Early Years Education & Professional Practice with Early Years Practitioner Status (EYPS) BA (Hons)

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Cardiff Metropolitan University Llandaff Campus

Program Overview

This BA (Hons) programme at Cardiff Metropolitan University prepares students to become skilled early years practitioners working with children from birth to age eight. It blends hands-on placements with academic study of child development, early learning, policy, and professional care to develop confident, capable early years professionals.

Curriculum structure

Year One

Year One introduces foundational knowledge essential to early years practice. Students explore holistic growth in Child Development, where they study physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development from birth. They also learn to protect and nurture children’s wellbeing through Safeguarding and the Wellbeing of Children, gaining insight into safe practice and key legal frameworks.
The year focuses heavily on understanding the role of an early years professional through The Emerging Early Years Practitioner, allowing students to connect theory with real-world expectations. Modules such as The Play Work Approach and Children’s Worlds and Empowering Children help them appreciate how play, rights, and culture shape childhood experiences. The first professional placement strengthens practical skills and builds confidence in working directly with children.

Year Two

Year Two deepens critical thinking and professional knowledge. Students learn research skills in Becoming a Researcher, exploring academic enquiry within early childhood contexts. Modules such as Child, Family and Society examine social and cultural factors that influence childhood and family life.
They also develop understanding of early communication, numeracy, and science through Numbers, Words and Wires in the Modern World, linking language and digital literacy to early learning. Professional identity evolves further in The Developing Early Years Practitioner, with a strong focus on reflective practice and working collaboratively with families. The year includes Embracing Inclusion: Developing Best Practice for All, which prepares students to support children with diverse needs. A second major placement strengthens applied professional practice.

Year Three

In the final year, students undertake an Independent Project, choosing a research topic related to early years theory or practice. They also explore creative, innovative approaches to early childhood education through Supporting Creativity in the Early Years and Demonstrating Innovation in the Early Years.
The capstone module, The Competent Early Years Practitioner, consolidates three years of study, ensuring each graduate is fully prepared for professional practice and leadership. A final extended placement allows students to demonstrate capability, independence, and readiness to enter the early years workforce.

Focus areas

Early childhood development; play-based learning; child safeguarding and wellbeing; inclusion and diversity; family and community contexts; early years leadership and management; early years policy and curriculum; applied professional placements; research and innovation in early childhood education.

Learning outcomes

Graduates will be able to support children’s holistic development, design inclusive play-based learning environments, apply safeguarding principles, collaborate effectively with families, lead early years settings, and use research-informed, reflective practice to respond creatively to the needs of young children.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

Graduates are awarded Early Years Practitioner Status (EYPS), a recognised qualification for professional practice in early years settings. Students also have opportunities to complete additional recognised qualifications, including a Level 2 Award in Playwork Practice and a Level 5 Certificate in Leadership and Management.

Reputation (employability rankings)

The programme reports a 100% employment or further study rate within 15 months of graduation. Cardiff Metropolitan University is consistently recognised within national rankings for Childhood & Youth Studies, with strong student outcomes and industry-aligned training.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students on the BA (Hons) Early Years Education & Professional Practice with Early Years Practitioner Status (EYPS) develop professional skills through continuous hands-on experience. From the first year onward, they engage directly with children in real early-years settings, allowing them to apply theory immediately and build confidence as future practitioners. The programme also makes full use of Cardiff Met’s specialist facilities, outdoor learning environments, and opportunities to gain additional professional qualifications.

Transition into bullet points, based on how students experience practical learning:

Annual practice-based placements in early years environments such as nurseries, preschools, primary school Foundation Phase classrooms, and children’s centres.
Access to the Llandaff Campus Outdoor Learning Centre and woodland area, supporting forest-school experiences and outdoor-pedagogy workshops.
Opportunities to achieve additional qualifications during the degree, including the Play Wales Level 2 Award in Playwork Practice (L2APP) and a Level 5 Certificate in Leadership and Management endorsed by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM).
Regular guest sessions and input from early years professionals and sector organisations, integrated into modules and practical workshops.
Use of digital tools for reflective practice, online portfolios, child-observation tasks, and planning resources used in early-years settings.
Access to campus learning facilities such as teaching rooms designed for practical workshops, the library, study spaces, and research-active staff supporting academic and professional development.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from the BA (Hons) Early Years Education & Professional Practice with Early Years Practitioner Status at Cardiff Metropolitan University are well prepared to move directly into early childhood roles across education, childcare, and community settings. The combination of academic knowledge, practical experience, and EYPS gives graduates a strong professional identity and excellent employment prospects.

Typical job roles include:
• Early Years Practitioner
• Nursery Manager or Deputy Manager
• Early Years Classroom Assistant
• Family Support or Community Children’s Worker

You will also benefit from the following opportunities throughout your study:
• Specialist employability support: Access to Cardiff Met’s dedicated Career Service offering CV development, mock interviews, employer events, and personalised career planning tailored to early years roles.
• Strong employment outcomes: The most recent Graduate Outcomes data reports that all graduates from this degree progressed to employment or further study within 15 months of completing.
• Industry engagement and partnerships: The programme includes substantial work-based learning with nurseries, early years centres, schools, and community settings, allowing students to build strong professional networks during their degree.
• Accreditation value: Earning Early Years Practitioner Status (EYPS) provides long-term professional recognition and enhances employability within early childhood education across Wales and the UK.
• Graduate strengths: Students complete the degree with extensive placement experience, leadership skills, and a strong understanding of child development, inclusion, and early years pedagogy — all of which broaden career mobility and progression.

Further Academic Progression:

Graduates can continue into postgraduate routes such as a PGCE Primary if they wish to become qualified teachers, with Cardiff Met offering a guaranteed interview for eligible graduates. Students may also progress to a master’s degree in education or other specialist postgraduate pathways in areas such as leadership, additional learning needs, or early years policy.