started

Make a mind-map of childhood. (You can include your own ideas which you have developed through your workplace, the thoughts of colleagues, friends, professionals and of course, children themselves!*) (*non-compulsory)

This BBC Radio 4 website is helpful in highlighting some of the contemporary issues related to childhood.

Your welcome and induction event will take place on Saturday 14th September for Canterbury students and Sunday 15th September for Medway students.

*If studying with one of our partners you will receive additional information regarding any college enrolment activities and teaching timetables/rooming directly from your college.

Your pre-arrival Padlet contains relevant information on your Foundation Degree Childhood Studies course, including welcome information, timetabling, an overview of your study modules, campus information and student services available at Canterbury Christ Church University.

Foundation Degree Childhood Studies (Generic and Special Educational Needs Specialism) (padlet.org)

We will be adding any new or relevant information to the Padlet in the run up to the course starting, so please keep checking back for updates.

Pre-course reading

Beginning to engage with these resources will support you to begin thinking about some of the issues pertinent to the study of childhood, and to develop your own skills as a professional and academic learner.

Your Academic and Professional Success:

Issues in Childhood Studies:

  • Dweck, C. (2017) https://www.mindsetworks.com/science/
  • Frederickson, N. and Cline, T. (2015) Special educational needs, inclusion and diversity. 3rd edn. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
  • Grey, C. (2015). Learning theories in childhood. 2nd edn. Los Angeles: Sage.
  • Hodkinson, A. (2016) Key Issues in Special Educational Needs & Inclusion (2nd edition) London Sage Publications
  • Marotz, L.R. (2015) Health, Safety and Nutrition for the Young Child 9th edn. Stamford: Cengage Learning
  • Porter, L. (2014) Behaviour in Schools: theory and practice for teachers 3rd edition Mc Graw Hill Open University Press
  • Unicef – for information about international childhood issues, including the International Convention on the Rights of the Child.

It is useful to note that the University Bookshop offers 10% discount on most titles in print and have some price-beating book bundles. They also price match Amazon on core texts recommended in the module handbooks you will receive when you start in September. UK deliveries are FREE for orders over £10 and are usually dispatched within 48 hours.

International student success programme

International students: don't miss out! Make sure you register for our international student success programme which provides practical advice on preparing to live and study in the UK.

Contact details

Canterbury & Medway students: FAHE.CourseAdmin@canterbury.ac.uk

Partnership students: partnerships.administration@canterbury.ac.uk