Children, Families and Education - Certificate of Higher Education*
Summary
This Cert HE in Children, Families and Education is designed for individuals who wish to work with children, young people and families across a range of educational, community and support settings. The programme develops your knowledge of the key principles underpinning work with children and families, including safeguarding, child development, education, wellbeing and inclusive practice. Your studies will support the development of your academic and digital literacy, enabling you to transition into Higher Education and engage with a range of subject areas relevant to working in children, family and education contexts.
Through the programme, you will explore how children and young people develop within social, cultural and educational environments, and how professionals support their learning, wellbeing and safety. You will examine topics such as safeguarding, child development, family support, equality and inclusion, legislation and policy, and professional practice. This will support you to understand the complexities of working with children and families and the importance of multi-agency collaboration in supporting positive outcomes. The programme also provides the opportunity to develop your understanding of how education and community services work together to meet the needs of children and families in contemporary society.
Entry Requirements
We welcome students from a wide range of backgrounds to enrol for this level 4 programme of study.
For a successful offer onto this programme all students will require a GCSE English at grade 4 or C or functional skills at level 2.
In addition, applicants ideally should have one of the following: BTEC Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care or related subject (Pass, Pass, Pass)
Diploma in Children and Young People's Workforce (Pass)
T Level Education and Early Years (Pass)
A levels D, D, D (72 UCAS points)
Access to HE Social Science (Pass)
You may also be considered if you are a non-standard student, who has not followed the traditional routes to higher education. If you can demonstrate relevant work/ life skills or knowledge, you will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 4 hours equivalent, term time paid or voluntary work or employment totalling 128 hours in a relevant area is also recommended. Initial advice and guidance will include a professional discussion with the delivery team and will include a focus on job progression and career aspirations, to ensure that the enrolment is correct for individual student circumstances. The professional discussion will provide an opportunity to emphasise the focus on developing as a practitioner and to outline the importance of professional boundaries such as confidentiality and non-disclosure of sensitive information.
Next course dates
| Start date | Location | Duration / Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
13 Sep 2027
|
University Centre
|
1 Year
/
£0
|
Where can this subject lead?
Career progression
Progression routes on successful completion - you will be eligible to progress to Level 5 in one of the three proposed FdA pathways - Early Childhood Education and Care, Children and Families, or Specialist Teaching & Learning Support.
There is also the opportunity if you are already employed, to seek job advancement through successful achievement, including progressing onto a supervisory and assistant manager position through your newly developed knowledge and skills. Employment Opportunities
Successfully completing the Cert HE may provide wider progression and job roles and responsibilities including the roles below. Children, Young People and Families Practitioner Community Education Co-ordinator Early Intervention Practitioner Family Support Worker Family Hub Co-ordinator Learning Support Nursery Room Leader Nursery Deputy Manager Pastoral Support SENCO Assistant
Employment Opportunities
Successfully completing the Cert HE may provide wider progression and job roles and responsibilities including the roles below. Children, Young People and Families Practitioner Community Education Co-ordinator Early Intervention Practitioner Family Support Worker Family Hub Co-ordinator Learning Support Nursery Room Leader Nursery Deputy Manager Pastoral Support SENCO Assistant
Key information
Fees and funding
Visit our Tuition Fees page and Financial Support for Degrees page for more information about fees and funding, including additional financial support for those on low incomes, with dependent children or adults, or with disabilities.
Extra costs and equipment
No special equipment is required as a full range of IT is available within the Learning Resource Centre for enrolled students. You may wish to purchase a computer (desktop or laptop) as all assessments are submitted electronically and the relevant software can be provided by the College free of charge.
What will I learn?
The Level 4 Cert HE Children, Families and Education provides a broad integrated foundation for all students, regardless of their intended specialism. The curriculum is structured around the folllowing core modules,
Child Development and Family Life
Safeguarding Across the Lifespan
Legislation Policy and Inclusion
Professional Partnerships and Communication
Academic and Reflective Practice
Industry placement, field trips and guest speakers
It is highly recommended that you undertake an equivalent of 4 hours per week term time practice in either paid or voluntary employment within the sector, as this will support your academic journey. It is also beneficial for you to be in paid or voluntary employment by the end of the level 4 course, if you intend to progress onto the next level of study as this is a requirement of the Level 5 of the Foundation Degree.
How will I learn?
You are required to attend the University Centre for one day per week, for one year, where you will complete 3 modules per semester (6 in total for the Cert HE). Further independent study is a necessity throughout the duration of the programme where you are expected to engage in additional reading, research and the completion of assessments for approximately 10 hour per week per module.
. Wider college support is available through the Partners for Success framework which includes the Careers Team, the Finance Support Team and the Digital and Library Resource Centre. In addition to this, the programme team provide an open workshop one evening per week where you can seek additional support and guidance with your modules and assessments throughout the duration of the course.
Through individual progress meetings you will be able to discuss and engage in career development activities to provide opportunities for you to focus on applying your learning and experiences in relation to your future career intentions, as well as discuss opportunities to develop your academic skills through specific actions. In addition, content and resources for scheduled career development sessions will be provided by B&FC’s established and experienced Careers Team.
A range of student-centred teaching and learning approaches will support your academic development including lectures, which will be scaffolded and deliver the indicative content of the session, supported by teacher led and student centred activities to apply theory to practice. Directed seminars will allow you to engage and develop your confidence, with guest speakers and industry representation from the sector, allowing you to consolidate and develop your learning.
Expert tutors
All tutors involved in the delivery of courses within the College are approved to teach the subjects and modules they deliver.
Our recruitment process ensures that tutors delivering a given programme are suitably qualified and, where appropriate, possess relevant technical and industrial experience and professional practice. The aim of this is to enrich our students’ learning experience and enable them them to get the inside track on what working in the industry is really like.
Learning Methods
| Learning Method | Level 4 | Level 5 | Level 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled | 288 | 0 | 0 |
| Independent | 912 | 0 | 0 |
| Placement | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 1200 | 0 | 0 |
How will I be assessed?
You will study the following modules as part of your Cert HE in Children Families and Education and include the following:
Academic Skills - 40% poster and 60% essay
Safeguarding Across the Lifespan - 50% group seminar and 50% essay
Child Development and Family Life - 40% presentation and 60% report
Legislation Policy and Inclusion - 30% booklet and 70% essay
Professional Partnerships - 30% presentation and 70% report
Reflective Practice - 50% reflective portfolio and 50% development plan
| Assessment Method | Level 4 | Level 5 | Level 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 74% | 0% | 0% |
| Exam | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Practical | 0% | 0% | 0% |