Childhood Practice (Graduate Diploma) at University of the West of Scotland

Programme overview

This Graduate Diploma in Childhood Practice is a part-time course for individuals who already hold a relevant practitioner qualification in addition to a relevant undergraduate degree, and are working - or aspire to work - as lead practitioners. Our course is professionally recognised by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). This programme is ideally suited for employed SSSC registered practitioners who wish to become registered as lead practitioners/managers.

Duration: Typically 2 years, part-time | Study mode: part-time | Intake: Ayr/online: September; New College Lanarkshire (blended): September; West College Scotland: September | Location: Paisley, Scotland, United Kingdom

What you will study

The Graduate Diploma degree course is conducted on a part-time basis and consists of six core modules at SCQF Level 9. Module teaching is predominantly delivered online for our Ayr cohorts, which is supported by academic skills and personal development sessions on campus, and in blended format for our college cohorts. Modules include: Promoting Learning (Core Module; 20 credits), Reflective Planning (Core Module; 20 credits), Leadership and Management (Core Module; 20 credits), Leading to Collaborate (Core Module; 20 credits), Leading Learning (Optional Module; 20 credits), Advanced Practice (Optional Module; 20 credits), Practitioner Enquiry: Early Years (Optional Module; 20 credits).

Career pathways

The Childhood Practice degrees aim to help strengthen leadership in the childcare and early years sector and improve career opportunities for early years and childcare professionals. Graduates will find opportunities as lead practitioners or managers within these areas. Postgraduate courses (MA, MSc, MEd, MBA, DBA, PG Cert, PG Dip, etc.) & some Post-experience courses (CertHE, BA, Grad Cert, Grad Dip, etc.)

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Important Information: An offer of a place on the GradDip Childhood Practice is made on the basis of: your application; your practitioner status; your work experience; your employer support; you successfully attending and passing a Group Selection Interview; your possession of current membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme (which includes a criminal records check by Disclosure Scotland); Academic & Professional Requirements: Professional Requirements: Applicants must hold practitioner status and relevent qualification: e.g. SVQ Level 4, PDA, or SVQ Level 3 as recognised by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). You will also be required to: be currently employed as a practitioner in a role which requires you to be working for more than 16 hours per week; demonstrate two years’ experience prior to starting the course; demonstrate workplace support for the duration of your studies (a signed statement of support is required from your employer); Academic Requirements: an undergraduate degree in a relevent subject (minimum of 360 credits, with 120 credits at SCQF Level 9, or equivalent); English language: IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with no sub-test below 5.5.

Intake: Ayr/online: September; New College Lanarkshire (blended): September; West College Scotland: Septembe

Duration: Typically 2 years, part-time

Apply through the official page: https://www.uws.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/postgraduate-course-search/childhood-practice-graduate-diploma

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