Children and Childhoods with Foundation Year

We champion applied learning – partnering with over 600 schools and colleges to help you put your learning into practice. This course will support you to develop knowledge, understanding, skills and experience to be able to progress into a variety of in-demand roles or onto a range of postgraduate routes in education, health and social care.

If you don't meet the entry requirements for our BA (Hons) course, or you’d like extra preparation before starting degree-level study, we recommend you join the foundation year.

How you learn

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

You’ll be taught by academics with specialist knowledge and expertise in a range of areas – from psychology and early years to teaching and counselling. You’ll collaborate with your tutors to model and create inclusive teaching and learning strategies and environments, and be supported to challenge accepted ideas and practices. You’ll also be joining a wider learning community of students and academics across the Sheffield Institute of Education.

Because we partner with so many schools and colleges in the region, you’ll have every opportunity to gain experience and network with leading educational providers.

You learn through:

Key themes

You will explore topics including child development, mental health and wellbeing, therapeutic approaches, working with families and professionals, and adverse childhood experiences. 

You’ll learn how to evaluate academic research, literature and policy while developing skills of reflection. You’ll also have chances to co-construct learning through dialogic teaching methods to improve the quality of classroom discussion.

We focus on applied learning, with innovative teaching to help you engage in problem-based, active learning with enriching educational experiences. As well as understanding the current practice, you’ll have the opportunity to apply research to real-world projects – gaining great experience that stands out to employers. 

Course support

You’ll be taught by a close-knit community of qualified and highly experienced teaching staff who take the time to get to know you. Throughout your time, you’ll receive personalised support, such as: