BA (Hons) Early Childhood Education and Care

Application to our Early Childhood Education and Care degree are open to those learners who meet the minimum entry requirements, namely an ordinary leaving certificate with;

• Grade H5 or above in a higher-level paper in two subjects or more
• A grade O6/H7 in four subjects, which must include Maths and English or Irish. Foundation level mathematics will meet the minimum entry requirement where a grade F2 or higher is achieved.
• FETAC/QQI applicants must have achieved a full FETAC/QQI Level 5/Level 6 Major Award in ECCE or related discipline where appropriate.
• Other Qualifications would be assessed for equivalency, i.e. using Entry requirements criteria for EU/EFTA Applicants (other than Irish Leaving Certificate).

Mature applicants are also welcome to apply but candidates must be 23 years of age or over on the 1^st January of the year of entry to their programme of study.

Mature candidates with significant related employment field experience may be admitted to the Early Childhood Education and Care programme if they can demonstrate their potential to meet the learning requirements of the programme and satisfy the respective Admissions Criteria and Admissions Regulations.

Required eligibility will be determined by a review of the application, an interview with the admissions tutor (as required), and subject to confirmation with the respective programme leader (also as required).

Where admission with advanced standing is considered all applicants may be required to provide written references for their work experience and/or suitable evidence supporting their application. (Applicants may also be formally considered for admission to the programme using the appropriate Regulations and RPL, procedures at each Programme Stage).

An applicant whose first language is not English or who has not been educated wholly or mainly in the medium of English will either:

• be expected to reach, before commencing a programme, a suitable minimum level of competence in English in order to participate fully in the Programme

or

• will be required to participate in pre-sessional or in-sessional English language classes in order to reach a required level of competency.

English language admission requirements either specified by CEG or the accrediting / awarding / professional body, as appropriate, are required to be satisfied before the commencement of study at CEG. Programme Admission Criteria will specify the levels of achievement in written and oral English language.

Normally this will include evidence of achievement of the British Council International English Language Testing Score (IELTS) at a score indicated in the programme submission (usually IELTS 6) and/or other recognised equivalent international English language test.

The Early Childhood Education and Care course offers the learner the opportunity to gain the necessary skills and theoretical framework from which to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding of the role and work of an Early Childhood professional.

The programme design combines a core of foundational, educational and personal development modules as well as the opportunity to engage in specific areas of specialism.  Each module in its own right examines and explores the unique characteristics of the Early Learning and Care (ELC) sector.

The Early Childhood Education and Care degree aims to produce reflective practitioners who place children’s concerns at the core of their practice. They assume a facilitative role with their adopted theories and specialist knowledge.  The overarching objective of this programme is the development of the professional educators of the future.

Years 1 & 2:

Introduces the learner to the key concepts and theories involved in Early Childhood Education and Care while simultaneously equipping them with the skills and competencies to lead a room in an early childhood education and care setting.

On completion of the Higher Certificate in ECEC the learner will be able to assess the holistic needs of the children in their care and create developmentally appropriate plans to further the child’s learning and care, as well as interacting appropriately with various stakeholders.

On completion of this award, students are eligible to apply to progress onto the BA in Early Childhood Education and Care (Ord).

Year 3 – Will equip the learner with specialised knowledge to lead and manage in the field of early childhood education and care. Learners will be enabled to critically analyse and critique existing bodies of knowledge and build on them with new knowledge.

They will make connections between various modules and theories, concepts, and discourses enabling them to create emergent individual and whole group curriculum plans, design Individual Education Plans (IEPs), utilise inspection tools & the Corrective Action Preventative Action (CAPA) forms, reflect on their own professional practice, lead, and work within a team of professionals.

As leaders in their services, they will also be equipped with the skills to professionally advocate for themselves, their colleagues, and the children and families they work in partnership with.  On completion of this award, students are eligible to apply to progress onto the BA in Early Childhood Education and Care (Hons).

Year 4 – Enables learners to develop a deeper knowledge of ECEC discourses, theories, concepts, and practices whilst simultaneously mastering the skills needed to conduct an individual research project at the cutting edge of social science.

The learner will also be enabled to specialise in one of several areas:

• Special Educational Needs, Equality & Diversity
• Training & Mentoring
• Birth to Three Pedagogy
• Arts & Creativity

Through communities of practice the learners will advance their already existing skills of learning, reflecting, and sharing practice and funds of knowledge and will have the opportunity to lead a community of practice of their own making.

This degree will equip learner with the skills necessary to lead an Early Education and Care service, create policy and specialised practice, and to mentor, support and facilitate fellow colleagues within a team who seek advice in their area of specialism.

*Please note that elective specialist subjects will run subject to sufficient student demand in any given term.

This Early Childhood Education and Care degree is designed in such a way as to maximise critical thinking and create an understanding of the interrelatedness of theory, practice, and information that informs early childhood professionals in their day-to-day practice.

It is also designed to allow the learner access to as much information as possible but without overloading them with coursework. The smart assessment model allows for one piece of submitted work to be assessed twice for two different modules.

Areas of chosen specialism are offered in tandem with practice and research in stage three to encourage a continuation of research in this area during the learner’s future career. It is envisaged that this Early Childhood Education and Care degree would produce professionals that are responsible for separate specialist areas in a service. Those who can advise their team of colleagues or the communities of practice as and when needed, similar to the Ateliarista in Reggio Emilia. The specialist areas are focused in placement and the research project enabling the learner to master a specific area within their specialism which they have a particular interest.

The curriculum was also structured to include global conversations and examine and critique global practices. This was purposefully chosen because Early Childhood Education and Care is a global phenomenon that happens to look very different in practice depending on where in the globe you practice, and what the cultural, societal, economic, and environmental factors are in place.

Level 8 BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Education and Care

The degree is designed with Early Childhood professionals, and the children they will engage with, in mind. The programme has three exit awards:

• Higher Certificate in ECEC (level 6),
• BA Ord in ECEC (level 7), and
• BA Hons. In ECEC (level 8).

At each exit award stage, the Early Childhood Education and Care degree aims to equip future ECEC professionals with the tools to navigate the ever changing landscape of early childhood education and care in Ireland and internationally, provide learners with the tools and dispositions to provide the best practice and care for the children they engage with, and to enable learners to think critically about their roles as professionals, both locally and globally.

Learners will be required to complete the four-year, 240 credit award, a large aspect of which involves experiential learning in the work place and on successful completion of the programme will achieve a BA in Early Childhood Education and Care (Hons) Level 8 award.

The exit award options are suitable for learners who unexpectedly are unable to continue to the final stage of the principle Early Childhood Education and Care degree and wish to exit with a recognised award/qualification.

Below are our Early Childhood Education and Care degree modules, by year:

Year 1 Modules

Placement | Introduction to ECEC in Ireland | Academic Skills | Introduction to Child Psychology | Introduction to Child Development | Educational Philosophy | Approaches, Methods & Curricula | Inclusion, Equality & Diversity in ECEC | Holistic Development Birth to Three Years | Sociology of Childhood | Global Childhoods

Year 2 Modules

Placement | Leadership & Legislation | Advanced Child Psychology & Development | Transitions & Transitional Practice | Children’s Rights & Voice in ECEC | Holistic Development Three to Six Years | Professional Development | Stakeholder & Advocacy in ECEC | Art & Creativity in ECEC | ELC Environments

Year 3 Modules

Placement | Advanced Art & Creativity in ECEC | Assessment, Observation & Planning | Advanced Approaches, Methods & Curricula | Policy Development in ECEC | Professional Skills | Research Methods

Year 4 Modules

Placement | Curriculum Development | Writing for Research | Discourse Analysis in ECEC | ITC Research Skills | Research & dissertation| SEN Specialism | Equality & Diversity Specialis | Training & Mentoring Specialism | Birth to Three Years | Pedagogue Specialism | Creative Arts Specialism

The curriculum of the BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Education and Care is one which is heavily focused on practice placement. This module is the spine or central module in the programme.

All other modules will incorporate exercises, assessments, and reflections from their module into the placement module. Likewise, the placement module will incorporate all the learning from other modules into an ethical, rights-based practice.

Before entering their placement, learners will be required to take the Children First e-learning module developed and designed by Tusla the Child and Family Agency will be taken as part of the course in self-directed learning hours while they wait for their Garda Vetting to process.

300 hours in total over one Academic year will be spent in two early childhood education and care settings, divided as follows:

• One setting will be used as an anchor setting where the learner will spend 260 hours.
• The second setting should be a setting which is distinctly different from the first (to be agreed by the placement supervisor) and 40 hours must be spent there by the student.

Please Note that previous experience in a relevant field obtained prior to commencement of the Early Childhood Education and Care degree/academic year cannot be counted towards the 300 hour requirement.

Below are the fees for our Early Childhood Education and Care degree, depending on the channel you take:

Blended Learning:

Year 1- €2,500
Year 2 – €2,750
Year 3 – €3,500
Year 4 – €3,800
(Fees revised annually)

Part-Time Pricing:

Year 1- €3,250
Year 2 – €3,250
Year 3 – €3,500
Year 4 – €3,850
(Fees revised annually)

Full-Time Pricing:

Irish/EU Residents – €4,650 Per year

Non EU Overseas – €6,650 Year one, €4,650 per year thereafter.

Please note also that there is tax relief for Irish income tax payers at the standard rate of 20% on all fees exceeding €1,000 and up to €7,000. Further details here.

Noelle McNamara
SNA Tutor | ECEC Degree Lecturer

I have achieved my- Level 8 BA honours Early Childhood Education and Care Degree- As well as achieving my CACHE N.N.E.B Nursery Nursing Diploma and also my CACHE Level 4 NVQ Qualification’s in Children’s Learning Care and Development.

I currently hold a vast and wide range of experience having worked within the field of Early Childhood Education and Care for the past 25 years. Working with and supporting children and their families within various- different professional roles both here in Ireland and in the United Kingdom.

Specialising in supporting children with SEN and their families within the  professional roles of Area Special Needs Co ordinator, Early Support Officer and Key worker. I am trained in specific packages of SEN support for children with SEN and their families such as Portage, PECS, Makaton, Intensive Interaction.

Lydia Murphy
Academic Skills

Lydia Murphy is a trained educator in Early Childhood Care and Education. Her special interests include relational pedagogy, love in education, empowering voices, and reflective practice.

As an early years PhD student researcher, she studies the role of the early years professionals supporting reciprocal relationships with themselves, babies /toddlers/children, their carers in educational environments/communities.

Lydia seeks to interrogate potential deficit narratives that trickle into communities particularly those experiencing disadvantage.

Alicia Kelly
ECEC 110 Global Childhoods | ECEC 110 Sociology of Childhood

My name is Alicia Kelly and I’ve worked in the Early Years Sector for over 12 years. I began my journey completing my FETAC Level 5 when I left school and returned to education while working full time.

I completet my BA Honours degree in Early Years Teaching and Learning followed by a degree in Training and Education. I thoroughly enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience with budding Early Years Professionals and am very excited about the year ahead.

Anne Dixon
Early Years Consultant | ECEC Degree Lecturer

Annie Dixon is an Early Years Consultant and is currently the Managing Director of ADC, Early Years Consultancy. Annie has a BA (Hons) Degree in Early Childhood Studies and is Certified in Human Resource Management.

Having continually upskilled throughout her career Annie is trained in the Highscope, Montessori and Intentional Play based curriculums all of which can be underpinned through Aistear and Síolta.

Timea Zolei
Early Childhood Education and Care Tutor

Timea delivers the Holistic Development and Professional Development modules for Early Childhood Education and Care Degree at City College Dublin. She is also lecturing on the National College of Ireland’s Early Childhood Education and Care Bachelor’s programme the Music, Movement, Art and Drama module and is part of the placement supervisor’s team.

Timea also works with Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board tutoring ESOL and IT and has also previously taught Level 5 and Level 6 Early Childhood Education and Care modules for Tipperary Education and Training Board. Timea also has experience working in a childcare setting for a number of years.

She has a passion for Education, and believes that providing quality early years education has a lifetime effect on everyone.

Qualifications include:

• Master’s in Educational Practice (National College of Ireland)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Arts in Educational Practice in Teaching for Further Education (National College of Ireland)
• BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care (National College of Ireland)
• Special Needs Assistant (Forus Training)
• Registered with The Teaching Council (Registration number: 237130)

Isaac Antwi Boasiako
IT Research

Isaac is an Assistant lecturer and a PhD Candidate at the School of Media Technological University Dublin [TU Dublin] with experience in higher education teaching and learning from Poland and Ghana.

As an academic and researcher, he has published a number of articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented academic papers at various conferences and symposia. His research interests include digital research methods, international relations and strategic communications. Isaac is also a member of the Public Relations Institute – Ireland.

The Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 states that vetting must completed before a person is appointed, assigned or allowed access to or contact with children attending the service. That includes our Early Childhood Education and Care degree.

This also includes a section on Police vetting which is required for anyone who has lived outside Ireland for more than 6 consecutive months.

Police Vetting is undertaken by the individual and given to the registered provider.

Police vetting is required for each country a student has lived in outside of Ireland for longer than 6 consecutive months since the age of 18.

Police vetting states that the individual it relates to has no convictions recorded against them while residing there.

Translation of Police Vetting Police vetting documents provided in a language other than English or Irish must be translated through a translation service and the evidence of the source of translation be made available to the Early Years Inspectorate. It may be helpful to contact the relevant embassies, who could provide information on seeking Police Clearance. Information about embassies can be found on the Department of Foreign Affairs website dfa.ie.