BA (Hons) Early Years Education & Professional Practice with Early Years Practitioner Status (EYPS) at Cardiff Metropolitan University

This degree trains early years practitioners to work with children from birth to eight years and their families, leading to Early Years Practitioner Status (EYPS). Assessed placements in each year take place in settings such as Foundation Phase classrooms, private nurseries, children's centres and primary schools. A bilingual English/Welsh pathway is available, and students can also gain the Play Wales Level 2 Award in Playwork Practice and the ILM Level 5 Certificate in Leadership and Management.

Faculty: Cardiff School of Education & Social Policy  |  Duration: 3 years full time; 4 years full time with foundation year; part time up to a maximum of 10 years  |  Intake: 2027 entry  |  Location: Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom

What you will study

Year 1 covers Child Development, Safeguarding and the Wellbeing of Children, The Play Work Approach, Children's Worlds and Empowering Children and Professional Development Placement 1 (about 240 hours). Year 2 includes Becoming a Researcher, The Child, Family and Society, Leadership and Management and Placement 2 (about 240 hours). Year 3 includes an Independent Project, Demonstrating Innovation in the Early Years, Supporting Creativity in the Early Years and Placement 3 (about 220 hours).

Career pathways

Nursery management, owning a play centre, educational welfare, community health support work, family support work, social care and play therapy. Graduates are guaranteed an interview for the Cardiff Met PGCE Primary (subject to the course being open with UCAS; 2:2 honours degree and statutory Welsh teacher-training GCSE requirements apply). 100% of graduates were in work or further study within 15 months (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024).

Official programme page