Foundation degree in working with children and young people

A locally devised two-year work-based qualification for those planning a career or already working with children and young people in a range of settings.

This course will be of interest to people who are planning a career in, or already working in a range of settings with children and young people. This may include youth club workers, play workers, learning support, educational welfare, voluntary/charity sector, community support/development, classroom assistants, civilians working with the police/child support, connexions workers, GP receptionists, social care workers, day care-workers, careers guidance, child bereavement workers or Brook advisory workers. A Foundation Degree is a nationally recognised work-based qualification that will help you progress within your career.

A Foundation Degree is equal to the first two years of a three year Honours Degree at a UK university. It can be achieved in two years by part-time study because it is work-based and relates to an applied discipline. There is also an option to take stand -alone modules as short courses in order to build-up to the award of Foundation Degree or to enhance your knowledge in key areas. Currently, about 50,000 students are following Foundation Degrees in England.

Almost all Foundation Degrees offer progression to an Honours Degree, and Buckinghamshire New University offers a top-up to a BA (Hons) degree in Practice Development.

The course contains 8 modules normally delivered over 2 years. If students choose to select specific modules as short courses, they can be built over a period of no longer than four years to the award of Foundation Degree.

To apply, you must currently be working with, or planning to work with, children and young people in different settings. Practice experience may be undertaken as employed work or for a registered charity (voluntary work).

We may be able to assist students in finding voluntary placements if they are not currently employed. Students with credits at NVQ 4, Advanced Diploma in Childcare and Education or equivalent learning in child care settings may be offered credit through Bucks New University’s Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) regulations and procedures. Places will be offered on the programme subject to interview.

Click on the People Profiles of Nick, Mark, Tracey or Emily to read about their experience of the Foundation Degree and their thoughts on the possibility of starting it.