Childhood with Therapeutic Play (with integrated foundation year)

This degree incorporates an additional foundation year to build knowledge and skills to support your academic development.
This option is primarily for students who have not yet met the academic entry requirements of the three-year degree, or feel that they need a little bit more preparation and experience to make the most of their studies.

After the foundation year, you will study modules delivered on the BA (Hons) Childhood Studies with Therapeutic Play course. This four-year route will help you gain a deeper understanding of this interesting subject and build your confidence and academic abilities.

The BA (Hons) Childhood Studies with Therapeutic Play encompasses working with children in a variety of settings and contexts with a focus on utilising therapeutic play approaches. The course provides the opportunity to gain professional practice experience making clear links between theory and therapeutic practice. Students will be guided through an exciting range of modules that are specifically designed to increase understanding of children, and to develop therapeutic skills. This unique and innovative course will offer two distinct pathways; ‘Early Childhood’ working with children aged 0-8 years of age which confers Level 3 ‘full and relevant’ status, or ‘Childhood’ which provides the option to work with children and young people across the age range. This programme is the perfect preparation to work therapeutically with children and young people in specialist SEND settings, to support children with social, emotional and mental health challenges in mainstream settings, or to undertake further training to become a registered Play Therapist.

Foundation Year Modules will prepare students for working at university level. The full programme includes modules in: Children’s Health & Wellbeing, Special Educational Needs & Disability and Safeguarding. The specific Therapeutic Play pathway will include compulsory modules in Play, Creativity & Expressive Arts, Therapeutic Play, Working Therapeutically with Families, and Being Human.

We offer a variety of assessment methods that include presentations, assignments, exams, academic posters and placement portfolios.