early years student standing in early years corridor

Education and Early Years

STUDYING EDUCATION AND EARLY YEARS AT WESTON COLLEGE

For those looking to make a difference to the lives of children and young people, we offer education and early years courses, to help people secure their first posts, or take the next step in their career journeys.

As a long-established education provider in this sector, with fantastic new facilities, we are well placed to draw on our links with employers, and the strength of our teaching team, to keep our courses in this area highly relevant and evidence-based.

We also give students access to placements, guest speakers and regular practice-based opportunities, so that they leave us extremely well placed to progress in their careers.

Since the demand for trained childcare workers is increasing, the choice of career paths and the volume of job opportunities available are plentiful ...

Job roles in the West of England currently include:

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We've bundled the best education in the area with career boosted benefits - and are leveraging our contacts as one of the largest Colleges in the country to give you the best possible chance of success.

OUR PARTNERS INCLUDE:

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Apprenticeships
T-Levels

Level 2

Early Years Practitioner, Apprenticeship

Duration: 13 Months

Start Date: Aug 2025

Location: KNIGHTSTONE CAMPUS

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The role of an early years practitioner is both rewarding and essential in shaping the future of our youngest learners. If you have a passion for nurturing children's development, fostering their curiosity, and providing a supportive environment for their early educational journey, then an Early Years Practitioner Apprenticeship is the perfect...

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Level 3

Early Years Educator, Apprenticeship

Duration: 18 Months

Start Date: Aug 2025

Location: KNIGHTSTONE CAMPUS

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If you aspire to work with children, this apprenticeship offers an invaluable opportunity to turn your passion into a fulfilling career. Throughout this apprenticeship, you will acquire the knowledge, skills, and practical experience needed to become a skilled and compassionate early years educator. From fostering a safe and stimulating learni...

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Level 3

Teaching Assistant, Apprenticeship

Duration: 18 Months

Start Date: Aug 2025

Location: KNIGHTSTONE CAMPUS

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This apprenticeship will help you develop the skills you’ll need to assist and support teachers and children in the classroom, including supporting children with special educational needs and emotional vulnerabilities. You’ll be expected to act as a role model to the children, take an active part in lesson planning, and act with kindness a...

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You can progress onto degrees and higher apprenticeships with UCW...
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OUR EARLY YEARS VIDEOS

Courses after College

Your journey to University Centre Weston starts here...

Early Years
Foundation Degree (FdA)

Early Childhood Studies
Foundation Degree (FdA)

Want to take a look around?

Taken straight from our virtual open evenings, take a guided tour of our Early Years facilities!

Meet the Early Years and Education Employers

Meet our team

Karen Morgan Subject Area Manager

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Vanessa Parslow Lecturer in Early Years

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Charlotte Howe Lecturer in Early Years Read More

Ashleigh Sweeney Lecturer in Early YearsRead More

Occupations related to Education and Early Years

Primary or Nursery Education Teaching Professional

Primary (and middle school deemed primary) and nursery education teaching professionals plan, organise and provide instruction to children at all levels up to the age of entry into secondary education.

Average annual earnings: £29,664
Employment in region: 11,535 positions

Special Needs Education Teaching Professional

Special needs education teaching professionals organise and provide instruction at a variety of different levels to children who have emotional, behavioural or learning difficulties or physical disabilities. These professionals may also work with exceptionally gifted pupils.

Average annual earnings: £28,083
Employment in region: 1,971 positions

Nursery Nurse or Assistant

Nursery nurses and assistants care for children from birth up to seven years of age in day or residential nurseries, children’s homes, maternity units and similar establishments.

Average annual earnings: £13,693
Employment in region: 4,523 positions

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WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY

Lana

With a full time job managing a pre-school and family you have to be organised but then juggling being a mature student and going back to studying it was daunting but I absolutely LOVED it all.

Studied:

Teaching Assistant Level 2 and 3 & Early Years Level 3.

LATEST NEWS

9 Sep 2022

This summer we were presented with a really exciting opportunity, to create a new forest school for our Education and Early Years students!It has been fantastic to see this come to fruition, with support from across faculty to make this such an exciting environment for learners. A couple of weeks ago, we joined forces with Construction staff to clear the brambles and build a wooden bridge to make the area safe and ready for learners.The concept of Forest Schools originated in Scandinavia. The teaching approach was widely adopted in Denmark throughout the 1980’s and was believed to be the solution to the lack of indoor facilities for Pre-School children.In the early 1990’s a group of nursery practitioners visited Sweden and witnessed the benefits. Following their return to the UK they developed a programme for Forest Schools. Forest Schools has now become widely accepted across the UK and the approach has taken on its own unique flavour which is being adopted elsewhere in the world.The Education Career Excellence Hub at Weston College has always spent time on the theories and delivery linked to Forest schools, but this year with the support of our Future Business Partner’s Puxton Park and Busy Buddies, our learners can experience their own dedicated area on a weekly basis.At Weston College we are committed to supporting learners to become more environmentally conscious, and we are always looking for ways to help the younger generations appreciate the outdoors and natural environments – with this being the next step in our journey.There is also an increasing awareness of the importance of understanding wellbeing and self-development from a young age, so it is vital that our learners here at Weston College get the chance to understand and develop the skills required as they enter this Education sector changing for the future.Going forward, our T Level learners will be instrumental in designing this space as part of their programme, and will study the holistic and learner led approach where space allows children to take risk and problem – solving a natural environment.The Education Career Excellence Hub at Weston College delivers a wide range of courses where learners can go on into a teaching profession, teaching assistant, nursery professional, childminder or educational support. <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.w… our full suite of course, by clicking here</a>.Sandra Bull, Dean of Faculty for Service Sectors

BLOG: New Forest School for Education and Early Years Career Excellence Hub

27 Jul 2022

Early Years Educator with children as they play and learn

How Can You Start Your Career in Early Years?

31 May 2022

Young children in a classroom, one boy putting his hand up

I began the <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/educa…; Level 3 course at Weston College straight after finishing school. Many placements were offered throughout the course to help give an insight into what working in this field would be like, including the responsibilities and daily tasks of the nursery practitioners.

My first placement on the course with Weston College was at Little Bears Day Nursery, which then allowed me to return to work there full-time after I qualified. I have now been there for almost 5 years. Throughout that time, I have been able to progress from room support to Key Worker, and then again to Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo).

I think work experience benefits the learning experience at Weston College hugely, as it helped me understand how much more goes into being a practitioner in a nursery, including the impact and responsibility you have for the children that we look after. Placements at Little Bears hugely benefit the learners as they can see how we work with the children, and help gain confidence to achieve good communication with the parents and other practitioners.

In order to enhance their college journey, a learner can experience a more hands-on and practical experience in a work environment, whilst learning and doing the job. It can show them how to work as part of a team and building good relationships with colleagues and professionals. In this field in particular, it allows the learner to deeper understand many aspects including the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), taking good quality observations, and working with children of all ages and developmental needs.

As a local employer and a <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/career-excellence-hubs">Career Excellence Hub</a> endorser, I would expect learners to be enthusiastic and have a positive attitude when coming into this workplace, with a passion to work with children and eager to learn new things. I very much look forward to taking on new learners on placement and hopefully, in the future, taking them on as employees!

Kayleigh and Kim, Little Bears Nursery

BLOG: Using Work Experience to Build my Career

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Education and Early Years

Education and Early Years

STUDYING EDUCATION AND EARLY YEARS AT WESTON COLLEGE