BA (Ord) in Early Childhood Care & Education (Blended)

Course description

Course Details
This level 7 BA (Ord) Early Childhood Care & Education degree is delivered through blended learning, you can work full-time and complete this degree. Upon completion of this Level 7 degree, you will be eligible to gain the higher capitation grant from DCEDIY for your role in an early years setting.

This newly designed level 7 BA (Ord) Early Childhood Care & Education degree aligns with the requirements of the Qualifications Advisory Board as meeting the requirements of the professional award criteria and standards guidelines.

You can complete this programme in two academic years if you currently hold a QQI ECCE Level 6 award also available through Portobello Institute. Delivered by blended learning, you can study this degree in your own time, with a combination of webinar tutorial seminars and online learning. You can join the large network of early years practitioners on this learning journey. There is an easy payment plan designed to make this degree affordable. These factors, together with the one-to-one tutorial support, offer you a level 7 BA (Ord) Early Childhood Care & Education degree that is accessible, affordable and achievable.

Here are some reasons to choose to study with Portobello:

Career-focused qualifications – our courses lead to awards that offer you the opportunity to immediately advance your career.
Notable professional standards recognition – QAB and DCEDIY recognise this programme as meeting the requirements of professional awards criteria and standards for the early years sector and for higher capitation grant purposes.
Individualised support – we fit your learning model with support available when you need it throughout your learning journey.
Industry expert tutors – our tutors are all early years practitioners connecting research and theory with practice throughout their lectures.
Condensed scheduling – we value your time by ensuring your timetable is optimised for delivery, helping you maintain a work/life/study balance.
Flexible delivery – we deliver theory sessions online whilst also recording the session simultaneously offering you a choice of when and how you learn.
Affordable payment options – all our courses offer you the option to choose an easy payment plan supporting you to spread the cost out over your learning journey.
Why should I study this course?
If you hold the ECCE full major award and are looking to further your qualifications, we have designed this level 7 BA (Ord) Early Childhood Care & Education degree for you. It is delivered by blended learning to support your work-life balance and offers you a path of progression to level 8 BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Care & Education right through to a level 9 MA in Early Childhood Studies.

As an early years graduate, working as a manager in an early childhood setting is a natural career progression. There will also be new career options available to you. Upon successful completion of this degree, you will be eligible to apply for more diverse roles such as those within community projects and public health.

If you hold this QAB-approved level 7 degree, you are eligible to gain the higher capitation grant from the DCEDIY (formerly the DCYA) for your role in an early childhood centre. Visit page 9 of the DCEDIY list here to view details.

Modules

Modules Year 1
Safeguarding Health, Well-being and Rights of Children
Understanding Play as a Context for Learning
Working with Stakeholders in the ECEC sector
Observing and Documenting Children’s Learning and Development

Modules Year 2
Becoming an Educator: Academic and Professional Skills
Promoting Holistic Development of Children 0-12
Reflective Practice and Professional Development (Placement-Based)
Pedagogical Approaches and Practice Frameworks for Early Childhood Education

Modules Year 3
Childhood in Society
Leadership Skills for Inclusive Practice
Professional Development in the Community of Practice (Placement-based)
Evaluating Policy and Practice: Themes and Debates
Leading and Managing Services for Children