Course Overview

Knowledgeable and effective practitioners are vital in supporting children to develop their learning and achieve their potential. This new and innovative degree is designed for people who are working in, or who aspire to work with children as a teaching assistant, special needs assistant, cover supervisor, HLTA, or outdoor learning practitioner.

The Foundation Degree in Education and Development offers pathways of specialization in Teaching and Learning, SEND, or Outdoors Learning.

Whilst studying this foundation degree you will explore factors from the perspectives of both young people and practitioners that can influence learning and development as well as how the environment and curriculum support development. As a result, you will have the knowledge and skills needed to make a significant difference in learners’ outcomes.

This program has been developed to draw and build upon prior experience and skills to support you in discovering fresh insights.

Completion of the Foundation Degree will enable you to progress to our BA Hons in Professional Practice (BAPP) which takes one year to complete leading to the award of an honors degree. Typically 95% of FD students at SCIL carry on to undertake a BAPP after completing their Foundation Degree.

Once they have completed FDED and BAPP, students are able to apply for routes to gain qualified teacher status. Our graduates pursue exciting and diverse careers in a variety of roles within the children and young people’s workforce such as social care.

For those students who do not wish to top-up their foundation degree, we have consulted with Somerset Country Council, schools, multi-academy trusts, and private, voluntary, and independent settings, who have acknowledged that this foundation degree would be accepted and recognized as a continuous professional development opportunity counting it towards their sector professional qualifications.

General Eligibility

32 UCAS Points

Mature students (over 21 years): If you do not have formal qualifications a non-standard entry route is available

Under 21 years: Passes A-C in four GCSE subjects plus one A level at grade C or equivalent point (at least 32 UCAS tariff points)

Part Time Work Details

20 hours of work permit weekly for international students.

Language Requirement

• The IELTS score for international applicants is 6.0 (with no less than 5.5 in each component).