STUDY

Undergraduate

FdA Children’s Health, Play and Wellbeing

Old tin toy robot
Institution code: S82
UCAS code: X317
Start date: September 2025
Duration: Two years full-time
Location: East Coast College (Great Yarmouth)
Typical Offer: 80 UCAS points (or above). GCSE English and Maths minimum grade C/4.
Institution code: S82
UCAS code: X317
Start date: September 2025
Duration: Two years full-time
Location: East Coast College (Great Yarmouth)
Typical Offer: 80 UCAS points (or above). GCSE English and Maths minimum grade C/4.

Overview

This Foundation degree develops the skills and understanding to practice in a variety of settings that focus on the support of children from 0-18-years and their families. Play and playfulness can successfully underpin and bridge the education, health and social care sectors giving you the skills and understanding to pursue employment. Play support, play work and play therapy are increasingly used to support children’s development and wellbeing and combining theory and practice has relevance to health care assistants and family support, as well as to nursery practitioners, SENCOs, Teaching Assistants, Play Workers and other therapy assistants.

The Early Years Educator status is a supplementary pathway to the FdA Children’s Health Play and Wellbeing. It will run alongside the course and promote the support of a mentor and setting in the Early Years sector. A detailed booklet will capture your developing knowledge and growing experience in the Early Years Foundation Stage framework enabling you to work in ratio in the sector.

Course Modules

Full downloadable information regarding all University of Suffolk courses, including Key Facts, Course Aims, Course Structure and Assessment, is available in the Definitive Course Record.

East Coast College building

This module explores the holistic nature of age-graded growth and developmental stages within recognised patterns and how play develops and changes alongside. You will explore recent issues, theories and concepts and be able to make links to practice by reflecting on your role in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Understanding the rapid growth and development in the early years, is crucial to supporting practice and is a sound foundation for understanding development throughout childhood. You will gain knowledge of the expected patterns of babies’ and children’s development from birth to 5 years old, from 5 to 7 years and from 8-12 years and show an understanding of further development through to the end of childhood (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989)

This module examines the provision of safe support and help that effectively meets the needs of children and their families in line with legislation and guidance. The module introduces students to a child-centred and child-orientated approach to safeguarding and makes links to the legislative frameworks and guidance.

This module explores the role of play in learning and emotional wellbeing and examines the contribution of play pioneers and modern approaches. Students will relate the core skills of play to the promoting of children’s health, development and wellbeing and consider the use of the core skills in a range of environments.

This module uses student collaboration to explore the concepts of modern childhood in comparison to a contextual and historical review of changing attitudes and awareness to childhood. These views support the evaluation of current research methods of capturing the child’s voice and promoting their participation, as you question current debates and trends.

This is a double module that ‘tops and tails’ your year as you tackle a range of small tasks to build one professional portfolio. It begins with reflective work and planning for your personal and academic progress and development and ends with the same evaluative stance applied to your professional self. This module promotes your growing independence and confidence as a degree student to gain new skills as well as cherish those you already have!

Entry Requirements

Fees and Funding

UK Full-time Tuition Fee

£8,220

per year
UK Part-time Tuition Fee

£1,370*

per 20 credit module
International Full-time Tuition Fee

£15,090

per year

*Please contact Student Centre for further information on part-time fees

Further Information

At University of Suffolk, your tuition fees provide access to all the usual teaching and learning facilities that you would expect. However, there may be additional costs associated with you course that you will need to budget for.

UK fees and finance UK bursaries and scholarships International fees and scholarships

How to Apply

To study this course on a full-time basis, you can apply through UCAS. As well as providing your academic qualifications, you’ll be able to showcase your skills, qualities and passion for the subject.

Apply Now Further Information on Applying
A silhouette of a student in their cap and gown
Select your country of residence
Afghanistan
Algeria
Angola
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belgium
Benin
Bermuda
Bolivia
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei
Bulgaria
Cameroon
Canada
Cayman Islands
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Ethiopia
European Baccalaureate
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Malawi
Malaysia
Mauritius
Mexico
Mongolia
Morocco
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
Uruguay
USA
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Zambia
Zimbabwe