Early Years Education: Critical Observations

Module overview

The module will incorporate critical observation and analysis of diverse aspects of Early Years education. You will develop your knowledge and understanding of the values and theories that underpin current practice in Early Years settings. Your time in school might normally include lesson observations, discussions with teachers, meetings with staff, working with individuals or small groups of pupils/students in classrooms alongside teachers/tutors, or examination of school policy documents. An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) with Child Barred List check is required for this module and must be in place before the start of the second week. PLEASE NOTE: DBS can take up to ten weeks to obtain; failure to meet this requirement will result in you having to choose an alternative module. It is your responsibility to obtain the DBS clearance at your own cost. Please contact the Education Student Office at: eds-studentoffice@soton.ac.uk regarding application.

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

This module is taught through a mix of lectures and seminars along with directed reading and suggested additional research. Typically, there will be an interactive lecture and seminar each week with the exception of the weeks during your visits to an Early Years setting. You will be expected to carry out critical observations in an Early Years setting (a minimum of 8 hours).

Study time
Type	Hours
Teaching	24
Independent Study	118
Placement	8
Total study time	150

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

Early Years Foundation Stage Framework.

Development Matters.

Preparing University Students for the Moral Responsibility of Early Years Education. This research collected the voices of students in a UK university, better to understand their perception of their 'moral responsibility' as trainee early years educators.

Internet Resources

Foundation years website.

The Rose Review on the teaching of early reading.

Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.

The Tickell review.

Journal Articles

Education 3 - 13.

Early Years: An international Journal of Research and Development.

International journal of Early Years Education.

Early Child Development and Care.

Textbooks

Contemporary Issues in the Early Years. London: Sage.

Moyles, J. (2010). The excellence of play. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Dowling, M. (2010). Young children's personal, social and emotional development. London: Paul Chapman Pub..

Riley, J. (2007). Learning in the Early Years 3 - 7. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications.

Pound, L. (2011). Theories and approaches to learning in the Early Years.

Teaching and Learning in the Early Years. Oxon: Routledge.

Whitebread, D. and Coltman, P. (2008). Teaching adn learning in the Early Years. London: Routledge.

Moyles, J., Georgeson, J. and Payler, J.. Early Years foundations meeting the challenge. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Sylva, K. (2010). Early childhood matters. London: Routledge.

Outdoor Learning in the Early Years. London: Routledge.

Tassoni, P. and Hucker, K. (2000). Planning play and the Early Years. Oxford: Heinemann.

Pound, L. (2011). Influencing early childhood education. Berkshire: Open University Press.

Assessment

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Individual Presentation

Assessment Type: Formative
Feedback: Feedback from the individual presentation will be verbal and include peer and self-assessment feedback. The tutor will follow up with individuals if any concerns are identified
Final Assessment: No
Group Work: No

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Presentation	20%
Essay	80%

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Coursework assignment(s)	100%

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Coursework assignment(s)	100%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External