This work-based module is for experienced early years practitioners working directly with children aged between birth and seven years, and focuses on extending your professional development. It involves an investigation of practice in your early years work setting. It will enhance your knowledge and ability to integrate theory and practice, and asks you to draw on and relate practice-based learning to your developing knowledge and understanding of theoretical perspectives.
What you will study
This module focuses on the development and enhancement of the specialist knowledge, skills and understandings associated with your role and responsibilities in early years practice.
The three key themes running throughout your studies will be leadership and professional development, being a professional in a changing context and practitioner research.
The module is organised in six blocks:
- Continuing your journey
- Considering environments for children’s care, learning and development
- Supporting children’s personal, social and emotional development
- Coordinating and evaluating the curriculum for children’s care, learning and development
- Promoting participation and inclusion
- Roles, responsibilities and relationships.
You will be required to undertake investigations of practice in your setting related to both the three key themes and to the six block themes.
This module uses a case study approach to enable you to critically select, analyse and contrast information in a range of contexts and to compare critically the appropriateness of different approaches to issues and problem solving.
Word processing, internet access and online discussion forums are all integral and compulsory elements of this module.
Vocational relevance
This module is suitable for experienced practitioners seeking to become highly skilled leading professionals including those who aspire to become a specialist Early Years Teacher (to work with babies and children). It is suitable for those working directly with young children in a paid or unpaid capacity in a range of early years settings, including early years teachers without qualified teacher status, teaching or classroom assistants, nursery nurses, playgroup workers and leaders, childminders, and those working in nurseries, day-care and children’s centres.
E210 has specific vocational relevance. It is the compulsory OU level 2 work-based learning module in the Foundation Degree in Early Years, Diploma of Higher Education in Childhood Practice and BA (Hons) Early Years.
Following successful completion of the Foundation Degree in Early Years or, in Scotland, the DipHE, you may choose to progress to the BA (Hons) Early Years.
Entry
This module is not available for standalone study. To study this module you should either have:
- declared the Foundation Degree in Early Years (G01), Diploma of Higher Education in Childhood Practice (E37) or BA Early Years (B51) as your qualification intention or be registered for the Foundation Degree in Early Years (X01), Diploma of Higher Education in Childhood Practice (W01) or BA (Hons) Early Years (Q51).
- completed The early years: developing practice (E100)(now discontinued) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) version The early years: developing practice (APEL route) (EZL100) (or E123 and E124 or the APEL versions of these discontinued modules) and Professional practice in the early years (E105) (or E115 now discontinued) or an award of transferred credit from non-OU study.
It is recommended that you have also completed the additional 60 credits of OU level 2 study in the foundation degree or DipHE. If you have not already completed this you will be required to study the option module(s) at the same time as E210, which will be a significant commitment to studying. (If you choose to do this you will be required to register for the option module at the same time as you register for E210.)
In order to successfully complete E210 you must be:
- a current practitioner (paid or voluntary) with at least three years experience in a registered early years setting (or an experienced practitioner with at least three years full-time or five years part-time experience in a registered early years setting if you are following the With credit for prior experience pathway)
- over the age of 18 years at the date on which you begin studying for a qualification where E210 is a compulsory module (or over 21 years old if you are following the With credit for prior experience pathway)
- working in a setting following a UK or Republic of Ireland curriculum and which uses English as the language of tuition.
While studying E210 you must be:
- working in a registered early years setting with young children aged from birth to seven years (Foundation Stage or Key Stage 1 or equivalent) in either a paid or voluntary capacity
- directly involved in activities to support young children’s care and learning for a minimum of five hours a week
- able to work with groups of three or more children on a regular basis.
You must have the agreement and support of your employer/supervisor before registering. Your employer must confirm their support for your study, verify your experience and whether you meet the pre-requisites to study the module by completing a Permission Agreement Form.
You and your employer are responsible for ensuring that:
- you meet the ‘fit person’ criteria required for the setting and country you are working in (if you are in doubt about your eligibility, contact the relevant agency in your country for more information)
- you obtain the necessary criminal record clearance.
If you are a Nanny/Foster Carer working with a child (birth to six years), you must be able to undertake 3–5 hours paid or voluntary work each week in a registered early years setting where you have access to groups of children and support from experienced professional colleagues. The home of a parent/foster carer or nanny is not – on its own – an acceptable setting.
If you meet these entry requirements and wish to apply, please speak to an adviser.
Outside the UK
This module is available to anyone working in British Forces schools or an early years setting in Europe following a UK or RoI curriculum and using English as the language of tuition.
Preparatory work
You will need to present your Permission Agreement Form with your registration application. This form gives further information about the module pre-requisites, and advice about appropriate people to sign the agreement forms.
You may find it helpful to collect together any evidence of your professional capability, such as your assignments from The early years: developing practice (E100)(now discontinued); your Professional Practice (PP) recording forms and assignments from Professional practice in the early years (E105); your Professional Development Plan (PDP); and your assignments and notes from the OU level 2 module(s) you have studied. In addition, you should ensure that you are confident using the internet and basic office applications, such as word processing.
Qualifications
E210 is a compulsory module in our:
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it is equally appropriate to a BA or BSc. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this module can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
If you have a disability
Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and scientific, foreign language or graphic materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Other alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future.
The module includes use of a website and online forums; if you use specialist hardware or software to assist you in operating a computer or the internet and have concerns about accessing these types of materials you are advised to contact us about support which can be given to meet your needs.
Study materials
What's included
Two volumes of print materials, a module reader, website and online forums.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. We will also be able to offer group tutorials or day schools that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to attend. Where tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the module.
From the beginning you will gain support from your peers through moderated online discussion forums. In addition you can benefit from updates about changes to relevant policy and/or requirements for the Foundation Degree.
Contact us if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box above.
You must submit two of your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) on paper. You will be expected to submit the other TMAs online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper. The end-of-module assessment (EMA) must be submitted online
The end-of-module assessment (EMA) is a project and takes the place of an examination.
Future availability
The details given here are for the module that starts in October 2017. We expect it to be available once a year.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our
Student Policies and Regulations website.