Foundation in Education

Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Challenges in education

  In this module, you’ll be introduced to a range of existing challenges within the education sector. You’ll explore inequality and access to education, the challenges faced by individuals and groups within education, and current legislation, government policy, and practice concerning education in England. This could include covering topics like;
  - SEND
  - behaviour and wellbeing
  - teacher and additional adult workload
  - school structures
  - social context shaping educational experiences
  - and engaging parents and communities. 
  
  You’ll engage with key educational thinkers and theories and begin to develop your academic skills, like critical reading, discussion, reflective writing and constructing evidence-based arguments.
   

• Creating safe learning environments for learning

  This module introduces you to key elements of working within education, considering safeguarding and protection of children and vulnerable individuals, as well as physically and psychologically safe spaces for play, learning and education to take place.
  
  You will explore the legal requirements for health and safety, and safeguarding children, as well as exploring practical aspects of providing safe environments for learning. 
  
  Through class discussions and activities, you’ll create a portfolio of risk assessments for selection of learning environments and annotated plans for educational activities, preparing you for working in different educational settings and situations. You’ll also undertake mandatory safeguarding and Prevent Duty training as part of the module, which is required for you to undertake the placement module in semester two.
   

• Global issues

  What is ‘global politics’? What do we mean by ‘international relations’? and how do our personal values affect our understanding of politics and historical events? In this module you’ll explore the global challenges we face, and how they are understood by different groups. You’ll examine issues like power structures and global conflict and come to understand how these issues impact societies and the environment we live in.

• Placement in education

  In this module you'll build the real-life experience you need to succeed in your foundation studies and prepare you for undergraduate study. 
  
  You’ll gain hands-on experience by engaging with work placement opportunities in either an early years and childcare setting, or another organisation linked to education. Your time spent on placement will give you a foundation for applying theoretical knowledge to practise, and help you to develop professional skills in communication, organisation and time management, and reflection.
  
  Placements run during semester two, where you'll spend a total of 24 days on placement.
  
  This is your chance to work in the community and learn about education in real-life situations, whilst developing the basic level of professional skills and competencies you’ll need for placements on an undergraduate degree.
   

• Reflective learner: personal and professional development

  In this module, you’ll gain the core skills and strategies you need to succeed as a university student. You’ll build up knowledge of the subjects within your foundation year and learn how to turn critical reading into clear and successful undergraduate assignments. You’ll also learn effective study strategies, including: 
  
  - learning from lecture content 
  - taking part in seminars 
  - working and studying in groups

• Research project

  This module gives you the chance to do independent research on a topic that fascinates you. You’ll gain the key skills you need to succeed as a university student, as you create, manage and complete your own research project. You’ll have one-to-one guidance from an expert academic supervisor in your chosen subject area who will support you to shape your research from your initial ideas through to your completed project. 

• Understanding early years

  This module introduces you to the early years and childhood studies, considering the first five years of a child’s life as the most important for establishing a foundation for success in later life. 
  
  You will explore aspects of care and education, considering vital elements of attachment and routine to develop understanding of this subject area. Through comparing theory, practice, literature and your own personal reflections, you’ll develop your own understanding of the importance of early childhood as the foundation for lifelong success. 
  
  You’ll also have the opportunity to explore a range of careers that you could pursue with this foundational knowledge of early years and child development. Following this module, you’ll be well prepared to select your chosen route into either Early Childhood Studies, Education Studies or Primary Teacher Education.