About this course
Ready to take the next step towards providing children with a healthy start in life? Our unique BA (Hons) Childhood: Health and Wellbeing degree will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to help you achieve your goals. Focusing on childhood from conception to 14 years, this degree is for those planning a rewarding future in a variety of areas including education, social care and health care.
You’ll develop a solid understanding of the role of health and wellbeing in childhood in the contexts of both physical and mental health within families. In addition to studying the core themes, you’ll focus on modules related to health and wellbeing.
Give real-life context to your studies and become even more attractive to future employers with our enhanced placement opportunities. You’ll be well prepared for the world of work with our extensive network of 600 partnerships in a wide range of settings. There’s even the opportunity to take your placement overseas.
This course is delivered through the Nottingham Institute of Education.
-
Placement opportunities and work-like experiences through over 600 partnerships with local schools, colleges and organisations. -
Option to take your placement overseas. Opportunities include teaching in Sri Lanka to working with young children in a Ghanian orphanages. -
Interdisciplinary course ideal for students from a range of different backgrounds looking to pursue a career in a range of sectors -
Guaranteed interview for a PGCE Primary teacher training course at NTU on completing your undergraduate degree (terms and conditions apply).
10
What you’ll study
Giving children a healthy start in life is crucial to their future health and wellbeing - and that’s what makes this course so engaging. You will gain a broad view of childhood and child development with an emphasis on achieving healthy lifestyles for both physical and mental health. Alongside this, you will develop a critical awareness of current issues and concerns regarding healthy childhoods. This will support you to work within the health professions as well as those seeking careers within the child wellbeing sector.
This degree will draw on contemporary and classic research and theory related to supporting children, young people and their families to achieve healthy lifestyles and will equip students with the knowledge and skills to move into the workplace or to post-graduate specialised study for the health professions.
The broad range of modules available within this course gives opportunities for you to develop both personally as a learner and professionally by incorporating the world of work and global perspectives into your studies. Key transferable skills are embedded in the modules and are reinforced whilst working alongside experienced practitioners.
Placement
You will have the opportunity to undertake a placement in Year One and Year Two. Placements can be in a wide range of educational settings, locally, regionally, nationally or even internationally. Placement options include working with disadvantaged children at a local authority provision; educational and support provision in a hospital context; supporting the provision of activities for children / young people with a range of disabilities and additional needs at a local charity or experiencing an outdoor Kindergarten in Denmark.
Putting your studies into practice helps you to understand your subject and its application in real-life. Placement opportunities support you both professionally and personally by ensuring you develop the key skills that will make you more employable at the end of your studies.
Here’s a year-by-year breakdown of what you’ll be studying during the course.
Academic and Professional Focus (20 credit points)
- This module supports you in your transition into Higher Education and in understanding what is expected at this level of study and beyond.
- You’ll be provided with the essential skills needed to be successful in your academic journey and introduced to a range of professionals within the university that will support you in your studies.
Environments for Learning (40 credit points)
- This module considers how a range of environments support aspects of children’s learning and development.
- A placement opportunity in a choice of mainstream educational contexts such as nurseries, primary schools and secondary schools will then allow you to apply your learning in this module, where you will observe and engage in current practice.
- You’ll make connections between how children learn and develop, as well as the curricula and educational provision that can support this.
- You’ll also gain an awareness of the theoretical models and practice pioneers which influence current practice in education and other wider learning environments.
Understanding Children’s Holistic Development (20 credit points)
- This module explores the diverse ways in which children develop holistically (from conception to 14 years), as well as the range of biological factors and wider influences that effect this process.
- You’ll build knowledge of theoretical and philosophical perspectives, as well as strategies and approaches that support our understanding of the ways in which development can be positively promoted by parents and practitioners.
Contemporary Childhoods (20 credit points)
- This module examines children’s rights in both national and global contexts, with a focus on interprofessional discourses and different educational and sociological perspectives to support your personal and professional learning and development.
- Issues around the rights of the child and how professionals can respect and promote those rights will form key elements within this module.
Health Determinants in Childhood (20 credit points)
- This module will enable you to recognise how aspects of childhood experience can impact on a child’s health outcomes in the short-, medium- and long-term.
- You will explore a wide range of issues that can affect a child’s physical and mental health including those that relate to their environment and home life.
- Key elements of the module enable you to fully investigate the wide-ranging impact of childhood experience.
Enabling Environments for Children and Communities (20 credit points)
- This module explores a range of environments and services that support children, families and the wider communities they live within.
- You’ll develop criticality when examining the social influences impacting on the lived experience of children, young people and families with a range of different support needs.
- You’ll gain an understanding of the wider context for children and families during a community-based placement, either locally, nationally or internationally. Examples of placements may include community play therapy, charities for child refugees, teaching English in Bali or supporting children with Special Educational Needs in a Romanian school.
Researching Contemporary Childhoods (20 credit points)
- Through this module, you’ll gain understanding of and apply research methodology and ethical considerations by designing an ethical small-scale study.
- You’ll compile a literature review and undertake a pilot study in small groups.
- The module enables you to prepare for your independent research dissertation in your final year by giving you a starting point in understanding the range of terminology and processes related to research.
Social Constructions of Childhood (20 credit points)
- This module explores how the concept of childhood is socially constructed by the times and places in which children live and with the individuals involved in shaping their experience.
- You’ll be able to examine some key themes, in the socio-cultural context of children’s learning and development in relation to historical, legal and social perspectives using different types of evidence and materials.
Global Childhoods (20 credit points)
- Is childhood universally experienced around the Globe? The module examines this concept, exploring children’s lived experiences across a range of international contexts.
- You’ll develop an understanding of various educational approaches and practices, and the factors and theories which influence decisions made about policy and provision for children and young people.
- You’ll reflect on the similarities and differences between the UK and other countries, evaluating the reasons for differences.
Nutrition in Childhood (20 credit points)
- This module supports you in understanding the role of nutrition as a health determinant that affects all childhoods.
- You’ll explore balanced diets, food hygiene and issues of malnutrition such as dietary deficiency and over nutrition.
- You’ll study the importance of nutrition in childhood as a health determinant that can have physical and mental health impacts across the course of life.
Supporting Healthy Lifestyles (20 credit points)
- This module covers the holistic development of children 0-14 through the lens of health determinants and measures of wellbeing.
- You’ll explore the role of health promotion to support healthy childhoods.
- You’ll plan health promotional activities to promote healthy lifestyles and well-being for children and families.
Research Dissertation (40 credit points)
- As part of this module, you’ll design and carry out a research dissertation project in relation to children’s learning and development.
- You’ll acquire and link theory and practice to support your development as an informed educational researcher and reflective practitioner.
Leaderful Practice (20 credit points)
- This module investigates aspects and issues for leadership in a context which interests you.
- You’ll learn about the theories and principles of leadership and engage in individual reading, research and planning in a chosen context in the childhood sector.
Sustainable Childhoods (20 credit points)
- This module identifies what is meant by a sustainable childhood and consider a range of theoretical models and underlying viewpoints which underpin the notion of sustainable childhoods.
- You’ll take a global, contemporary viewpoint regarding sustainable childhoods and use a range of theory and practice concepts.
- You’ll be challenged to reflect on global initiatives and professional practices within the context of sustainability.
Children’s Emotional and Social Wellbeing (20 credit points)
- This module explores the holistic development of children’s emotional and social wellbeing through theories, research and relevant policies and initiatives.
- You’ll study the importance of childhood experiences to ongoing emotional and social wellbeing and mental health. External influences will be explored that consider how health determinants overlap and cannot be considered in isolation of other factors.
- The module will support a critical understanding of support available to children and their families to support their emotional and social wellbeing.
Media, Childhood and Health (20 credit points)
- This module looks at the role of media and digital influences on childhood through theories, research and relevant policies and initiatives.
- You’ll gain an understanding of the influence of media in childhood related to short-, medium- and long-term health.
- External influences will be explored that consider how other health determinants overlap and that media use cannot be considered in isolation of other factors. The module will support a critical understanding of support available to children and their families in their use of digital platforms.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
How you're taught
We've introduced flexible and innovative ways of learning and teaching to develop your study skills and understanding of theory and practice. Methods include:
- lectures
- seminar discussions
- independent study
- practical work
- project work
- workshops
- placements and work-like experiences.
How will I be assessed?
Assessment will be on your coursework and there are no formal exams during the course. Academic support and guidance are provided through our tutor support structure. Regular tutor feedback is given on your work in order to help you improve, develop your skills and begin to plan for your future career.
How you're assessed
- Year 1 coursework
- Year 2 coursework
- Year 3 coursework
Contact hours
You will have around 10-12 hours per week of contact time (lectures, seminars and workshops) with our teaching staff which is around 30% of a full-time week. Approximately 90% of our teaching is in-person. The remaining 70% of your time will be devoted to independent study.
Careers and employability
Your career development
What skills will I develop?
A Childhood: Health and Wellbeing degree will enable you to develop a solid understanding of the role of health and wellbeing in childhood in the contexts of both physical and mental health within families.
You will develop key transferable skills, including:
- written communication developed through writing essays
- oral communication skills gained through reasoned debates during seminars and presentations
- the ability to work as part of a team, though collaborative group work
- research and analytical skills with the ability to judge and evaluate information
- organisational and time management skills by prioritising tasks to ensure academic, social and work commitments are completed on time
- negotiation, informally with peers and formally with staff
- problem solving
- critical thinking skills
- digital skills.
How can I boost my career prospects?
Childhood: Health and Wellbeing graduates that go on to further study tend to take courses that lead to professional status. The most popular option is the postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE), as many graduates go on to work as primary school, early years or special needs teachers, as well as further or higher education lecturers. Other popular professional courses include nursing and postgraduate courses in social work. Employers are often supportive of further study and may support employees by providing funding or time off to complete coursework.
Your future career
A Childhood: Health and Wellbeing degree is an excellent foundation for careers working with children and young people in many sectors including health, education and social care.
Job options
Jobs directly related to your degree include:
- Early Years Teacher
- Family Support Worker
- Learning Mentor
- Teaching Assistant
- Youth Worker
- Early Help Advisor
- Leaders and Managers of Services and Provision for Children
- Youth Mental Health Worker.
Possible careers with postgraduate study:
- Primary School Teacher
- Special Educational Needs Teacher
- Social Worker
- Child Psychotherapist
- Paediatric Nurse
- Community Development Worker
- Counsellor
- Educational Psychologist
- Speech and Language Therapist
- Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner
- Play Therapist
- Midwife.
Typical employers
Childhood: Health and Wellbeing graduates enter employment in a variety of sectors with a range of employers including local authorities, local and national charities, state and independent schools, nurseries, health authorities and within the community.
Children's Centres and the National Health Service (NHS) also employ graduates from Childhood: Health and Wellbeing degrees.
Links with industry
We involve industry experts in our courses in a number of ways.
- We consult with employers when we design and update our courses.
- We ensure you are prepared to meet the demands of the workplace by continually checking the currency and validity of our courses with employers.
- You will have the opportunity to have a work placement (if not already in paid or voluntary employment).
- Employers may input directly into your course through guest lectures, projects, and other work-related activities.
Enrichment opportunities
In order to enhance your skills and knowledge, you will also be able to experience a range of enrichment opportunities on the course such as training and Continuing Professional Development (e.g. paediatric first aid and Makaton) which will be attractive to future employers as you look for graduate roles.
Learn a new language
Alongside your study you also have the opportunity to learn a new language. The University Language Programme (ULP) is available to all students and gives you the option of learning a totally new language or improving the skills you already have.
Learning a new language can:
- enhance your communication skills
- enrich your experience when travelling abroad
- boost your career prospects.
Find out more about the University Language Programme.
If you’d like to know more about NTU’s groundbreaking Employability Promise, and the support you’ll receive both during and after your course, visit our Careers and Employability page.
Guaranteed interview scheme: teacher-training
One of the benefits of the course is the broad knowledge and experience you will gain. This experience may lead you to consider teaching, even if you have not considered this as a career before.
If you complete your degree, you are guaranteed an interview for a PGCE Primary teacher-training course at NTU during your third undergraduate year (subject to places being available).
Terms and conditions apply:
- Applications will be withdrawn and not be progressed to interview stage once all places are filled on relevant courses
- Interviews are subject to you meeting the essential entry criteria for the PGCE course at the time of application, such as GCSE requirements, degree grade
- An interview does not guarantee an offer to study on the course.
Campus and facilities
You’ll mainly be studying in the Ada Byron King building, home to Nottingham Institute of Education.
Our self-contained, community-focused Clifton Campus has been designed to keep our students busy between lectures. Catch-up with your coursemates in the Pavilion’s barista café and Refectory; brainstorm group presentations in chic and stylish study spaces; enjoy some proper R&R in The Point, home of our Students’ Union. The campus also hosts the multimillion-pound Clifton Sports Hub, offering great options for everyone — whatever your interests, and however competitive you’d like to get!
You’re also right next to the bright lights of Nottingham — one of Britain’s top 10 student cities, and one of Europe’s top 25. All through termtime, a dedicated on-campus bus service will get you to the heart of the action (and back) in under 25 minutes. You’ll find a city stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure: enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, hidden cinemas and vintage shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night.
Take our virtual tour to get a real feel for the campus.
Entry requirements
UK students
Standard offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications.
Contextual offer: 104 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications.
To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.
Additional requirements for UK students
An Enhanced with Barred List(s) DBS check and a satisfactory placement suitability check.
Contextual offers
If you don’t quite meet our entry requirements, we might be able to make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (such as where you live and the school or college you attended), your experiences and your individual circumstances (you may have been in care, for example). This is called a contextual offer, and we get data from UCAS to help make these decisions. We do this because we believe everyone with the potential to succeed at NTU should have the opportunity to do so, no matter what barriers you may face.
Meeting our entry requirements
Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS Tariff points attached to specific grades, including A-levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to four different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our Tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.
Other qualifications and experience
NTU welcomes applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds, either for year one entry or for advanced standing beyond the start of a course into year 2 or beyond.
We consider study and/or credit achieved from a similar course at another institution (otherwise known as credit transfer), vocational and professional qualifications, and broader work or life experience.
Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route. If you wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning, please contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
International students
Academic entry requirements: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four A levels. We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.
English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.
Additional requirements for international students
An Enhanced with Barred List(s) DBS check and a satisfactory placement suitability check.
If you need help achieving the academic entry requirements, we offer a Foundation preparation course for this degree. The course is offered through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC) based on our City Campus.
English language requirements
View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.
If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.
Other qualifications and experience
If you have the right level of qualifications, you may be able to start your Bachelors degree at NTU in year 2 or year 3. This is called ‘advanced standing’ entry and is decided on a case-by case basis after our assessment of your qualifications and experience.
You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.
Sign up for emails
Sign up to receive regular emails from the International Office. You'll hear about our news, scholarships and any upcoming events in your country with our expert regional teams.
Getting in touch
If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.
Policies
We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.
