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Children's Development and Learning

  • FdEd
  • 2 Years
  • Full-time
  • October 2026
  • Undergraduate
Basingstoke College of Technology
More about University of Reading

Course options

2026-2027
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Course summary

The Foundation Degree in Children's Development and Learning course enables you to develop the skills to progress in your career working with children, alongside your job. This course is aimed at early years and education practitioners who are working with children up to the age of 11 and requires you to attend for half a day each week. You'll study through one of our partner colleges.

This vocational award is a work-based course, and your assignments and lessons are all designed to benefit your professional development. You'll build upon your experience through modules in areas such as child development, safeguarding, creativity and critical thinking, and working in partnership with parents. College sessions include lectures, as well as tutorials and seminars. The course also incorporates a great deal of group work, which will be an opportunity to share experiences with fellow professionals working in a range of settings.

For more information, please visit the programme page: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/study/Subject-area/education-ug/foundation-degree-in-childrens-development-and-learning.

Modules

The following modules have been approved in principle for delivery in 2025/26. Please note that as part of our current curriculum improvement process, all modules require final University approval and may be subject to change.

Core modules for this course:
Theories of Development and Learning
Working in Partnership with Parents
Learning Spaces
The Child in Society
Professional Skills in the Children's Workforce

Check our website for more details about the course structure.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Basingstoke College of Technology

Study options

  • FdEd • Full-time • 2 Years

Start dates

  • October 2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
X3L5
Institution code:
R12
Campus name:
Basingstoke College of Technology
Campus Code:
9
Points of Entry:
Year 1

University of Reading has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
X3L5
Institution code:
R12
Campus name:
Basingstoke College of Technology
Campus Code:
9

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Open days

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff Not accepted

A level Not accepted

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) Not accepted

Access to HE Diploma Not accepted

Scottish Higher Not accepted

You must be working at least 2.5 days a week in a relevant setting, and are normally expected to have obtained:

An NQF Level 3 qualification in a work-related area;
GCSE English Language at grade C (or 4);
GCSE Maths at grade C (or 4);
At least 2 years’ experience of working within the Children’s Workforce, for example, in a registered early years setting or in a school as a Teaching Assistant.

Any candidate who does not fully meet the entry criteria (for example, who does not have Maths GCSE or the specified amount of full-time work experience but may have part-time and/or volunteering experience) is invited to submit an application. Such applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

We issue offers to best fit the different circumstances and experiences of our applicants. We take a tailored and holistic approach, considering extenuating circumstances on a case-by-case basis. We recognise that some students are more likely than others to face barriers to fulfilling their academic potential at school, through no fault of their own. More information on our supportive offer making approaches can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/study/what-offer-will-i-get

Learn more on the University of Reading website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.

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