Clearing is now open for September 2026 – apply today and start your journey at the UK’s No.1 university for student satisfaction! ✨

BA (Hons)

Early Childhood Education in Practice (Graduate Practitioner) (LETTA)

Year of Entry

2026-27

2027-28

Apply for this course

Why study this course

Study just one day a week and continue gaining hands-on experience in your current role

Gain the ECSDN Graduate Practitioner Competencies, highly valued by employers and recognised across the sector

Connect with like-minded professionals, share ideas, and build a network that lasts beyond graduation

This programme is your gateway to leadership roles, teaching qualifications, and advanced postgraduate study

Course summary

Are you ready to take your career in Early Childhood Education to the next level? Our BA (Hons) Early Childhood Education in Practice (Graduate Practitioner) is a dynamic, work-based top-up degree designed for those who have already completed a relevant Foundation Degree or Higher Education Diploma. This one-year, in-person programme allows you to continue working or volunteering while you study, supporting your professional development and opening doors to sector-recognised Graduate Practitioner status.

Please note that this course is taught at LETTA.

Apply for this course

Order Prospectus

Book your open day

Key facts

Award	BA (Hons)
UCAS code	LE05
Typical offer	96 points
Duration	1 year
Mode of study	Full time
Start date	September 2026
Award	Lincoln Bishop University
Institution code	B38

LETTA

Apply for this course

When you're ready to apply, the route you take will depend on your personal circumstances and preferred method of study. Click the relevant button below to start your application journey.

Apply Now

About this course

This innovative degree is the natural progression for graduates of Lincoln Bishop University’s Foundation Degree in Early Childhood Education in Practice (Graduate Practitioner) and is also open to those with similar qualifications from other institutions. You’ll attend LETTA one day per week, making it possible to balance your studies with ongoing work or voluntary commitments in a setting that supports children's learning.

Throughout the programme, you’ll deepen your understanding of current issues, professional practice, and practitioner research in Early Childhood Education. The course welcomes applicants from a wide range of early childhood contexts, including nurseries, preschools, schools, childminders, home-based care, and community projects. You’ll critically reflect on your own practice, analyse key systems and policies, and explore topics such as leadership, contemporary issues, and critical approaches to pedagogy.

Scheduled Teaching Hours

Undergraduate programmes consist of 360 HE credits, with each credit equating to 10 hours of learning.

Depending upon the mode of delivery (i.e. face-to-face/in-person, online or a blend of these) and whether your course is full-time or part-time, the delivery of the scheduled hours for the programme will involve taught input, independent study, and where applicable, work-based or placement hours.

What you will study

Students on this course currently study some or all of the following modules:

Course modules

Kickstart your journey into academic research! This module introduces you to the fundamentals of research design and methodology, preparing you to undertake your own practitioner research project.

Explore the big questions facing early childhood education today. You’ll analyse current policies, social and political issues, and reflect on how these shape your professional practice whilst developing your capacity for critical thinking and analysis.

Step into leadership! This module examines what it means to lead in early years settings, encouraging you to critically explore the nature and practice of leadership within a range of professional contexts, alongside collaborative working, and the ability to influence positive change within a workplace environment.

You’ll explore the latest theories of learning and teaching, discover practical strategies for engaging diverse learners, and develop your own unique approach to high-quality teaching. This module empowers you to reflect on your experiences, respond to the challenges of modern education, and connect research with your personal values.

Building on Part 1, you’ll conduct and present a small-scale research project directly linked to your professional setting, with the support of a research supervisor. Working independently in 'research-mode', prepare to lead your own lines of inquiry, supported by a face to face approach to learning.

Throughout the year, you’ll compile an e-portfolio evidencing your achievement of the ECSDN Graduate Practitioner Competencies. This portfolio is your gateway to sector-recognised status, demonstrating your ability to integrate theory with professional practice.

Entry requirements

Typical offer
UCAS points	96

Typically, 240 HE credits from a Foundation Degree or Higher Education Diploma in a relevant field.
Level 2 qualification in English (or equivalent).
At least three years of experience in a voluntary or paid role working with children.
Current voluntary or paid employment in a relevant setting for a minimum of 360 hours per academic year (equivalent to 12 hours per week).
Completion and submission of a signed Workplace Agreement, endorsed by your employer or manager, confirming DBS clearance and support for your studies

Further information

Click here for key information for all undergraduate students.

Click here for all programme specifications.

In accordance with University conditions, students are entitled to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning, RP(C)L, based on relevant credit at another HE institution or credit Awarded for Experiential Learning, (RP(E)L).

How you will be taught

This is a flexible, work-based degree designed to fit around your life. You’ll attend engaging, in-person sessions at LETTA one day per week, with the rest of your learning taking place in your workplace and through our online resources. You’ll join a diverse community of professionals, sharing ideas and learning from each other, all with the support of experienced tutors and the resources of Lincoln Bishop University.

Assessment

Assessment is inclusive, developmental, and rooted in real-world practice. You’ll demonstrate your learning through essays, presentations, group discussions, analytical portfolios, reflective reports, and a substantial independent research project. All assessments are designed to help you connect theory with practice, build your academic confidence, and showcase your professional skills. Individual feedback and tutorial support are also embedded throughout the programme.

Careers & Further study

Graduates are well-prepared for a range of roles in early years education, care, and support services, including leadership positions in nurseries, schools, children’s centres, and community projects. The award also facilitates progression into postgraduate study, such as PGCE or MA programmes, as well as specialist roles in education, safeguarding, and children’s services. Achieving Graduate Practitioner status enhances your employability and sector recognition!

What Our Students Say

Discover what life is like at Lincoln Bishop University from our students.

Support

Studying at Lincoln Bishop is a student-centred experience. Staff and students work together in a friendly and supportive atmosphere as part of an intimate campus community. You will know every member of staff personally and feel confident approaching them for help and advice, and staff members will recognise you, not just by sight, but as an individual with unique talents and interests.

We will be there to support you, personally and academically, from induction to graduation.

Are you a parent or carer supporting someone starting university? Visit our Parents’ Information page for advice, guidance, and reassurance.

Fees & Funding

A lot of student finance information is available from numerous sources, but it is sometimes confusing and contradictory. That’s why at Lincoln Bishop we try to give you all the information and support we can to help to throughout the process. Our Student Advice team are experts in helping you sort out the funding arrangements for your studies, offering a range of services to guide you through all aspects of student finance step by step.

Click here to find information about fees, loans and support which will help to make the whole process a little easier to understand.

Undergraduate course applicants should apply via UCAS using the relevant UCAS code. For 2026 entry, the application fee is £28.95, and you can make a maximum of 5 choices.

For the 2025 cycle, UCAS is removing the undergraduate application fee for any student who is/or has received Free School Meals (FSM) during the last six years, up until the end of their final year at school or college. More information on the UCAS fee waiver can be found here.

For all applicants, there are full instructions at UCAS to make it as easy as possible for you to fill in your online application, plus help text where appropriate. Full details of all tuition fees can be found here.