Children and Families - Foundation Degree (Progression from Certificate HE)*
Summary
The Foundation Degree (FdA) in Children and Families is a two-year, full-time programme designed to prepare you for a rewarding career supporting young children and their families. This course combines academic study with real-world practice to help you develop the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to succeed in social care and education settings. This programme has been designed in response to the growing demand for highly skilled children and families professionals who can lead practice, support children’s development, and work effectively with families and other professionals.
Over two years, you will gain a strong foundation in child development, safeguarding, and education, before progressing to more advanced study in leadership, service improvement and risk management. The course is aligned to the Children, Young People and Families Residential Manager standard, ensuring that what you learn reflects current industry expectations and prepares you to step confidently into the workplace.
This course is ideal if you: Aspire to work in children and family support settings Are currently working with children and want to progress into leadership or specialist roles Want a career-focused higher education pathway with clear progression opportunities Are interested in working across education, family support and children’s services
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:
Certificate of Higher Education Children, Families and Education L4 will enable progression to the L5 FdA Children and Families.
BTEC Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care or related subject (Merit, Merit, Merit)
Diploma in Children and Young People's Workforce (Merit)
T Level Education and Early Years (Merit) A levels C, C, C (96 UCAS points)
Access to HE Social Science (Merit)
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.
Next course dates
| Start date | Location | Duration / Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
11 Sep 2028
|
University Centre
|
1 Year
/
£0
|
Where can this subject lead?
Career progression
This programme prepares you for a wide range of roles in social care and education sectors. Potential career opportunities include:
Early Intervention Practitioner
Children Residential Manager
Pastoral Support
Family Support Worker
Teaching Assistant or Higher-Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA)
There is strong demand for skilled professionals in this field, with employers seeking individuals who can lead teams, support quality improvement, and work across multi-agency environments. After successfully completing the FdA, you can progress to the BA (Hons) Children, Families and Education (Level 6 Top-up). This creates a clear pathway from entry to degree-level study and beyond.
Employment Opportunities
This programme prepares you for a wide range of roles in social care and education sectors. Potential career opportunities include: Early Intervention Practitioner Children Residential Manager Pastoral Support Family Support Worker Teaching Assistant or Higher-Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA)
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?
You are required to attend the University Centre for one day per week, for two years, where you will complete 3 modules per semester (12 in total for the Foundation Degree). 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.
This course is ideal if you: Aspire to work in children and family support settings Are currently working with children and want to progress into leadership or specialist roles Want a career-focused higher education pathway with clear progression opportunities Are interested in working across education, family support and children’s services.
At Level 5 you will develop more advanced knowledge and professional skills in early years practice and leadership. Modules include:
Wellbeing and Interventions
Practitioner Skill Development
Service Improvement
Work-Based Learning
Leading and Managing Teams
Risk Management
Throughout the programme, you will apply your learning to real-life scenarios, develop reflective practice, and build the confidence to lead and improve services.
Industry placement, field trips and guest speakers
It is expected that you undertake a minimum of 4 hours per week, during term time, in either paid or voluntary practice within a relevant sector setting. This applies across both Level 4 and Level 5 of your programme and is designed to help you make meaningful connections between your academic learning and real‑world practice
How will I learn?
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
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.
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 | 0 | 288 | 0 |
| Independent | 0 | 882 | 0 |
| Placement | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 1200 | 0 |
How will I be assessed?
On this programme you will study the following modules and undertake the associated assessments.
Wellbeing and Interventions - 30% presentation and 70% report
Practitioner Skills Development - 100% portfolio
Work Based Learning - 20% academic poster and 80% report
Leading and Managing Teams - group role play 40% and 60% essay
Service Improvement - 50% essay and 50% report
Risk Management - 30% presentation and 70% plan
| Assessment Method | Level 4 | Level 5 | Level 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 0% | 80% | 0% |
| Exam | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Practical | 0% | 0% | 0% |