Last modified: 14 Oct 2025 16:46
This course aims to provide students with opportunities to develop a broad and integrated knowledge of a range of theories relevant to early child development and explore approaches to the education and care of young children. Students will also engage critically with factors that affect children’s learning and development such as the physical environment and socio-cultural context. They will explore the importance of play in early learning.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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Study of this course will support a five-week block placement in ‘Developing professional practice 1’ in an early/first level classroom. Students will have the opportunity to build on previous study of development and learning, to look more closely at language and cognitive development. The course will include opportunities to explore children’s behaviour and management of behaviour; beginning to plan for learning in an early/first level classroom; play as learning; the importance and management of risk; the importance of the environment as the ‘third teacher’ and begin to consider approaches to education and care in other countries e.g. Sweden, Reggio, Te Whariki. Students will develop enquiry skills for a target child study.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 24 | Feedback Weeks | 28 | |
| Feedback |
Feedback will be provided as audio. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 50 | Feedback Weeks | 51 | |
| Feedback | Feedback will be given online, via Turnitin on MyAberdeen . | |||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Justify how a playful approach can promote progression and achievement in children's learning and overall development. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Through analysis of key policy, literature and theory, articulate professional knowledge and understanding of how children learn best in early childhood. |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Evaluate and critically reflect on key early childhood theories and pedagogical approaches, demonstrating their impact on contemporary teaching practices. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand the importance of a stimulating environment that supports developmentally appropriate teaching and learning. |
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