Foundation Degree
Launching in 2026, our Foundation Degree programme offers a flexible two-year higher education qualification for people already working with children.
What
A degree that works around you and your life.
Our new Foundation Degree enables people who are already working with children to gain a degree without leaving their job or community.
Delivered in cohorts across England, it is designed to give you Level 4 and 5 qualifications that position you for a full degree, and create a launchpad for graduate jobs in multiple sectors.
If you are already brilliant with children, know your community, and want to do more, this is for you.
What makes this course different
Run Locally
You will join a group of 15-25 people for weekly sessions during term time, hosted and supported locally.
Works around you
You can can take part in this programme alongside your job, meaning you don’t need to leave work to study.
Practice-based
The course is practical, helping you build the real world knowledge and skills you need to develop your career.
Who
For non-graduate practitioners
This programme is designed for people already working with children; you might be a teaching assistant, an early years practitioner, a family support worker, youth worker, or anyone else looking to develop themselves and build their career.
Where
Connected Nationally, Delivered Locally.
The degree is delivered nationwide, in partnership with the University of East London (UEL). Participants will be part of a small local cohort, hosted by a Delivery Centre. There will be a mixture of online and in-person sessions, allowing participants to connect locally and nationally to build supportive networks.
Why
Putting the child at the heart of the work.
The children's workforce is fragmented and undervalued, leading to recruitment and retention issues. This degree aims to create a more coherent, interdisciplinary professional body. By developing a joined-up offer, the programme contributes to every child benefitting from consistent, high-quality support rooted in their needs.
Find out more
Register your interest in studying for the Foundation Degree.