Our BA (Hons) Child and Family: Early Childhood degree equips you to nurture children’s development during their most formative years, shaping the foundation of the next generation. With rising demand for skilled professionals and growing awareness of early childhood’s importance (pregnancy to age 8), this degree offers a pathway to a meaningful career. You’ll gain the knowledge and tools to advocate for young children, promote equity and accessibility, and make a lasting impact—while achieving personal fulfilment and professional growth.
Earn While You Learn: Continue working while studying for your degree.
PGCE Interview Guarantee: Achieve entry requirements and secure an interview for Early Years or Primary Core PGCE courses.
Diverse Career Opportunities: Explore careers in education, social care, or family support.
Specialist Pathways: Choose a focus in Special Educational Needs, or Teaching, Learning and Assessment—gain an additional title on your award to reflect your expertise.
The Degree
Combines academic rigour with professional practice
Promotes key and transferable skills, e.g. leadership, communication
Prepares for career progression and is a route to further study
Builds on prior experience and learning
Runs on one evening per week and two Saturdays per term
Further Information
The university has developed Exit Awards in order to recognise the achievement of undergraduate students where it was not possible to award the highest qualification for which they were registered, these include CertHE and DipHE.
Proud member of The Early Childhood Studies Degrees Network
The Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies aim to:
Align Early Childhood Degrees to practice requirements in the four nations of the UK.
Address the inherent challenges of different types of Early Childhood degrees and study pathways, enabling the wider workforce to be clear about individual early career graduates’ expected level of knowledge, skills, and actual experience in practice.
Acknowledge the different pathways that lead learners to undertake the degrees, enhance their practice experience, and enhance employability skills.
Ensure that Higher Education academic routes are responsive to the changing needs and training routes in early years practice, education, and the wider Children’s Services workforce.
Make a significant contribution to strengthening a graduate-led Early Childhood workforce that is responsive to workforce needs and improves outcomes for children.
Afford students with placement opportunities to critically apply theory to practice in a range of Early Childhood settings and/or schools, social care and health settings. This will enable students to develop graduate skills in the application of the inter-disciplinary Early Childhood knowledge base to reflective practice.
Provide new opportunities for graduates who want to strengthen their practice in Early Childhood and/or progress to post-graduate academic programmes or professional training, including Early Years Teacher (0-5), Teacher (3-11), Social Work and health professions.
Full and Relevant Criteria in England The Early Childhood Studies Degrees Network agree that a graduate can be counted as ‘Full and Relevant’ in Early Years settings in England if:
They had an Early Years Educator, or equivalent Level 3 qualification before joining the degree.
Or their ECS degree is:
Mapped onto the ECS QAA benchmark statement – which is with Warwick CLL.
Includes placements with:
Academic assessment
Practice which is observed, assessed and developed by setting mentors
One visit per placement by HEI staff to observe, assess and develop practice.
Note: It is the responsibility of the HEI to ensure that students have relevant assessed and observed practice that meets the Level 3 requirements. They cannot be counted as ‘Full and Relevant’ if they do not meet the criteria above. They need to undertake a relevant level 3 qualification.
Entry requirements
NVQ Level 3 or prior academic/vocational study and experience is an advantage
GCSE grade C or level 4 in English and maths is a distinct advantage
A willingness to gain substantial and broad experience in one or more Early Years contexts, either as a volunteer or employee
If you are offered a place on the course, you will automatically be welcomed onto the Thrive+ Programme and it is free to attend. Thrive+ is an interactive, online personal development programme, designed to help build your confidence, resilience and agency ahead of you starting your academic studies on this Degree. An experienced team of facilitators will support you throughout the programme.
Who is the Programme for?
This programme offers people the chance to combine study with work and family commitments.
The degree is designed to support people who are new to university study.
It is for people who can:
commit to attending one evening session per week and two Saturdays per term
commit to gaining substantial and broad experience in one or more Early Years contexts, either as a volunteer or employee
It is for people working in private or public contexts with responsibility for young children and families, including:
Early years practitioners in childminder, private, voluntary and independent settings
Teaching and learning support assistants, classroom assistants and early years educators working in schools and other educational settings
Health workers, parents and grandparents involved in supporting children's learning, welfare and development
When you apply, the application page will show the course as full-time.
Please be aware that during the interview, you can advise whether you wish to enrol on the full-time or part-time route.
Your application will be reviewed, and you will be contacted to arrange a suitable time and date for your interview.
The interview will consist of a short written task and a discussion with a member of the team, during which you are welcome to ask further questions about the course and student life.
Applications will close on Monday 14th September 2026.
Modules
Note that the module catalogue is subject to change for future years of study, as we evolve our courses in response to the latest developments in academia and industry. If optional modules are listed below, these can vary from year to year.
Each module has been crafted to ensure a careful balance between vocational and theoretical, conceptual components and you are encouraged throughout your journey with us, to apply your learning to your own workplace or voluntary context.
Please note that optional modules will be run on a demand only basis to ensure quality of teaching and learning experience. Please read our terms and conditionsLink opens in a new window for more detailed information.
Currently, the University of Warwick is NOT sponsoring students on part-time or distance learning courses with a Student Visa (formerly known as Tier 4 visa).
If you require a visa to enter the UK, a general visa can be used to attend face-to-face intensive learning (workshops). (Correct as of 11/03/2026 - please check here for current regulations: Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor: Visit to study - GOV.UK)
This would not enable you to be resident in the UK for the duration of your course, but enables you to visit to attend the workshops.
As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.
Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2025/26 year of study). Information about module specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:
Core text books
Printer credits
Dissertation binding
Robe hire for your degree ceremony
Are there any course specific costs?
See the possible additional costs studying at Warwick University and on the course.
All students undertaking the Early Childhood Route are to apply for Membership of TACTYC: Together and Committed to Young Children, which provides a wealth of resources and development opportunities to support them in their studies. Membership prices for 2026 range from £0-£45 for full membership and more information can be found on https://www.tactyc.org.uk/get-involved.
You have the option to specialise in a particular area to gain a named award, including a BA (Hons) in:
Early Childhood
Special Educational Needs and Disability
Trauma Informed Practice with Families
This degree programme is run by a dedicated team of experts in the field who have a wealth of experience in supporting students to flourish.
Our module sessions are based upon fun, interactive and critical discussions and activities that ensure that you are supported in understanding and applying your learning to your own professional and personal contexts.
Our teaching is based upon building trusting, authentic relationships with our students, that provide the foundations for you to confidently progress. We ensure that you can focus carefully on one module per term – ensuring that you have the time and space to build your understanding and draw meaningful connections to practice.
You will engage in ongoing reflection for the purposes of lifelong personal and professional development and the committed pursuit of best practice. By its interdisciplinary nature, the course equips you to engage, through relational, integrated practices, with multi-agency teams and therefore with a variety of professionals, as well as with children and families within varying contexts.
University of Warwick was awarded Gold in all categories of the government's latest Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) rankings.
You can expect to commit to around 10 hours a week for each module you take, which includes contact time and independent study.
On the course, you will need to complete 150 hours practice, paid or voluntary, in a suitable early years setting (birth to 8)
Our Assessment Strategy prioritises inclusivity, authenticity and personalisation – meaning that we assess you in a variety of ways (no exams!) and that you have the flexibility to tailor the assessments to suit your own related passions and interests. You’ll see that we also foster your digital capabilities throughout the Degree, for instance through the creation of your own Podcasts and E-Portfolios.
Assessment modes include: portfolios, podcasts, training package design and delivery, essays, posters, proposals and a research project.
The course offered by the University of Warwick is delivered primarily through distance learning, giving you the flexibility to study from wherever you are. Your timetable will include a blend of scheduled online teaching and independent study, with the opportunity each term to join four sessions either in person on campus or via live‑stream. This approach allows you to engage in the way that best suits your circumstances while still feeling connected to the Warwick community.
2026/27 cohort dates and time
Weekday sessions:
Part-time study: Wednesdays 6:00-9:00pm
Full-time study: Mondays and Wednesdays 6:00-9:00pm
Saturday sessions:
5 December 2026
6 February 2027
13 March 2027
15 May 2027
You will get personalised assistance for assessments, including submission dates and guidance. You will also engage in discussion forums and collaborative activities to build relationships with peers in your group and your tutors. Building trusting professional relationships are integral to your success and progression in this degree.
The video was filmed in 2024.
Careers
Career benefits of attending this course include:
Achieve a University of Warwick degree
Gain knowledge and understanding of early childhood
Build up your confidence as a scholar and professional
Some modules within this degree offer opportunities for you to obtain the Warwick Award, which helps you to get recognised for employability
Your study with us opens up a number of avenues* for future career development in areas such as:
Education: teaching, educational leadership, and management, allied services relating to Inclusion and SEN, safeguarding
Health: Speech and language therapy and play therapy
Social Justice and community engagement: Family support worker and social work
Academia: early childhood education, FE education, and publication
Arts and culture: children’s author, storyteller
Further studies in Early Childhood at postgraduate level
This video was filmed in July 2024. Our Early Childhood students who wish to progress into teaching are supported by the Centre for Lifelong Learning and the University. Students are guaranteed an interview for the Early Years or Primary Core (university-led) PGCE courses delivered in the Centre for Teacher Education as long as they achieve the entry requirements of the programme.
*It is important to note that some of these may require further training/qualifications. Your course tutors and our dedicated careers team can support you with these.
Hear from course director Charlotte how students can develop skills on the course.
This video was filmed in July 2024.
Our Early Childhood students who wish to progress into teaching are supported by the Centre for Lifelong Learning and the University.
"Through University I have met some wonderful and inspiring people who I have learnt a lot from through their personal and professional development. The staff through my journey have been amazing -- especially my tutors who have supported through the highs and lows not only academically but on a personal level too."
Helen, Early Childhood 2025 graduate
Life at Warwick
This is where your journey begins. Our campus is the heart of it all. It’s more than just a campus - it's the places you visit, the people you meet, the fun that you have; the experiences you have here will be transformative.
Within a close-knit community of staff and students from all over the world, discover a campus alive with possibilities.
Our campus is where all the elements of your student experience come together in one place. You won't be short of ways to spend your time on campus - whether it's visiting Warwick Arts Centre, using our incredible sports facilities, socialising in our bars, nightclub and cafés, or enjoying an open-air event. Or if you need some peace and quiet, you can explore lakes, woodland and green spaces just a few minutes’ walk from central campus
Follow our students around campus on our social channels to see their experiences first-hand.
Teaching facilities
Our campus is designed to cater for all of your learning needs. You will benefit from a variety of flexible, well-equipped study spaces and teaching facilities across the University.
Oculus, our outstanding learning hub, houses state-of-the-art lecture theatres and innovative social learning and network areas
Different study spaces offering you flexible individual and group study spaces, computers, printing and scanning facilities, multimedia resources and more
Supporting you
Our continuous support network is here to help you adjust to student life and to ensure you can easily access advice on many different issues. These may include managing your finances and workload, and settling into shared accommodation. We also have specialist disability and mental health support teams.
Whether you live in a campus residence or in partnership accommodation off campus, you’ll be part of a community to get the most from your experience at Warwick.
Societies and sports play a huge part in community life at Warwick. With over 300 to choose from, getting involved is one of the easiest ways to make friends and share in experiences. Whether you’re into films, martial arts, astronomy, gaming or musical theatre, you can instantly connect with people with similar interests.
Your university experience is defined by far more than your course or the career path you follow. At Warwick, it’s where you discover who you could become.
74th
Warwick is ranked 74th in the world and top 10 in all major UK league tables
Our alumni community still call Warwick home. From a few hundred in 1965 to more than 310,000 alumni, and it's ever-growing.
As Warwick graduates, our students have access to employability support for two years after graduation, including access to careers appointments, job vacancies and professional networks.
(We work with over 20 partners, including professional bodies and partner colleges, and are always looking to build new partnerships)
85%
1st and 2nd class degrees
(From 2016 to 2022, 85% of our undergraduate have achieved a first or second class honours degree)
Accessible, flexible, world-class Warwick education for lifelong learners
For more than 30 years the Centre for Lifelong Learning has been a centre of expertise in the education of lifelong learners in different contexts, with a focus on enabling adult learners to achieve their personal and professional goals by accessing a Warwick education, irrespective of background.
Who we are
A global network - There are 42 nationalities among our current students
A local community - 74% of our students are based in West Midlands
Accessible Higher-Education - In 2022, 32% of our students joining the courses do not have A-levels or level-3 qualifications
A nurturing place - From 2016 to 2022, 85% of our undergraduate have achieved a first or second class honours degree
A learning hub for many - We are home to over 1000 undergraduate and postgraduate students
A collaborative institution - We work with over 20 partners, including professional bodies and partner colleges, and are always looking to build new partnerships
This information is applicable for 2027 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our web page 'Important information to consider before making an application' in advance of applying to Warwick.
Next steps
Experience campus at an Open Day. Can't visit? Receive regular email updates or ask current students and staff questions about life at Warwick.
