Early Childhood Studies

Child Development (double)

You will have the opportunity to explore key aspects of a child's developmental processes from a variety of perspectives and gain an understanding of child development.

Research in the Early Years

This module introduces you to the research methods used within educational and social science research. You will have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with various research tools (interviewing, observation, questionnaires etc.) and appropriate data analysis. Consideration will be given to aspects of reliability, validity and ethical issues. A key focus of the module will be to consider the particular complexities of research that arise when the research participants are children and/or infants. Explore the practical and ethical issues of conducting research with children and how such methods are employed in current research.

Preparing for the Dissertation

Prepare for your dissertation. You will cover a range of topics that will prepare you for all stages of your dissertation, from planning to analysis and write-up. It will extend your knowledge of the processes involved and help you develop critical awareness of yourself as a researcher. A particular emphasis will be given to the ethical procedures that are necessary before conducting fieldwork. There will be opportunities to review the submissions of previous students.

Working with Children 2*

Inclusion, Special Needs and Disabilities

Gender in the 21st Century

This module aims to support you to develop an understanding of how concepts of gender are lived in different ways by teachers and learners. We will examine how these sometimes competing concepts shape social, cultural and educational contexts. The media, socialisation and education play vital roles in shaping teachers, learners and learning contexts. You will be expected to analyse these key domains in relation to your own experiences, and to apply your reflections and analyses to a range of key theories.

Cultural and Arts-Based Learning

Examine how different cultural activity can be addressed in education; including exploring cultural sites and learning contexts, cultural artefacts and arts-based activity. You will critically reflect on theories of culture and learning in and through the arts (art, drama, music, film), how these elements are positioned within the curriculum, and compare theory to current educational policy. Some theoretical strands will be examined and applied in practice, including participation in field trips and practical activities at a range of cultural organisations in Oxford; for example, museums and galleries. This will support a critical analysis of how cultural artefacts and activities can support learning.

Literature for Young Children

Develop your knowledge and understanding of the range of texts available to young children. You will establish skills of reflective and critical reading, encouraging you to investigate and analyse the relationship between words and pictures in texts. Develop your skills in selecting texts that support language development with particular focus on phonological awareness and reading development.

Young Children's Health and Wellbeing

Understanding the roles, responsibilities and perspectives of health professionals and others working with young children and their families is essential for effective early childhood partnership and for inter-agency collaboration. This module will promote your understanding of the importance of children's health and wellbeing by reflecting on issues such as health inequalities, health promotion and health provision for young children. You will also learn about children's inner lives and spirituality, touching upon the role of the adult in fostering children's emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

Children in the Digital World

You will develop an understanding of how media and technology impact on our lives and our understanding of the world around us. We will use emerging theories, frameworks and contemporary academic literature explore these dynamic issues and their impact on our concept of education. As part of this exploration you will have some first-hand opportunities to explore some examples of media and technology. These experiences will help you to forge the links between theory and practice which you will be expected to demonstrate through the end of module assignment.

Dissertation (compulsory double honours component)

The module considers an issue, negotiated between the student and module leader/supervisor, which generally arises from aspects of Level 5 & 6 work in Early Childhood Studies.

Reflective Practice

Controversial and Contemporary Research in Education (double honours component)

This synoptic module starts from the premise that education is a contested and continuously researched subject. It will follow up key controversial issues introduced in previous modules, and introduce new ideas, linked to staff research expertise, enabling you to explore and debate these in some depth, through group discussion in class and online and extended individual research. Staff from within Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences will introduce guest seminar sessions on educational debates and current research linked to their specific expertise. Students will also be leading a rolling programme of seminars to facilitate a detailed consideration of relevant literature in support of different positions on these issues. Students will be encouraged to evaluate ideas and evidence in different forms, including popular media and policy texts, as well as more traditional academic texts.

Becoming a Reader (double honours component)

This module looks at children's literacy, investigating theories and debates about how children learn to read and become readers. The module interrogates various models of how children learn to read exploring the contribution of decoding skills, comprehension of text and attitudinal and motivational dimensions. You will critically explore the issues of multiple literacies in an era of digital communication. The module will build on the level 5 module Literature for Young Children and will enable you to scrutinise a range of developmental theories and to appreciate and articulate your own position within a theoretically complex and controversial aspect of development.

International Comparisons in Early Childhood Care and Education (honours component)

This module explores the practical, historical and comparative dimensions of policy and practice, acknowledging the differences between the four countries of the UK. It examines and evaluates the impact which comparative international evidence has had on the development of services in the four UK countries. You will study key issues in comparative education and childcare, and the development of national systems in a comparative and international context.

Professional Roles in Early Years (alternative compulsory honours component)

This is a multi-disciplinary module which complements work students undertake as part of their dissertation, the Reflective Practice module and other practical work by looking at key themes of workforce development, partnership and workplace communication. This module will extend your knowledge and understanding of the range of partnerships, which exist to facilitate early learning and care, and the roles undertaken by those partnerships both historically and in current society. Children's rights and entitlement in the home and other settings will inform analyses of the roles of parents and professionals, and the range of partnerships and their contribution to the health welfare and education of young children. Legislation which impinges on the roles of the workers in early years sectors will also be examined.

Researching Child Development

Unequal Childhoods(honours component)

This module builds on concepts of equality, diversity and human justice encountered earlier in the programme. With reference to United Nations Conventions and United Kingdom equality legislation it provides an opportunity for you to reflect, research and critique educational and societal responses to differences in ethnicity, race, gender, ability and social class.

The Principled Professional (alternative compulsory honours component)

Explore elements of the professional role in early years (and potentially in other areas of employment) so that you are well informed about the nature of professionalism. In this module, you will reflect upon your personal principles and ethics with regard to your professional identity and considered the necessarily political nature of the field. You will also establish your stance as advocates for children and their families where their well-being is concerned.