Our 3 year full time degree is unique to Norland College. It combines degree level study with practical sessions and experience with children, enabling you to put the theory into practice. 

Running alongside the degree is the unique Norland Diploma which will set you apart from other early years professionals.  The Diploma will add an even greater array of practical skills and experience to your early years toolkit.

What will I learn on this course?

This course provides an exciting opportunity to develop your knowledge and understanding of the early years. Our lecturers have a passion for this subject area and considerable professional and academic experience in both education and health.  Their teaching draws on approaches from many disciplines including psychology, child health, history, philosophy, social science, literature and education. 

Outside speakers are regularly invited to the college to give you an opportunity to listen to people already working in the field.

To find out more about the subjects you will study, click on Course Map and Modules above.

How is the course structured?

Each of the three years is divided into two semesters; half of each semester will be spent in college and the other half will be spent in placement.

In the third and last year you will also be required to complete a dissertation on a subject of your choice related to the early years. 

During the final semester of the third year we focus on teaching you life skills which will be relevant to your future employment. These include First Aid, interview techniques, fitting car seats and driving in difficult conditions.

What is the Norland Diploma?

In order to qualify as a Norlander, all students must successfully complete the BA (Hons) degree and each of the four elements of the Norland Diploma.

The Norland Diploma is embedded in your three year study for the degree and is not a ‘stand-alone’ course.

It is what distinguishes Norland graduates from any other early years professional and makes them highly sought after.

The Norland Diploma puts a strong focus on the holistic development of the child and consists of four elements: Placements, Play and Learning, Care and Wellbeing, and Food and Nutrition.  

Placements are for 6 weeks at a time with one study day a week spent back at college.

The other 3 elements of the Norland Diploma take place one day a week when you are in college and also studying towards the degree. We also spend the summer term focusing on the Norland Diploma.

Click on 'Norland Diploma' at the top of this page, to find out more.

To see the different careers graduates from this course go on to do, click here.

The entry requirements for the BA (Hons) in Early Years Development and Learning (Norland) are:

A minimum of 5 GCSEs (which must include English and Maths) at grade C or above

and

A minimum of 200 UCAS points achieved at A Level or equivalent study

For information on tariff points please see the UCAS tariff tables.

Students with the full International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma fulfil the entry requirements for the BA (Hons) in Early Years Development and Learning (Norland).  

Students awarded the International Baccalaureate Certificate must have scored points that are equivalent to a minimum of 200 IB UCAS tariff points.

Pass rate

For 2012 Norland College has a 100% pass rate for the BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies (Norland).

Please note that the information outlined below is awaiting validation and is therefore subject to change. 

Course Map - Level I

Course Map - Level II 

Course Map - Level III 

The Norland Diploma is not a ‘stand-alone’ course but is embedded in your study for the BA (Hons) degree. 

It is what distinguishes Norland graduates from any other early years professional and makes them highly sought after.

The Diploma places a strong focus on the holistic development of the child and consists of four modules: Placements, Play and Learning, Care and Wellbeing, and Food and Nutrition. 

Placements are for 6 weeks at a time with one study day a week spent back at college. The other 3 modules of the Norland Diploma take place one day a week when you are in college and also studying towards the degree. We also spend the summer term focusing on the Norland Diploma.

All students must successfully complete the BA (Hons) degree and each of the four elements of the Norland Diploma in order to qualify as a Norlander.

Placements

During each year of your course, you will take time out from your academic study and spend two 6 week blocks in 2 different early years placements (in Bath).

Placements provide you with the opportunity to put into practice what you have learnt in lectures.

They also provide you with a fantastic variety of experience that will assist in making important decisions about where to take your career.

The placements cover the age range of newborn up to 8 years of age and can include:

• Nurseries
• Family Centres
• Primary Schools
• Family Homes – either ‘living-in’ or ‘living-out’
• Special needs placement
• Hospital placement – maternity and/or paediatric

During your time on a placement, regular reports are completed to monitor your progress. You are also visited regularly, to help support your learning and understanding.

During the first two years, you are placed in a variety of placements; in the third year, you can choose your path e.g a school, nursery or family setting.

Play and Learning

During Play and Learning sessions you will investigate a full range of activities related to helping children develop and how to promote their future development. You will learn to recognise developmental milestones and be alert to any factors which might affect a child’s development.

Topics include:

• The value of play
• How to observe children at play
• Understanding the importance of working with other professionals
• Managing challenging behaviour

These sessions are a mixture of theory and hands-on activities, ensuring that you have a high level of knowledge ready for linking your practice to theory.

Care and Wellbeing

During these sessions you will cover a variety of practical skills that ensure the welfare of the child is paramount at all times.

Topics include:

• Childhood illnesses
• Personal care of a child
• Care of a newborn and the mother
• Travelling with children
• Home safety

You will also be required to complete the Paediatric First Aid & Anaphylactic Shock Awareness Certificate before you graduate.

The course is specifically designed for early years practitioners and will enable Norland students to provide the best possible care to children in an emergency situation. Topics covered on the course include: Incident management, Assessing casualties, Management of the unconscious casualty, Resuscitation of babies and children, Airway obstruction, Management of the Asthmatic child, Control of severe bleeding, Management of the epileptic and convulsive child, Head injuries, Fractures, Anaphylactic shock and the use of an Epi Pen & Ana Pen, Poisoning, Burns and scalds, Eye injuries, Meningitis, Sickle cell, Heat exhaustion, Dehydration, Hypothermia and Drowning.

Once successfully completed, you will be awarded the ABC Medical qualified First Aider badge. This qualification is valid for 3 years and you will be given the opportunity to return to Norland to renew your certificate before it expires.

This training is provided by Mark Davis REMT-A, FRSPH, FRSA, MInstLM, AIfL of ABC Medical Services (Reading) Ltd.

Food and Nutrition

Nutrition and diet are vitally important to children’s development and growth and so paramount to the welfare of children.

As well as learning about the nutritional needs of young children, these sessions allow you to gain hands on experience in preparing food suitable for a variety of ages.

Topics include:

• How to prepare meals for children on special diets
• How to encourage choosy eaters to eat a more varied diet
• Safety in the kitchen environment
• Food hygiene
• Cooking with children

Throughout their time at the college and in the last few weeks of their final term at Norland, our BA (Hons) students attend lectures and sessions that will help them prepare for employment.

Mock Interviews

Students are given mock interviews in preparation for employment. Students are expected to research the area where the job is located just as they would in a real interview scenario. Following the interviews constructive feedback is provided.

Guest Speakers

Various different early years professionals are invited to speak at the college during employment weeks. This includes a working Norland Nanny who will share her experiences with the students, offer advice and answer questions.

Voice - The Union for Educational Professionals

All of our students thinking of working as Norland Nannies are strongly advised to take out Public Liability insurance. To help with this, Voice, The Union for Educational Professionals, deliver a presentation to the students about how to go about this and also about the benefits of belonging to a union.

Self Defence

These sessions focus on teaching the students to protect themselves and the children in their care. Students are taught basic self defence techniques and strategies for handling a potentially threatening situation. They are also trained in tactics for limiting risks and avoiding danger.

Skid Pan/Defensive Driving

This course involves the students attending a classroom session to learn the general theory about what causes a car to skid. Under close supervision and tuition they then learn how to drive in difficult conditions as well as avoiding skidding on icy and wet roads.

London Trip

Many of the first jobs undertaken by our students are based in London. In preparation for this, students spend a day in London getting to know their way around and performing tasks and research in areas that are relevant to their mock interview locations.

Forest School

Students spend the day at a local forest school learning about how to use outdoor spaces to  teach children, allowing them to take risks and learn from the environment around them. The day typically starts with a walk to collect wild edible plants such as wild garlic, and dry wood and kindling to start a small fire. In pairs the students learn how to start a fire whilst learning about the surrounding environment. In the afternoon they learn woodworking methods to make wooden utensils.

Baby Massage Course

Students are taught basic baby massage strokes that can be incorporated into a baby’s routine particularly at bed times. These massage techniques can help a baby to relax and prepare to be put down for the night.

2013 Entry

For 2013 entry, tuition fees are £12,750 for the academic year. 

Please note: these tuition fees are subject to annual review. 

Information about Norland College bursaries and budgeting for your studies can be found here.

To find out more about this course, please email enquiries@norland.co.uk or telephone 01225 904035.

To download a copy of the prospectus, click here.