LEEDS CITY COLLEGE
HIGHER EDUCATION SCHEME
FdA Children’s Care, Learning and Development
COURSE HANDBOOK
Full time and Part time
2016/17
Contents
1Welcome to the College…………………………………………….3
2About your course…………………………………………………….6
3Student Support System……………………………………………12
4Your responsibilities as a student………………………………15
5Assessment…………………………………………………………….19
6Academic and student regulations…………………………….27
7Quality control………………………………………………………..30
8Have your say ……………..……………………………...... 33
9Where to get help……………………………………………………35
10College HE Calendar……………………………………Appendix 1 P38
11Learning Outcome grids………………………………Appendix 2 P41
12Assessment grids……………………………………….Appendix 3 P42
13Assessment timetable…………………………………Appendix 4 P44
1Welcome to the College
1.1Welcome from the Principal
I am delighted to have this opportunity to welcome you to Leeds City College.
Thank you for choosing to study a Higher Education course with us.
Our provision continues to be commended externally. In a recent HE inspection, carried out by the Higher Education Quality Assurance Agency in May 2016 (The QAA inspects all Universities and colleges) the high quality of our HE programmes was confirmed and it was noted that our approach to supporting and facilitating scholarly activity and the implementation of our new Virtual Learning Environment were areas of good practice.
We regularly seek the views of our students on the quality of their courses and use this information to make improvements. Student satisfaction is consistently high, with students commenting on the level of support provided and the quality of feedback they receive on their work.
At Leeds City College we know that the whole HE experience is at the heart of student success. That’s why, in addition to the actual teaching and learning experience, our campuses have a friendly, supportive atmosphere and we offer a range of support services which cater for individual needs.
We hope you enjoy your time with us.
Colin Booth
Chief Executive & Principal
1.2Welcome toLeeds City College
Welcome to Leeds City College and the School of Health, Social Care, Childcare and Public Services. In particular, welcome to the FdA Children’s Care, Learning and Development.
This handbook provides you with information about your FdA Children’s Care, Learning and Developmentcourse (which is validated by Teesside University), the school, your responsibilities as a student, support available to you, in addition to information about assessment and other regulatory issues.
Now that you have enrolled, our aim is to offer you all possible help and support to enable you to gain the qualification, prepare you to be successful in the social care sector and also for progression onto a relevant BA (Hons)Degree top-up course if that is your choice.
The team is looking forward to meeting you and hopes that your time in Leeds is both enjoyable and successful.
Best wishes to you in your future studies.
Linda Cawthorne
Head of Higher Education, Health, Social Care and Childcare
Jackie Ingham
Award Leader–FdA and BA (Hons) Social Care (Adult and Community)
1.3Which School is my course in?
Your Foundation Degree course is located in the College’s School of Health, Social Care, Childcare and Public Services.
The organisation’s structure is as follows:
Director of School of Health and Caring Services: Suzy Gallagher
Head of Higher Education Health, Social Care and Childcare: Linda Cawthorne
Award Leader: Jackie Ingham
Module Leaders
Module Lecturers
1.4What facilities are available?
The college has Library plus facilities as well as teaching rooms with some computer access. There are some HE private study spaces for both quiet study and group study.
1.5What can I do once I graduate?
On completion of your Foundation Degree you can either work in your field, top up to a full Degree or apply to gain your Early Years Practitioner Status with an appropriate training provider. One of our previous students was the 500th Early Years Professional at Leeds Metropolitan University. Other students have achieved jobs in Primary teaching and Management positions.
Many of our students are employed in the sector prior to starting on the FdA CCLD and growing numbers of students have been employed by their voluntary work placements during their study.
2About your course
2.1Welcome to the course
The FdA Children’s Care, Learning and Development award reflects the aims of the Leeds City College HE Scheme. The curricula is informed by external reference points,which develop a range of technical, professional, vocational, employability transferable and key skills appropriate to the level of the award, it aims:-
To develop lifelong, independent and reflective learners;
To enhance the employability and career prospects of learners;
To produce capable and well-rounded graduates who will contribute to the skill base of the local economy and region;
The ability to work towards Early Years Professional status.
The course is delivered over 2 years.
Learners for the part time route are required to hold a relevant level 3 childcare qualification prior to the commencement of the course and to be working in the sector.Those on the full time route need to have some experience with children and hold relevant academic qualifications.
2.2Aims of the course
This Foundation Degree gives you the opportunity to study in the field of Childcare and Education with children and young people (0-18yrs). The course aims to support you to develop a range of technical, professional, vocational, employability, transferable and key skills (0-18 years) whilst working or entering the childcare and education workforce. The course aims to develop lifelong, independent and reflective learners and enhance the employability and career prospects of learners within the childcare and education sector. We aim to produce capable and well-rounded graduates who will contribute to the childcare and education skill base of the local economy and region. The course will prepare suitably qualified and knowledgeable graduates with the ability to work towards the changing requirements for Early Years Practitioners in light of the developments within DfE (2013) More Great Childcare.
2.3Course Learning Outcomes
During your course you will have opportunities to develop a range of academic, professional and transferrable skills relevant to a professional working in the childcare and education sector. These will include: - team-working, research, critical evaluation, presentation, independent learning, reflective practice skills and contribute to your continued professional development. The outcomes for level 4 and level 5 are listed below.
Knowledge & UnderstandingLevel 4
KU1 / Describe, explain and use key theories, concepts and principles relevant to the childcare and education sector.
KU2 / Apply knowledge of the relevant academic theory and principles underpinning skills development in the childcare and education sector.
KU3 / Select, assess, evaluate and interpret a range of data in order to enable key principles of childcare practice to be addressed.
KU4 / Discuss the underpinning principles of communication and supportive practices when working with children, parents/carers and other professionals.
Level 5
KU1 / Critically appraise a range of relevant and conflicting theories, concepts and principles relating to care, development and education.
KU2 / Critically analyse key values and principles associated with personal and professional development in relation to childcare and education in the private, public and voluntary sectors.
KU3 / Analyse, evaluate and interpret a wide range of data in order to enable unfamiliar/more complex problems and key principles relating to childcare and education to be explored.
KU4 / Analyse and appraise childcare and education principles when communicating with children, parents/carers, colleagues and other relevant professional agencies.
Cognitive/Intellectual Skills
Level 4
CI1 / Apply new knowledge and understanding of ethical work-practices within the childcare and education sector.
CI2 / Apply basic principles and values to solve a range of simple problems in childcare practice.
CI3 / Show a development towards working with limited autonomy under direction or supervision.
LEVEL 5
CI1 / Analyse the impact of the application of new knowledge and understanding to ethical work practices within the childcare and education sector.
CI2 / Critically evaluate and discuss the application of key childcare principles and values to solve more complex problems.
CI3 / Develop autonomy and independence within a childcare or education setting with limited need for supervision, whilst adhering to codes of confidentiality and ethical work practices.
Practical/Professional Skills
Level 4
PP1 / Demonstrate reflective and reflexive practices to support personal and professional development in childcare and education, moving towards independent learning.
PP2 / Reflect on own value systems, development and practices in relation to working within the childcare and education sector.
PP3 / Question concepts and theories encountered in their studies in relation to childcare and education.
Level 5
PP1 / Reflect on personal value systems, development and practices and compare these with alternative systems in childcare and education.
PP2 / Use research critically and effectively to sustain and develop own practice in the childcare and education sector.
PP3 / Critically evaluate practical situations in childcare and education using appropriate tools and methods in relation to the private, public and voluntary sectors.
Key Transferable Skills
Level 4
KT1 / Develop communication skills with children, parents/carers and other professionals within childcare and education.
KT2 / Identify and review own personal and professional boundaries.
KT3 / Use basic IT skills and tools to develop academic and professional standards of presentation.
Level 5
KT1 / Communicate effectively with children, parents/carers, colleagues and other relevant professional agencies within the childcare and education sector.
KT2 / Demonstrate habits of critical reflection in own practice in childcare and education and begin to modify actions appropriately.
KT3 / Demonstrate an effective contribution to team working.
2.4What will I learn?
You will study the following 20 credit modules during your full or part time course.
Students studying on the foundation degree full time will attend college for 2 days per week and work placement for a minimum of 10-12 hours per week throughout their study. Full time students also have tutorial and study support sessions on their timetable.
Students studying on the foundation degree part time will attend college for 1 day per week and be employed in a relevant workplace throughout their study. Tutorial sessions will be booked on an individual basis.
All modules are delivered in either semester 1 or semester 2. The modules build upon each other and the placement experience. Please see chart.
Level 4
Semester 1Weeks 1-15 / Skills for Professional Development / Supportive Learning Environments / Supporting Holistic Development
Semester 2
Weeks 16-30 / Practitioner Skills for the Early Years Educator / Supporting Families / Supporting the Unique Child
Level 5
Semester 1Weeks 1-15 / The Reflective Practitioner / Supporting Language Development / How Children Learn
Semester 2
Weeks 16-30 / Creating Environments for Learning / Social Policy and Families / Leadership and Management
2.5How will I be taught?
A mixture of lectures, tutorials and seminars will be used. The lecture programme will impart the necessary principles and concepts. The seminars will be a mixture of student and tutor led sessions considering practical examples of the principles and concepts. The tutorials will take the form of individual support and feedback for students by tutors or other students. Tutor led sessions will be held to provide an opportunity for students to work on examples and case studies in the areas covered by the lectures.
Student-led tutorials will consist of action learning activities, discussion groups and report-back sessions which allow students to develop their research, communication and teamwork skills.
The FdA Children’s Care, Learning and Development course is Higher Education and you must make your own notes. You need to write enough to ensure you have a good understanding of the subject, as a starting point for further reading and research and as a basis for your assignment work. A good set of notes, built up week by week, is the most valuable learning resource of all.
2.6How will I be assessed?
For each module, you will complete one or two assessments which may contain a number of tasks. In addition, tutors may set ungraded or formative assessments as part of the learning process. These formative assessments are important as they give you a chance to obtain feedback on your performance before your summative assessments. At the end of the module, a mark is awarded based on the evidence of the summative assessments.
We aim to use a range of assessment methods throughout the Foundation Degree to take into account students’ preferred learning styles.
All modules have an element of work based learning or reflection within the assessment. This is not, however, assessed in practice but workplace feedback will be sought in the form of placement reports and mentor feedback.
As work based learning and the links from theory to practice are integral to the award it is essential that all students adhere to strict codes of confidentiality, and seek consent from the appropriate sources prior to using case studies and examples from work practice.
You will have opportunities to gain recognition during your time at Leeds City College for the extra activities you do on top of your studies, including volunteering, student societies, playing in College sports teams and being a student academic representative.
3Student Support System
3.1Who is going to teach me?
Your module lecturers are the members of the College staff who you will have most contact with. Their job is to manage and deliver their part (module) of your programme of study, assess and grade your work, and also give you continuous feedback on how you’re doing.
Lecturers aim to develop adult, professional relationships with students. You are encouraged to voice any concerns that you might have about your work with the lecturer concerned.
Our job is to do all we can to help you succeed but we can’t do this unless you talk to us about anything that is worrying you.
You will be allocated a personal tutor whose job it is to deal with any problems that can’t be settled at lecturer level, plus more general concerns that you might have, for example any problems you might have which may be affecting your work.
The Head of Higher Education for Health, Social Care and Childcare has overall responsibility for the running of the Foundation Degree and the well-being of the students.
The Head of Higher Education for Health, Social Care and Childcare is Linda Cawthorne and the Award Leader is Jackie Ingham.
Your Foundation Degree in Children’s Care, Learning and Development management team can be contacted:-
Telephone number: 0113 3087903 (Linda)
0113 2162446 (Jackie)
E-mail address:
Or
Linda Cawthorne
Linda is the Head of Department for Higher Education for the Health and Caring Services. Linda has substantial experience of managing the training of childcare and social care professionals on a wide range of vocational courses at Leeds City College.Linda has specialised in working with children, young people and their families in social disadvantage and has studied a Masters in this field of work. She is interested in action research and how this can influence workplace practices.
Jackie Ingham
Jackie is the Award Leader for FdA and BA Hons CCLD and FdA Learning Support. Jackie has substantial experience of managing the training of childcare professionals on a wide range of vocational courses at Leeds City College. She has worked in primary education, supporting children with special educational needs and has managed a pre-school for a number of years. Jackie’s research interests are in how children learn through naturalistic play and risk taking.
Berni Sutcliffe
Berni is a tutor on the FdA CCLD. She has been a tutor on various training courses for childcare professionals within the college. She was a nurse working in a variety of settings, as well as a childcare professional working with children and their families. Berni’s interests lie in family structures and the ‘middle child syndrome.’
You can contact Berni on 0113 2162184 or e-mail her on
Jacquie McPartlan
Jacquie has an Undergraduate degree in Health Studies and a Masters degree in Childhood Studies. She is a qualified teacher (PGCE) and has been lecturing in the field of health and childhood since 1999. With substantial experience of training early years workers at level 3, leading and delivering several modules on the Foundation Degree and BA (Hons) in Children’s Care and Learning at Leeds City College. Specialising in social exclusion and working with families. She has previously been a project worker with children, young people and their families experiencing social exclusion. Jacquie has been the Chair of a local Children’s Centre Advisory Board for the last 3 years.
For each module, the module leader will set out the preferred method of communicating general information about that module to you, which may be by e-mail or notices posted on the course VLE.
3.2What study facilities are available in the Library+
The library+ centres at Leeds City College contain a range of services to help you with your studies:
- An extensive collection of books and other publications.
- Journals and e-resources.
- Access to computers with printing allowances allocated to individuals.
- A very helpful team of staff who will be happy to help you gain the maximum benefit from the services.
- A dedicated member of staff for your award.
- Full details of the range of facilities available at each of the college campuses.
PLEASE NOTE: You will need to register with Library+ in order to be able to use the facilities, including the computers. To do this you will need your student ID card which you were issued with when you enrolled.