The Access to HE Diploma (Early Years Education) aims to develop student’s knowledge and skills in a range of different early years education-related professions. Students will study the early years of a child’s life from psychological, educational and sociological perspectives. Students will develop an understanding of how children develop language and explore the importance of the family.

This qualification allows students to undertake units in ITT/Education, psychology, health studies, sociology and social policy subject groups including The Teaching Experience, Key Studies in Child Development, Memory and Sociology of Education units.

Throughout the Diploma, students will also develop transferable skills such as working with others in teams, planning and preparing, understanding how people learn and explaining complex ideas effectively.

The aim of this qualification is to prepare students for progression into higher education subjects including, but not limited to:

• child and youth studies
• early years education
• early child studies
• education studies
• teaching.

Upon successful completion of this Diploma, students will be able to:

1. recognise the different factors that influence learning in the Early Years
2. articulate the importance of Early Years Education
3. explain key concepts relating to child development
4. describe how to support learning in the Early Years
5. develop core research, referencing and study skills for success in HE

The qualification prepares students for study at higher education level.