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Childhood and Youth

Welcome

Welcome to the Childhood and Youth website! Here you will find all you need to know about studying this discipline at the Open University. Integrated working with children and young people is an increasingly high-profile policy area where many radical changes in practice, service provision and training are taking place across all sectors. There is strong demand for well-qualified people in childcare, education, youth and community work, the probation service, the police, the voluntary sector, research and policy development. Our programme offers a wide range of nationally recognised qualifications from Early Years through to Young People and from entry level to honours degree and beyond.

Below are the latest notices to do with this programme.

Notice 01

FELS commissioned BBC co-production 'Growing Children'

'Growing Children' is a three-part observational documentary that investigates autism, dyslexia and obsessive-compulsive disorder to uncover what each can tell us about how children interact with the world, learn, and deal with fear and anxiety, with the bigger aim of providing a better understanding of how everyone's brains develop and work.

Episode one, which explores autism, is broadcast on Monday 13 August at 9.00pm on BBC4 and repeated the same day on BBC HD at 11.30pm. It has two further repeats on BBC4 on Tuesday 14 August at 01.50am and Wednesday 15 August at 11.00pm.

To find out more and hear what the experts have to say on OpenLearn - join OU academic Kieron sheehy, in our exclusive behind the scenes video, as he interviews Growing Children presenter Laverne Antrobus about ethical issues surrounding the series. You can also test your knowledge and separate fact from fiction with our three interactive Q&As. Go to www.open.edu/openlearn/growingchildren.

These programmes are recommended viewing as they support your module/programme of study.

Notice 02

Important information for people in Scotland studying BA (Honours) Childhood and Youth Studies and BA (Honours) Early Years
From 2011 people who wish to register with the Scottish Social Services Council as a manager or lead practitioner in a day care of children service, for example a nursery, must have an award which meets the Standard for Childhood Practice http://www.sssc.uk.com/sssc/all-about-registration/qualification-criteria-day-care-of-children-service-workers.html The Open University has made a request to the SSSC that Open University awards BA (Honours) Childhood and Youth Studies (Code Q23) and BA (Honours) Early Years (Code Q51) be accepted as appropriate alternative awards for manager/lead practitioners who wish to register from 2011 onwards. This request is being favourably considered by SSSC, and a decision will be made by them in June 2009 after which confirmation of the status of Q23 and Q51 will be issued by the Open University. If you hold one of these awards, or expect to graduate in 2009 you will, subject to agreement of SSSC, be able to use it to register with SSSC as a manager/lead practitioner. If you expect to graduate in 2010 or later you must contact SSSC (registration@sssc.uk.com) to ask if your award will be acceptable.

Important information for people in Scotland studying BA (Honours) Childhood and Youth Studies and BA (Honours) Early Years

From 2011 people who wish to register with the Scottish Social Services Council as a manager or lead practitioner in a day care of children service, for example a nursery, must have an award which meets the Standard for Childhood Practice http://www.sssc.uk.com/sssc/all-about-registration/qualification-criteria-day-care-of-children-service-workers.html The Open University has made a request to the SSSC that Open University awards BA (Honours) Childhood and Youth Studies (Code Q23) and BA (Honours) Early Years (Code Q51) be accepted as appropriate alternative awards for manager/lead practitioners who wish to register from 2011 onwards. This request is being favourably considered by SSSC, and a decision will be made by them in June 2009 after which confirmation of the status of Q23 and Q51 will be issued by the Open University.

If you hold one of these awards, or expect to graduate in 2009 you will, subject to agreement of SSSC, be able to use it to register with SSSC as a manager/lead practitioner. If you expect to graduate in 2010 or later you must contact SSSC (registration@sssc.uk.com) to ask if your award will be acceptable.

Notice 03

Useful NHS Web Resource
HandsOnScotland is an online resource for anybody working with children and young people. The website provides practical information and techniques on how to respond helpfully to children and young people's troubling behaviour, build up their self-esteem and promote their positive mental wellbeing. For more information please visit the website at www.handsonscotland.co.uk The website was commissioned by the Scottish government through HeadsUpScotland and was developed by Playfield Institute (NHS Fife) in partnership with Barnardo's and the University of Dundee. It was developed with teachers in mind.

Useful NHS Web Resource

HandsOnScotland is an online resource for anybody working with children and young people. The website provides practical information and techniques on how to respond helpfully to children and young people's troubling behaviour, build up their self-esteem and promote their positive mental wellbeing.

For more information please visit the website at www.handsonscotland.co.uk

The website was commissioned by the Scottish government through HeadsUpScotland and was developed by Playfield Institute (NHS Fife) in partnership with Barnardo's and the University of Dundee. It was developed with teachers in mind.

Last updated: April 2012