02 Mar 2021
Key Facts
Qualification Summary
The Diploma allows learners to undertake study related to childhood development and education. Learners will have the opportunity to develop skills which will enable progression to a range of degree level programmes including a focus on education and learning and development. The Diploma also takes a wider view, focusing on topics such as safeguarding, sociology, child development and psychology which underpin most education and childhood studies degrees.
Learners will complete mandatory units which cover an overview of child development and also educational issues including the important topics of safeguarding and special educational needs but then they will be able to research an area of interest to them in more depth. They will study a range of optional units covering learning and development, developing resources, aspects of psychology, classroom management and units which explore the role of society and understanding the impact of a multicultural society on children’s development.
Ungraded units include units which will support access to higher education whilst supporting study and personal skills.
Learners who have followed these routes may need to develop their skills in specific areas as well as learning more about subjects in which they have an interest. If the learner has gone straight into employment, they may not have studied at Level 3 and so this Access to HE Diploma will help them to build on existing skills and provide a good grounding for further academic study.
Why choose this qualification?
This Diploma allows learners to undertake study related to childhood development and education. Learners will have the opportunity to develop skills which will enable progression to a range of degree level programmes including a focus on education and learning and development. The Diploma also takes a wider view, focusing on topics such as safeguarding, sociology, child development and psychology which underpin most education and childhood studies degrees.
Learners will complete mandatory units which cover an overview of child development and also educational issues including the important topics of safeguarding and special educational needs but then they will be able to research an area of interest to them in more depth. They will study a range of optional units covering learning and development, developing resources, aspects of psychology, classroom management and units which explore the role of society and understanding the impact of a multicultural society on children’s development.
Ungraded units include units which will support access to higher education whilst supporting study and personal skills.
Learners who have followed these routes may need to develop their skills in specific areas as well as learning more about subjects in which they have an interest. If the learner has gone straight into employment, they may not have studied at Level 3 and so this Access Diploma will help them to build on existing skills and provide a good grounding for further academic study.
Rules of Combination
Students must complete 15 credits from the mandatory group, a maximum of 6 credits from the Research optional group and the remaining 24 credits must be taken from the Education and Childhood Studies optional group.
Units
Learners must complete 6 credits from this group.
Research Project for Education - Methodology
Research Skills for Education
Learners must complete 15 credits from this group.
Education Studies: Issues in the Development of the UK Education System
Safeguarding Children, Young People and/or Vulnerable Adults
Special Educational Needs Awareness
Understanding the Importance of Physical, Intellectual and Language Development of Young Children
Learners must complete 24 credits from this group.
Aspects of Social Psychology
Assessment for Learning
Behaviour Management in a Learning Environment
Cognitive Psychology
Education Studies: Socio-Economic Factors in Educational Achievement
Educational Studies: Curriculum Planning
Inclusivity and Disability in Education
Multicultural Education
Teaching Resources
Understanding Play as a Tool for Early Learning
Learners must complete 15 credits must be taken from the Ungraded group including 12 credits from the Mandatory Ungraded group and 3 credits from the Optional Ungraded group.
Learners must complete 12 credits from this group.
Academic Writing Skills
Application of Number - Interpreting and Presenting Information
Being a Reflective Learner
Preparation for Higher Education
Learners must complete 3 credits from this group.
Academic Reading Skills
Communication - Speaking and Listening
Optimising Examination Performance
Promoting Wellbeing and Building Resilience
Study Skills
Work Placement
Intended learner groups
a) Adults who, because of social, educational or individual circumstances may have achieved few, if any, prior qualifications and wish to progress to HE.
b) Adults who have gone straight into industry (perhaps following apprenticeship routes) who wish to progress to HE.
What this diploma covers
The units include a balance of child development and education practice which allow the learners to keep their options open until they have fully decided on their preferred route at degree level. The ungraded units have been chosen to support both progression into higher education and also to allow the learners to develop skills relevant to the subject area e.g. maths and English skills which will be important to support initial assessments for teaching programmes.
Delivery methods
Face to face
Blended learning
Work placements would also be beneficial and visits to different early years settings would widen opportunities.
Assessment Methods include: Essays, projects, presentations, self-evaluation, case studies, short answer questions, literature review, exams, reports, production of resources and schemes of work, glossary, observation, literature review, timeline, planning activities.
Progression routes
BA (Hons) Early Years
Early Childhood Studies BA (Hons)
BA (Honours) Early Childhood
Early Years Foundation Degree FdA
BA (Hons) Early Years and Special and Inclusive Education
BA (Hons) Education Studies and Early Years
BA (Honours) Childhood and Youth Studies
BA (Honours) Education Studies (Primary)
BA (Hons) Education
BSc (Hons) Education
BEd (Hons) Bachelor of Education
Honours Degree Primary with QTS
Bachelor of Education (BEd)
Foundation Degree in Supporting Teaching and Learning
In addition, progression could be onto a higher level or degree apprenticeship including:
Early Years Lead Practitioner (degree)
Early Years Senior Practitioner
Learning and Skills Teacher
Teacher
Provider approval criteria
No specific resources over and above provider recognition criteria.
Progression route entry requirements
Learners will require a pass in maths and English at GCSE level to progress onto a degree course. They are likely to require a pass in a science subject if they wish to undertake a teaching degree course. Students will be required to pass the Professional Skills tests in literacy and numeracy before starting degree programmes leading to QTS.
During registration on the programme, students will be required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) barred list and criminal records check, and a Disqualification by Association.
Funding information
Learning Aims Search
The Hub provides a Learning Aims Search which you can use to check the funding status of any qualification or unit.
View this qualification on the ESFA’s Hub website
From 1st July 2021, the Hub will be replaced by a new Find a learning aim (FALA) service. This service is currently in BETA so if you experience any issues with finding funding details, please double check on the Hub above, or contact your account manager.
View this qualification on the ESFA’s Find a learning aim website
How to find a learning aim
If you’re not sure how to use the new find a learning aim website, we’ve created a handy walkthrough to help you:
How to Use: Find a learning Aim
Additional funding information for Access to HE
- Access to HE is eligible for funding as part of the legal entitlement offer.
- Access to HE is eligible for funding via Advanced Learner Loans and appears on the Advanced Learner Loans catalogues published by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).
- Access to HE Diplomas are designed for adult learners aged 19+ and the ESFA only funds young people on these programmes by exception, as stated in paragraph 149, page 39 of the Funding guidance for young people 2020 to 2021.
We have done our best to collate and summarise the key information, and wherever possible we alert our providers to changes in funding policy.
This funding information is provided in good faith and it is always advisable to check directly with the funding agencies before committing to delivery.
The following support materials will help you deliver this qualification.
Information for Access Centres
Assignment briefs
Centres approved to deliver our Access to HE Diplomas can download assignment briefs for a selection of units in this Diploma. Assignment briefs can be downloaded by logging to Prism and locating the relevant unit. More assignment briefs are being added not all units currently have assignment briefs available.
The assignment briefs can be easily adapted to suit your needs. We recommend checking the rules of combination for the Diploma and adapting the brief accordingly.
To provide a flavour of what’s available, you can download the below samples for free: