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Accessibility statement
This module will be of significant interest to anyone concerned with the lives and learning of young children, including early childhood practitioners. It will be of particular value to those who want to develop their knowledge and understanding for professional roles linked to careers in education, health and social care. You'll explore why the child’s voice is important, by considering different approaches to listening, and the importance of children’s participation in early childhood provision and practice.
The module consists of three blocks:
Block 1: Foundations for listening to all children
You'll consider what listening to children means by studying different theoretical and historical ideas around the significance of the child's voice and children's participation. You'll reflect on the complexity of young children's lives and explore different situations in which listening is key; for example, for children who are multi-lingual or experiencing transition and change.
Block 2: Responding to the child – how do we listen?
You’ll engage with different approaches to listening that have been used in early childhood research and practice. Throughout this block, you’ll study Alison Clark’s Mosaic approach in depth, as well as several other methods that promote children’s participation. You’ll develop your knowledge and understanding of how listening to young children can be put into practice, as well as explore some of the ethical issues that can arise.
Block 3: Listening, communicating and changing
You’ll think about how listening and children’s participation can be central to early childhood policy, practice and provision. You’ll further reflect on what a listening culture means for young children within their families, the settings they attend, and their wider community. You’ll also consider some of the complexities of commitment to children’s participation – in decision-making about their lives and experiences – that arise from issues of power and control.
This module will provide you with insights into the many aspects of listening to children and the value of a participatory approach to supporting their learning. It draws on examples and studies, both from the UK and abroad (for example, Australia, Italy and Scandinavia). By using such a wide range of resources, your perspective will broaden and your thinking will extend beyond situations that are more familiar.
You’ll compare practice that you observe with ideas that you study. You’ll reflect on the practice and experiences you see and how these might be adapted or changed.
There are no formal academic or experiential requirements to study this module.
However, it is essential that you have an interest in young children’s lives and learning. If you're not already working or volunteering in an early childhood setting, it would also be beneficial for you to arrange access to one. We recommend that you visit a setting weekly/fortnightly throughout the module, particularly during Blocks 2 and 3.
Note: Access to education settings will require you to meet the ‘fit person’ criteria in your country to work with children. You and your setting are responsible for ensuring you meet these requirements, not the OU.
If you’re not sure you’re ready, talk to an adviser.
Before starting this module, we strongly recommend you complete both Exploring perspectives on young children’s lives and learning (E109) and Young children’s play and creativity (E110) if studying for a degree in Early Childhood (Q89) and both Learning and teaching in the primary years (E103) and Introduction to childhood studies and child psychology (E104) if studying for a degree in Education Studies (Primary) (Q94).
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
You will have access to a module website, which includes:
You’ll also be provided with one printed book – Listening to Young Children by Alison Clark which you will use during your study.
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone, and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying E229 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our Disability support website.
Listening to young children: critical reflections (E229) starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2027.
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