The BA (Hons) Early Childhood Care & Education is a three-year level 8 honours degree awarded by University of Essex. The programme examines how play, learning, and policy influence young children’s development across historical, political, and cultural contexts.

The BA (Ord) Early Childhood Care & Education is a level 7 degree, awarded by University of Essex, designed for early years professionals who want to progress their qualifications while continuing to work full-time.

This programme is a strong fit for early years practitioners who want to gain a recognised degree while continuing to work in the sector. It is for individuals dedicated to strengthening their professional practice, deepening their understanding of child development, and growing leadership capability within early learning and care settings.

Early Childhood Care and Education course aims to develop learners to the highest level of professional competence as practitioners. This qualification will allow you to work as a room leader or supervisor under the ECCE scheme. You will be qualified to work with children from 0-12 years within the broader ELC (Childcare) settings. This course is ideal for those currently working within an early years setting.

If you’re interested in working with children and finding out how they develop and learn, are eager to study different cultures, languages and diversity in the world, and enthusiastic about making a difference in children’s lives, this course will suit you.

It explores the varied approaches to early childhood education and care, including child development, child psychology, sociology of childhood, art, drama and music, equality, diversity and inclusion, language acquisition, health and well-being, and safeguarding children.

This course produces professionally qualified graduates who work effectively in a wide range of early years’ contexts, with children up to the age of eight years. The course involves the study of core, interrelated disciplines including early years’ education,, psychology, sociology, law and personal and professional development and supervised professional practice placements which are essential to effective working in ECCE settings

This course It explores the varied approaches to early childhood education and care, including child development, child psychology, sociology of childhood, art, drama and music, equality, diversity and inclusion, language acquisition, health and well-being, and safeguarding children.

You’ll gain insights into outdoor learning and risky play through our purpose-built outdoor classroom. You’ll be able to apply and adapt your learning in the realistic setting of our dedicated early-childhood practice room. 

The BA in Early Childhood Care and Education is a full-time, four-year, honours degree programme (Level 8), designed to provide an exciting and challenging programme for those interested in working with young children, from birth to six years of age, in a range of educational settings.

It provides a highly-regarded qualification in this most rewarding area, and was developed in response to contemporary developments in the field of early years education both in Ireland and internationally.

This degree provides experiences, insights and knowledge into early childhood education and care. Early childhood educators work with children from infancy to primary school. Our programme aims to develop well-informed, articulate professionals who are passionate about early childhood education and care. There is a strong focus on play and learning, the close relationship to nature and outdoor experiences and children’s rights to participation. This firm academic foundation is cemented by a strong emphasis on practical application of theory.

The Higher Certificate in Early Childhood Care, Health & Education is a two-year course that equips graduates with the necessary competencies to work in a supervisory position with young children and their families. It is an invigorating and exciting career path with opportunity to gain employment as a lead Early Childhood Educator. The Higher Certificate programme is delivered with theory lectures, practical work, and group tutorial classes, adopting a spiral curriculum approach. This method progressively builds on the student’s capacity as an Early Childhood Educator, assessor and facilitator of young children’s learning and development through play. 

The Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Early Childhood Care, Health & Education is a four-year degree course that equips graduates with the necessary competencies to work with young children and their families. It is an invigorating and exciting career path.This programme is delivered with theory lectures, practical work, and group tutorial classes, adopting a spiral curriculum approach. This method progressively builds on the student’s capacity as an Early Childhood Manager and Educator, assessor and facilitator of young children’s learning and development through play.

Students will study a wide range of courses to help them become knowledgeable, dedicated early childhood practitioners. These include child psychology, play, language and literacy, enquiry-based learning, child care and protection, arts and the early years.

You will learn about educators who have influenced the education of young children, including Montessori,  and Vygotsky. You will learn about the Aistear  and will take education placements in a variety of early childhood settings.

Early Childhood Education (ECE) generally refers to education before the start of primary school attendance (0-6 years in Ireland). Services include pre-schools, Naíonraí, specific intervention centres such as community support preschools, Barnardo's childcare services, Focus Ireland support services, crèches, child-minding and after-school groups. 

The diversity of this programme will ensure that Early Childhood Educators are equipped with the competence to navigate the ever-changing landscape of early childhood education and care in Ireland. It aims to enable Early Years Educators to support the holistic care and development of all children within their practice, with an emphasis on supporting children’s rights, inclusion, diversity and collaborative practice.

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) reflects a holistic view of the education (e.g. early stimulation, education, developmental activities) and care (e.g. health, nutrition, hygiene, safety and security, responsive caregiving) of young children from 0 to 6 years of age. Therefore, this course is designed to equip graduates with the essential core knowledge, practices and values to fulfil the role of a professional early childhood educator.

The programme offers the student the opportunity to study early childhood from differing perspectives – educational, psychological, social, and cultural.

The programme also includes tuition in art, music and drama, which provides an extensive portfolio of child-centred activities. Attention is also paid to practical skills needed in this type of work such as child health, exercise and nutrition, and the physical care of children.

If you’re interested in working with children and finding out how they develop and learn, are eager to study different cultures, languages and diversity in the world, and enthusiastic about making a difference in children’s lives, this course will suit you.

It explores the varied approaches to early childhood education and care, including child development, child psychology, sociology of childhood, art, drama and music, equality, diversity and inclusion, language acquisition, health and well-being, and safeguarding children. You’ll gain insights into outdoor learning and risky play through our purpose-built outdoor classroom. You’ll be able to apply and adapt your learning in the realistic setting of our dedicated early-childhood practice room.

The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care is a four-year, day and evening delivery programme, designed for people who are interested in pursuing opportunities in the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector.

The aim of the BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Education and Care is to provide learners with a firm foundation in Early Childhood Education and Care so as to practice as Professional Early Childhood Educators in a range of ECEC environments. 

This degree programme is delivered through a blend of lectures, workshops, practicals, tutorials and online support. Work placements are an integral part of the programme. All students participate in a supervised work placement in one of a variety of settings in Ireland or abroad for two full semesters.

In the final year of the programme, you study research methods, specialise in chosen areas and complete a dissertation on a topic of your choice.

This course is designed to prepare graduates for employment in early childhood services in Ireland. 

Theory is delivered in conjunction with work based learning in supervised practice placements over two full semesters, so that students are provided with the necessary practical and managerial skills to work in, set up and/or run a service.

This approach is intended to assist students in obtaining the knowledge, values and skills required to generate high standards of practical performance to manage a facility.

This Level 7 programme focuses on the development of a sound practical skillset for a career in the sector and the emphasis on the supervised work placements is to further develop theoretical concepts in the field of Early Childhood Care and Education for practical implementation.

This course explores the varied approaches to early childhood education and care, including child development, child psychology, sociology of childhood, art, drama and music, equality, diversity and inclusion, language acquisition, health and well-being, and safeguarding children. You’ll gain insights into outdoor learning and risky play through our purpose-built outdoor classroom.