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Childhood, Education and Inclusion BA(Hons)

2025-26

Start date

22 September 2025

Duration

3 years full-time

Entry requirements

A Level - BBC

BTEC - DMM

See full entry requirements

Places available (subject to change)

50

About the course

Reasons to study

  1. The degree offers flexibility through three distinct pathways—Education, Inclusion, and Working with Children and Families—allowing you to focus on your passion and career aspirations.
  2. A work-based placement in Year 2 provides at least 120 hours of hands-on experience, helping students develop essential skills recognised by employers in education, health, and social care sectors.
  3. The course covers vital areas such as neurodiversity, mental health, safeguarding, and children’s rights, preparing students to create inclusive, supportive environments for children and young people with diverse needs.

Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of children, young people and their families?

Our rewarding and flexible degree places children, young people and their families at its heart, drawing on disciplines such as education, childhood studies, special educational needs, social work and social policy, psychology, and sociology. With a team of highly respected and experienced tutors who are experts in their fields, you’ll learn from some of the best in the industry.

Why study Childhood, Education & Inclusion BA(Hons) at Huddersfield?

One of the unique aspects of this degree is its flexibility. Following a core year, where you will develop an understanding of the wider concepts, you then tailor your studies more to your interests and career goals by choosing your pathway from our three routes:

  • Education
  • SEND and Inclusion
  • Working with Children and Families

This allows you to specialise in the area that most resonates with your passion and career aspirations.

Our course allows you to:

  • Explore the nature of childhood and youth in contemporary society.
  • Examine relevant social theory and research.
  • Focus on current policy and practices, to prepare you for the future.
  • Develop your knowledge and skills to create inclusive spaces for children and young people.

You’ll gain insight into children’s voices, their wellbeing and development, social policy, children’s rights, youth identities and cultures, safeguarding vulnerable children and young people, and supporting their inclusion and sense of belonging.

You'll have the option to specialise in areas such as neurodiversity and autism, supporting social, emotional and mental health in education and mentoring and counselling, which will provide you with the essential skills needed for supporting children and young people with diverse needs, a crucial competency which is valued by employers in education, health, and social care sectors.

In Year 2, you will undertake a work-based placement, gaining a minimum of 120 hours of real-world experience . This practical experience, combined with our unique blend of theory and practice, will equip you for a fulfilling career. Our graduates have gone on to work in the early childhood sector, primary, secondary, and further education, or in specialist roles such as domestic abuse workers, family support workers, and Local Authority SEND case workers. These roles require essential communication and specialised support skills, which our graduates are well-equipped with, enabling them to effectively support and advocate for children and young people

After completing your degree, you might choose to pursue further study, including an Early Years Teaching Status, Primary and Secondary teaching and SEND PGCEs, which may lead to Qualified Teacher Status. Many of our students have advanced to study MSc Social Work and MSc Child Nursing, among other specialised fields.

Course detail

Year 1

Core modules:

Theories and Strategies for Learning

This module introduces you to a variety of key skills intended to support your transition into higher education. The module encourages the development of academic study and communication skills necessary for success on your course along with academic tenacity and resilience. It encourages you to harness your organisation skills, have aspirations and develop self-efficacy.

Self, Society and Welfare

This module develops your understanding of society. Firstly, it examines social policy issues in society, such as poverty and inequality, and how the state responds to them through ‘welfare’, as well as through ‘rights’ and ‘citizenship’. You will then investigate the formation of identity and social differentiation by examining key sociological concepts such as social class, gender, the family, ethnic identity and disability.

Contemporary Childhoods

This module explores concepts of childhood and youth and how psychology, sociology, history and philosophy contribute to understanding the experience of childhood.

Perspectives in Learning and Development

This module introduces significant theories and research which underpin development and learning for children, young people and adults. It considers a range of key concepts to explain the basis of development and learning. It identifies the different dimensions of development (cognitive, linguistic, social, moral) and locates these aspects of development in their cultural and social context and in an international context. It focuses on different transitions that children and young people must make as they develop into adulthood and introduces students to different perspectives on the processes involved in learning and development.

Year 2

Core modules:

Philosophical Approaches to Education

This module explores the impact of different philosophical systems on the way that education is conceived and put into practice. You will have the opportunity to design an ideal educational system based on your own unique philosophy and representing your own values.

Professional Practice and Learning

The programme of study will nurture your independent learning and emphasise the importance of a holistic approach to enhancing your own professionalism and practice through structured workplace learning. You will explore work-based learning opportunities/employability together with occupational and professional concepts, principles and techniques, including reflective practice and using established analytical tools. You will develop and maintain a systematic approach to evidencing and reviewing your professionalism/employability. There will be an emphasis on you setting your own work related learning objectives, developing reflective practice and using learning agreements. Your development will normally be supported in the workplace through supervision arrangements.

Safeguarding Children and Young People

Raise your awareness of current legislation, policies and procedures which exist to promote children and young people’s rights and to keep them safe. Knowledge, skills and qualities required to work with children, young people, their families and carers and other professionals in safeguarding contexts. Critically explores broader safeguarding concepts (such as CSE and PREVENT).

Option modules:

Choose one from a list which may include:

Enterprise in Education

In this module you will examine the scope of enterprise within educational contexts before exploring all key stages in planning an enterprise. Content includes consideration of market research, competitor analysis, legal structure, finance and resource planning, legal requirements and promotional strategies.

Social Policy, Inclusion and Inequality

This module focuses on differing theoretical and ideological understandings of social inclusion, and the role of social policy in response to experiences of exclusion in modern British society.

Developing Language and Communication for Learning

This module develops your understanding of language acquisition in children and young people. You will learn about why speech, language and communication (SLC) skills are important to children and young people’s development and how this potentially impacts on their life. You will also explore curriculum and pedagogical strategies that underpin educational resources to support speech, and communication needs, producing two activities.

Year 3

Core modules:

Planning Your Final Year Project

This module will help you to learn how to design and conduct a final year project. It does this by exploring a range of research and design approaches, strategies and methods. The module helps you to design a project that utilises your knowledge and abilities, carry it out and evaluate its outcomes. Your final year project will focus on an empirical research, policy or practice development, documentary research, policy analysis, entrepreneurship activity, or other options in negotiation with your tutor. The module guides you towards gaining a thorough, critical understanding of project planning and evaluation, research protocols, methods, ethics and ways of doing data analysis. By the end of the module you’ll be confident and capable of designing your own rigorous and valid project.

Final Year Project

This module allows you to pursue your academic and work-related interests and to demonstrate the breadth of knowledge, understanding, and strengths that you have developed during your degree studies. You will review critical understanding of project planning and evaluation, research protocols, methods, ethics, and analysis. You will be supported in the selection of a focus for your final project, in the development of an application for ethical approval, and at each stage of your study. Your final year project will focus on an empirical research, policy or practice development, documentary research, policy analysis, entrepreneurship activity, or other options in negotiation with your tutor. This module is your opportunity to work together with a supervisor to confidently and rigorously undertake a valid project.

Finding a Voice (Children and Young People)

This module helps students to understand theories and models concerning the voice of children and young people. The module will encourage students to evaluate and consider the complexities of international, political, socio economic, ethical and cultural implications within the context of The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN 1989). It creates the opportunity for students to develop their analysis of children and young people’s capacity and opportunity to express their voice and encourage them to participate meaningfully to influence policy in a range of differing contexts. Students will explore the significance of voice and identify appropriate responses. The module is designed to improve the effectiveness of students in responding to the needs of children and young people to have a voice within a variety of contexts. This module is designed to improve your ability to respond to the needs of children and young people to have a voice and to enhance your understanding of different definitions, theories and models of voice.

Supporting Social, Emotional and Mental Health in Education

This module explores the context of and responses to a range of social, emotional and mental health needs in educational settings. Your understanding of different techniques that can be used to promote positive social, emotional and mental health plus behaviours for learning will be developed. You will explore causes of social, emotional and mental health needs, and look at how these can lead to dysregulated behaviour as well as the way that emotional and other difficulties can be recognised in one-to-one, small group encounters and whole class contexts. You will also consider theoretical aspects of supporting positive social, emotional and mental health, alongside behaviour management.

Entry requirements

BBCat A Level .

112 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications.

Merit at T Level.

DMM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma.

  • Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits at Merit or above.
  • 112 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications.

In addition you must also:

  • have GCSE English Language at grade 4 or above, or grade C or above if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme.
  • provide an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and health clearances.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum of IELTS 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

Placements


Placement experience is highly regarded by employers and enables you to understand practice alongside experienced mentors and practitioners. Placements are a key part of the course and are managed and supported by an experienced team of tutors, who work closely with mentors in the placement settings.

You will undertake a minimum of 120 hours in a work placement in Year 2 and you can choose to focus on educational practice, supporting children with special educational needs or settings that focus on supporting families. Previous students have completed placements in nurseries, primary, secondary and specialist education provision, family support teams, domestic violence teams, charities and other wider settings that support children and young people.

The assessment for placements in the first two years is mapped to the Graduate Practitioner Competencies (GPC), alongside your outcomes in the two Professional Practice modules. If you successfully meet all criteria you will be given the opportunity to do a further placement in Year 3. This involves 125 hours working with children aged from birth to seven. Students who complete placements in all three years of the course will have the opportunity to evidence the assessed practice requirements for gaining Graduate Practitioner Status (GPS) alongside their degree.

Your career


The flexible pathways (Education, Inclusion, and Working with Children and Families) allow you to specialise in areas that align with your career goals, opening doors to roles in teaching, social work, special education, and family support. This specialisation can make you more competitive for jobs that fit your passion.

Practical experience gained through placements, combined with the theoretical knowledge in areas like neurodiversity, child safeguarding, and social policy, ensures you have the competencies valued by employers across sectors such as education, health, and social care.

Upon graduation, you will be well-prepared for further study, including teaching qualifications like PGCE or advanced fields like MSc Social Work or Child Nursing, leading to professional qualifications like Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or Early Years Teaching Status (EYTS). This broadens your career prospects significantly.

95% Graduates employed*

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

Important information

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by our terms and conditions, Handbook of Regulations and associated policies. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan.

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons

Changes to a course you have applied for but are not yet enrolled on

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment. We may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will discuss with you other suitable courses we can transfer your application to. If you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

Changes to option modules:

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have an equivalent range of options to that advertised for the course. We will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes:

We will only make major changes to non-optional modules on a course if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change is a change that substantially changes the outcomes, or a significant part of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum. For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators or a commissioning or accrediting body. We may also make changes to improve the course in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback or to ensure you are being taught current best practice. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment, or pandemics.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but may happen sooner in an emergency. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed in accordance with the student protection plan.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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