Bachelor Of Arts In Early Childhood Education & Care QQI (LEVEL 7)

This three-year Bachelor of Arts award is designed to provide learners with a comprehensive education in Early Childhood Education and Care. The programme aims to equip the learner with knowledge, skills and competencies required for autonomous working practice in Early Childhood Education and Care. A child-led transformational philosophy will underpin the programme to build authentic reciprocal relationships with children, parents, colleagues, the community and other professionals.

The course is based on the contemporary principles of best practice as determined by Solta, The National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education (2006) and Aistear (The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework (2009). The Early Childhood Education and Care Sector has been a growth area over the last ten years.

Evidence of expansion of the sector is the recent introduction by the Department of Child and Youth Affairs of a second National free pre-school year. Therefore, employment opportunities appear positive in the short and medium term. Graduates would have enhanced employability within the rapidly professionalising sector. Furthermore graduates would be well-placed to occupy supervisory functions within the sector, in accordance with new funding requirements.