Post 1 - The Graduands of Liverpool Hope University

Student’s perspectives on the value of the Early Childhood degree

The Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector is essential for promoting health, well-being, and development by providing nurturing care. It supports cognitive, emotional, and social growth during the critical years of a child's life and in some settings, provides early intervention that contributes to long-term educational success. In others it serves to reduce social disparities, benefiting children and society. If early childhood and care is prioritised, then professionals can help build a healthier and more capable generation for the future.

The Early Childhood course provides valuable knowledge in order to support individuals in practice. Students are introduced to key theories and learn how to apply these in the workplace, from how children’s cognitive skills develop to how their environment impacts their development and life experiences. Theory also focuses on social-emotional well-being, spirituality, family life and the role of social policy on children’s lives. The course gives students an abundance of extensive knowledge to understand how children develop their understanding of the world, and allows them to see children as individuals. Inclusive practice is emphasized to aid students to support children with diverse needs and various cultural backgrounds, and the course highlights the significance of nurturing relationships with children and families, building trust in the ECEC sector. The degree also highlights the importance of communicating with parents and other professionals in order to put a child’s needs first. Theory can be a practitioner's most powerful tool in helping to enhance the learning experience for children, to promote their social-emotional well-being and self-confidence, and promote a positive relationship with education. All of these will aid them in their later years.

Early Childhood students are also encouraged to reflect on their work and practice, helping them grow and improve their ability to support children. The course challenges students to look deeply into how they act and think in practice, and to challenge other professionals in their practice too. Additionally it provides the tools and mindset to reflect on what they do, why they do it and how they do it. Additionally, the degree can direct students to reflect on what motivates them to make a change. This creates a workforce which is willing to be critical and adapt for the improvement of the early childhood sector.

Placement is an important factor. One student reflects:

I had the privilege to undertake a varied amount of insightful, worthwhile and eye-opening placements as part of my GPC throughout my Early Childhood Degree. This included a mainstream school in Reception, a Nursery in preschool, a Children’s Centre and a week’s work experience at a Children’s Hospital. These experiences have allowed me to apply my knowledge from the course into practice and to acquire further skills to prepare me to be an inspiring, passionate and determined practitioner in my future career. At each placement I have been assigned supportive, dedicated and encouraging mentors who have provided opportunities to work with children with Special Educational Needs. Without the GPCs I would have never had the opportunity to work closely with Play Specialists in a selection of wards to provide children with meaningful interactions to make their hospital experience less overwhelming and fearful. This ignited a desire in my heart to explore healthcare roles in Children's Hospitals in the future; without this experience I would have never considered this to be an area of interest for me.

Finally, the Early Childhood Degree helps students prepare for careers focused on nurturing and educating young children such as: teaching, nursery, speech and language, and social work. It can also lead to further education, supporting wider opportunities such as working overseas or undertaking more in-depth research. Another student explains how she has built on many of her existing skills and abilities as well as nurturing new qualities. For example, learning about topics such as children's well-being, global childhoods and different types of families has given insight into the real-life situations of many children, encouraging her to develop emotional intelligence, especially empathy, in relation to these cases. It has also facilitated criticality and further improved communication skills through classroom discussions and debates. She writes: ‘I have become truly inspired by the tutors and lecturers, and I look forward to progressing onto my social work MA, and eventually supporting vulnerable children and families within my local community.’

Reflecting on the course overall, we are passionate about the future of this degree and advocate for its impact on students and the sector.