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BA (Hons) - Working with Children and Families (Top-up)

You want to support and improve the lives of children, young people and their families. This top-up course is designed to develop your knowledge in child development, law, ethics, safeguarding and the debate around the contemporary issues of challenges for children.

The knowledge and skills you'll develop will boost your qualifications to degree level and start you on the career path to becoming a leader in your community and making a difference in people’s lives.

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Course Overview

Learn from industry-expert tutors alongside lectures, seminars, interactive quizzes, creative work, field trips, case studies and more, giving you the skills you need to go into your chosen field. Practical work experience will integrate theoretical understanding into real-life scenarios.

You’ll complete additional qualifications during your studies, including a Safeguarding Certificate, helping to boost your employability. You'll benefit from our strong links with the local community and employers, this degree is rooted in real-world practice.

You will work with children and families in a variety of settings including early years education, social care, sport and community, and the criminal justice system. Due to the wide range of progression routes and options upon graduation, we’ve created a bespoke module where you can review and plan your career options.

On this course you will...

  • Take part in learning which celebrates and links to your real-life experiences brought from previous work, volunteering, caring responsibilities or education.
  • Complete work experience to boost your employability and learn from tutors with wide-ranging professional and research backgrounds.
  • Become part of a learning community of people who want to make a difference, to make the world a fairer place and change things for the better.
  • You'll be taught by a friendly team who get to know you as individuals and support you every step of the way.
  • Benefit from our connection with over 100 youth work organisations across the region and the world. Ensuring up to date practice and graduate opportunities.
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What our students say

  • I love how broad the course is, this allows me to look at a whole range of factors that affect children, young people and families. I feel this broad knowledge will allow me to adapt to different jobs within the sector.
    Hanah Pantling. Working with Children and Families

    Hanah Pantling. Working with Children and Families

    Hanah chose to study Working with Children and Families knowing she wanted to work with children and families to make a positive impact in their lives.

    Read Hanah's Story

Course Structure

What you will learn

This programme is suitable for anyone looking to top up from a FdA or HND (level 5) in a relevant subject who aims to work with children and young people and families. You will develop the knowledge and skills you need for a career across a range of professional areas, or entry into further postgraduate study. The programme has many distinguishing features including an emphasis on interdisciplinary working; employability; internationalisation; research skills and social justice.

You will get an excellent introduction to the wider children’s workforce, the types of work within it and career routes that lie ahead. This keeps your career options open throughout the degree. You will gain a firm understanding of human development, issues of social justice, interdisciplinary professional practice and global perspectives.

Year one
  • Extended Professional Practice Report: Dissertation
    Develop a critical understanding and the skills needed to undertake practitioner-based enquiry, becoming a critical consumer of others' research.
  • Enabling Practice and Empowerment for Communities
    Explore theories, evidence and practice relating to enabling and empowering communities.
  • Outdoor Environments and Experiential Learning
    Explore the history, roots, and range of practices described as urban work, learning in the outdoors and experiential learning.
  • Supporting Health and Wellbeing
    Explore theories, evidence and practice relating to the promotion of health and wellbeing across the lifespan.
  • Employability, Progression and Leadership
    Develop the skills and knowledge to progress with a career working with children and families, including an understanding of management and leadership.
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  • Location

    Carlisle - Fusehill Street Campus

    The Fusehill Street campus has been the setting of life-saving treatments since World War I. Now, it's home to world changers, life-savers, crime fighters, and entrepreneurs with access to high-quality facilities and innovative thinking.

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  • Location

    Lancaster Campus

    Lancaster is the Red Rose heartland, a student haven full of history and culture. With iconic stone architecture, parkland, and a caring community, this is the place to get involved. The campus houses top-quality facilities tailored to the needs of life-savers, world changers, and future leaders.

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Find out more about studying with us

Attend an Open Day at Cumbria

An Open Day is your opportunity to explore one of 5 campuses, meet your lecturers, and find out how the University of Cumbria could become your new home.

Take the next step towards achieving your dreams.
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