Early Years Foundation Degree (Part-Time)

Our newly developed programme will be taught through a series of lectures, seminars, tutorials and interactive workshops. Course materials have been updated to ensure we continue to provide a programme that reflects the current priorities and challenges within the sector.

You’ll also have a personal tutor who’ll be assigned to you throughout your degree to support your on-going wellbeing and ensure that you have a positive learning experience.

Your module specification/course handbook will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to your course.

Tutor Profiles

Joe Lockwood

Joe Lockwood is an experienced practitioner who has worked across a range of sectors including Social Care, Early Years, and the Voluntary and Community Sector. Joe has over 20 years experience in working in Disabled Children’s Services, with particular focus on working with those with complex medical needs, and Autism.

Joe is Programme Leader of the BA (Hons) Early Years at University Centre Calderdale College. Joe has a range of academic and professional qualifications, including a BA (Hons) in Education, MA in Continuing Professional Development (Early Childhood Studies), and a PGCE in Post Compulsory Education and Training, and an MA Short Advanced Pedagogy. Joe is a member of The Society for Education and Training, and has presented at the annual Education and Training Foundation national conference.  She is currently undertaking the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic management and Leadership.

Pooja Sharma

Pooja Sharma has over 22 years’ experience working in the early year’s sector, She has held a unique range of posts. She has managed pre-school settings, worked as a primary school teacher, with The Care Inspectorate, as a volunteer teacher in rural districts of India alongside owning her own nursery.

In 2015 she was appointed an Early Years Subject Specialist with Pearson, which called upon rigorous checking during the assessment process of qualifications at different further education institutions. This also led to her working as an education consultant.

Pooja has an established background in Early Years and has been in Higher Education within the field of Education for the past 8 years, prior to which she taught in further education for 6 years.

During her time spent in further education she was programme leader for the Level 3 Early Years qualification alongside training Teaching Assistant’s.  More recently in 2010 her focus shifted to Higher Education, She now works within the Teacher Education and Early Years teams on a range of course. She has a BA in Childhood Studies, Post Graduate Certificate of Education (Primary), Post Graduate Diploma in Advance Professional Studies and more recently completed her MA Education (Distinction).

Julie Jones

Julie has 25 years’ experience of working in the early years sector. She has held a range of positions, both paid and voluntary, including; childminding, working in a pre school, managing a private day nursery, working as a Local Authority advisor, teaching and assessing early years and early years management apprentices and being an early years Ofsted Inspector. Julie has also been involved in delivering training and teaching within the early years sector for over 15 years, teaching a variety non accredited and accredited courses from entry level to level 5.

Julie is the course leader for the Early Years Foundation Degree at the University Centre, Calderdale College. Julie has a range of academic and professional qualifications with a particular focus on children’s mental health. Julie is an Early Years Teacher and has a Foundation Degree in Early Years, BA Hons in Education and Training, and has recently been offered a place to study for an MSc in Child and Adolescent Mental Health.