BA (hons) early childhood studies students

BA (hons) early childhood studies students

by: snoopydog - 22-05-04 21:53

Hi, I've just found this forum and I was interested to read your postings. I am just about to complete my ADCE ( if I keep away from forums an complete my dissertation that is!!)which is equicalent to the first year of your course.It has been a very intense 2 years (I study 2 evenings a week)but hopefully we can continue on to a FDeg after. I have studdied child protection, yearly years c7urric, lang & Lit, legal & social context of services and children and families under stress. I was wondering if you could enlighten me as to what else I may come across

by: ginnie

Hello and thanks for your reply.

As you will be starting the second year the course modules are three that we have to do which are:- Special study (half a dissertation), developing professional skills (workplacement issues essay), and legisative framwork, however we do get to choose 4 others from family dynamics, educare, children's literature, working with families, health and childhood etc.


In year 3 we get to choose 4 modules including child protection and managing nurseries and staff etc which is ideal too.


Hope this helps

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 01-06-04 22:52

by: snoopydog

Hi Ginnie, thanks for your reply. I've just noticed the spelling on my last posting !!(oops) How many words is your half-dissertation? For my ADCE (equivalent to first year of your course) I have just completed mine - 8,000 words + refs and Appendices. Your course sounds interesting. I was wondering what is the difference between 1st year, level 1 and second year level 2? I hope it doesn't mean that the work gets harder or more of it!!

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 02-06-04 11:08

by: rawlo

hi ginnie, was reading this site last night and found it really strange, we are on the same course, i am also a second year student in ba hons early childhood studies at derby university.i think the course is interesting though no idea what to do when i am finisihed looking forward to being third year and getting fresh work x

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 04-06-04 09:55

by: ginnie

Hi there,

The half a dissertation for the second year is 6,000 words. It was not on the course syllabus before but this was added in this year in order to help us prepare for the third year's dissertation.

The first year of the course is just designed for everyone to know the basics of early childhood development as some people have not done nursery nursing nneb's or btecs beforehand. The first year covers modules like play development, early emotional and social development, cognition, physical development and educare modules.


The second year is o.k too, as you can choose three option subjects that you would like to study for yourself and have to do 4 core modules as well.

Hope this helps

Thank you

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 04-06-04 09:58

by: ginnie

Hello,

What's your name as i may know you then?

Yes, i too don't know what to do when i've finished this course either but i'm looking for a full time nursery management job or something afterwards.

Best thing to do is to apply for everything and see what comes your way.

Hope your second year went well anyway and its nice to hear from you all.

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 05-08-04 17:28

by: Hardworkin

I am about to start my third year on the early childhood studies degree. I am studying at university of East London. I have found the degree very interesting, I have to start a dissertation when I go back in Sept/Oct time. I am lucky as the dissertation is over 2 semesters. I think this is one of the best degrees around.

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 29-08-04 21:04

by: Sally1987

Hello, Im in my final year at collage and im looking to work with children with learning disabilites. I was wondering if the course you are taking covers areas of people wanting to go into this line of work. If not could you recommend any courses that do?
Thanks, lv Sally
Feel free to e-mail me at sally.attewell@btopenworld.com

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 09-09-04 20:58

by: diane21

Hi i'm about to start my third year on the Early Childhood Studies degree and need to get some work experience in a school or nursery to support my PGCE application. Just wondered if any of u had got work experience and how you went about getting it. Is it acceptabe just ringing schools up and asking? i don't want to be a nuisance.

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 13-09-04 13:51

by: ginnie

Yes i agree. At least with this degree we have the options to choose which fields of work to go into, e.g surestart, families, nurseries, post grad study etc.

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 13-09-04 13:59

by: ginnie

Hi Diane.

Sorry for the delay in replying.

I am also doing the same. I am applying for my pgce now and it is good if you have work experience with children or a part time job working with them if possible as it makes your application look good and shows that you are really dedicated to this field of work.

I have continued going on to work placements from when i started college nursery nursing course. It also makes your cv look good if applying for jobs later on.

With the early childhood studies degree we have to find placements for ourselves so i just rang them up and ask if local schools, nurseries and family centres would be willing to take me on as a student. They usually say yes unless they are full with college students.


Hope this helps and let me know how it goes.


Bye.

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 25-09-04 23:48

by: rawlo

hi my name is katy rawlinson what is yours? how strange we are on the same course!

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 26-09-04 14:18

by: ginnie

Hi Katy it's Harjindar.

I know that there's two Katy's on the course but i am not sure which one is which yet.

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 29-09-04 21:37

by: fuzzyduck

Just finished my BA this year, loved the course and found a management job organising the curriculum in a nursery quite easily. However alot of the people on my course have found it a lot harder to find jobs now they have left most have gone full time at the shops and other places they worked part time at during uni. Is this something other peopleare finding?

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 29-09-04 22:43

by: ginnie

Hi,

Congratulations on your job! You are lucky to have got a management job after this course.

Everyone is keen on either finding a management job, work with families or progressing onto a pgce but we are in the final year and some will be looking out for jobs as of March next year or beforehand. (depending if there are many advertised at the time).

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 29-09-04 22:46

by: ginnie

i don't know if anyone is interested in going into college lecturing teaching the early years.

I am going to apply in derby but I am not sure as to which other uni's offer the pgce in further education course.

Thanks
Ginnie

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 27-10-04 21:42

by: joanne1986

hi, im doin the ba hons in early childhood studies at derby uni too. im in my first year and so far the course is good, however the work is starting 2 pile up now.

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 29-10-04 20:24

by: ginnie

I know. They give us so many long holidays and try to cramp all of the work in at once.

Hope you enjoy the course though.

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 05-12-04 16:33

by: hazelwillis

Hi, I'm just starting my BA degree at level 2, finding it hard going as I took a break for 18 months to fit in the juggling of wife, mother, and working full time, any tips?

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 06-12-04 09:58

by: ginnie

I think you have done well to be studying at degree level and being a mother too. I also have a friend on the course who is the same and she tries to juggle all of these things at once. I would say to proritise your time so that you can make time for both your children and your studies.

Do you work part time as well? I was going if to say, if not, then maybe whilst your children are at school or nursery, then you could use that time to study and get your work done. Then you will have the weekends to spend with your children and that way all things can be achieved.


I hope this helps.

Ginnie

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 06-12-04 10:02

by: ginnie

You can also consider learning via distance learning. Speak to your tutor about this.

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 10-12-04 14:30

by: kladenburg

I am currently in my third year of a combined honours degree in early childhood and education.
Have enjoyed it especially the early childhood studies.
Although you may need further training to carry out some professions, it is nice to have the wide range of choice.

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 16-12-04 22:36

by: ginnie

Yes I agree with you. With the early childhood studies programme, we have the opportunity to study modules within our interests and learn a variety of skills.

Hope you enjoy the rest of the course. I am going to be planning my dissertation now.

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 29-12-04 17:30

by: vicks

Hi,
I have recently completed an HND in Early Childhood Studeis and now I have continued to do a top-up year to gain the BA(Hons) in E.C.S at the University of Plymouth. I think the course is good as it allows me to develop on the knowledge that I have already gained from the HND. The course also allows me to choose my own essay topics in each module that I am taking. This is great as it allows me to choose what I am interested in. Students are also allowed to choose one module each semester from either the E.C.S course or the Education course, which gives students an opportunity to choose a module they may want to know more about.

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 08-01-06 16:57

by: Birbs

This post is over a year old but i just wanted to reply and say that i am also at Derby university, i will be in the same year as you. I am now in my third year, began my second year sept 2004. I love the course, just worried about job oppotunities now, and i have no experience.

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 05-04-06 13:49

by: ginnie

sorry for the delay in replying as I have been away.

Just wanted to ask if you have a childcare qualification i.e. lelvel 3. If you have then I have found that after finishing my degree and also having my nursery nurse qualification that I have opportunities in applying for supervisor, deputy manager, manager posts. I am currently working in a private day nursery as creche supervisor at the weekends however I am still hunting for something during the weekdays.

I have recently joined a nursery nurse agency which also offers Teaching assistant work in schools across derbyshire. Let me know if you are interested in supply work as I have the relevant contact details for this.

Hope this helps and sorry for the delay in replying.

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 25-04-06 17:30

by: MaryKate

I agree with every one who has enjoyed the degree. i am currently doing my dissertation and although i loved the course i cant wait to get a job afterwards. i have learnt so much from this course. i originally applied for a 4 year teacher training course but im glad i didn't. i have been introduced to a variety of jobs in the early years other than teaching which are equally as valuable.

BA (hons) early childhood studies students - 27-04-06 14:47

by: ginnie

I am happy to hear that you have enjoyed the course and good luck.

Teaching Assiatants - 10-05-04 19:49

by: samantha_mccarthy

i know this is pretty random but what level do u have to have to be a nursery nurse... ive looked on some websites an they say nvq level 2 but some say 3 ?? im confused

Teaching Assiatants - 14-05-04 11:45

by: tiespuddin

you need level 2 to be a nursery assistant and level 3 to be a nursery nurse. by 2006 all nursery staff will have to have nvq 3 . so best to do 3 first anyway. hope this helps

Teaching Assiatants - 28-06-04 23:35

by: Becka

I am a teaching assistant for two Reception year classes. I know that their is the Nursery World Magasine which i have found very useful, but are their any other magasines which i may find useful?

Teaching Assiatants - 04-10-04 17:49

by: NWO1265467

Is there any point in going on a foundation degree without first doing a level 3 qualification?

Teaching Assiatants - 04-10-04 17:59

by: NWO1265467

Hi, I would like to know which course i should do next? I have just done a certificate in pre-school practice and am still baffled as to what i a m qualified for! I think i can only work with children 0-5 and now i need to be qualified 0-8!? has anybody any ideas as to where i should go from here?

worksheets good or bad? - 07-04-04 23:10

by: Polly34

Re: worksheets,over the 18 years I have worked as a Nursery Nurse,in Scotland,I "used"to always Hold-up my hands in "horror"where worksheets in pre-school were concerned.I have to say I feel differently now,as I think there is a place and time when they can be used.
This time of year,when the nursery children are "heading" towards starting school,we have found in our setting that the "writing & drawing"table needs a "boost".We are very,very selective in the sheets we use ~i.e. "Nursery Projects"magazine has a great selection on the "reverse"of their posters.They are always fine to photocopy(tells you on sheet),and the worksheets usually tie in with themes you will do at sometime or another.We also have various "Theme Books" where again you can legally copy from.
We place the same sheet's out in that area for a week,children "love it"!Adults can sit with the children when appropriate,and there is NO pressure who uses them.
The children do enjoy doing them,they know they dont have to,but our general feeling is that the children feel "grown-up"and perhaps more "school-like" too.Plus it gives the staff an insight into where the children are at~ following instructions,matching simple numbers & letters etc;plus the chat between the children is always good for "problem solving" issues too,cant be a bad thing.
Again I never used to feel this way years ago,when I trained as an N.N our lecturers would have had a "fit",but with experience behind me,I honestly dont see any harm at all in using them.I think because we do it in a "relaxed"way and only introduce them at this time of year,the children really enjoy the "new"experience.Hope that helps Pauline .

worksheets good or bad? - 05-08-04 17:22

by: Hardworkin

paulinedavis you have just given part of the argument yourself "This i feel is a new activity all together and to stop the activity to fill in a worksheet dose not make much sence to me, it stops the flow of the activity and you loose the spontaneity from the children. This is why i am looking for evidence against using worksheets..."

worksheets good or bad? - 13-08-04 01:47

by: louisajaner

It really depends on what the aims/objectives of the activity are.Do they really need to record? Does it need to be a worksheet? Could it be on a whiteboard or is oral and practical enough.You must definetly develop a strong opinion on this.There is a time and a place for `worksheets` but working out when and why is the most important part.

worksheets good or bad? - 13-08-04 21:03

by: brookes

Hi Pauline.Perhaps you could introduce the 'worksheet'at the end of the activity. A simple sequencing sheet would be simple and hold learning objectives.You could have pictures in boxes that can be coloured(creative),then cut out and stick(physical), then sequence (maths) followed by a discussion at a plenary session (cll) to discuss and recall the changes(kuw).ive just finished a year of a foundation degree and have learned not to think big, because simple often works best!
As for pros and cons to w/sheets,i agree that the children need to be age/stage appropriate.
good luck.