This course is designed to support your career progression within the childhood, and education sectors. As an employment-based foundation degree, it enhances your professional knowledge and confidence, helping you take on new responsibilities in your current role or move into new areas of practice.
Most students continue to the BA (Hons) top-up course, upgrading their Foundation Degree to a full undergraduate degree. The BA top-up is one year and taught in a very similar format to the Foundation Degee. You can undertake this course at the Canterbury and Medway campuses.
Graduates may go on to further study, including PGCE programmes to become qualified teachers (following the completion of the BA top-up), or specialist postgraduate routes such as psychology, speech and language therapy, or social work. Others may pursue advanced roles in education, inclusion, safeguarding, or family support.
Potential career paths include:

• Primary or early years teacher (via Postgraduate Initial Teacher Training)

• Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO)*

• Speech and Language Therapist (via MSc)

• Mental health or wellbeing practitioner

• Learning mentor or pastoral support officer

• Education welfare officer

• Behaviour support specialist

• Family support worker
This course also provides an excellent foundation for postgraduate study in related fields such as child psychology, social policy, education leadership, and inclusive practice.

• Subject to appropriate professional qualifications
  
  Can I become a fully qualified teacher with this course?
  This course does not lead directly to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), but it provides an excellent foundation if you wish to become a teacher. Many students go on to complete the BA, then a PGCE or other teacher training route after graduating. The knowledge, skills, and experience you gain during the course will support your application to Initial Teacher Training and help you succeed in the classroom.
  
  

Entry requirements
A-Level or level 3 course in related field
Applicants are required to hold a qualification at A level (or an equivalent level 3 qualification). HLTA status may also be accepted as a level 3 equivalent qualification.
If you do not meet the level 3 entry requirements, but have the appropriate work experience, you may be offered an opportunity to join the course, subject to the agreement of your employer. In this case, you will be required to take and pass the Academic Skills short course prior to starting, for which there is a charge.
GCSE English grade 4
If you do not have GCSE English Language or Literature grade C/4, then you will be required to complete an equivalency test. Please note that Functional Skills qualifications are not accepted as an alternative to GCSEs.
For those intending to continue into teacher training, you are also advised to make yourself aware of the GCSE entry requirements for this career route, as mandated by the Department for Education.
Placement in a setting working with children and/or young people
You must be employed (paid or voluntary) in a role working with children and/or young people for at least 15 hours per week throughout the course. This does not have to be in a specialist setting.
Employment is a formal condition of admission, so you must be able to evidence your ability to meet this requirement via a signed Stakeholder Agreement from an employer prior to the start of the course. There is no option to request a placement through the university as this is not part of the course structure.
DBS clearance
It is a requirement that all applicants have a current satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check from their employer, which will be evidenced through the signed Stakeholder Agreement.