This full-time, three-year Honours degree provides an academic and professional qualification in the care and education of young children. The course focuses on the holistic care and education of young children in a diversity of settings. Graduates of this programme will have the knowledge, competencies and skills to work directly with, or on behalf of young children in a range of early years’ services. The programme consists of the ‘core’ areas of Early Childhood Education and Care; education and play, child development, social environment, health, hygiene, nutrition and safety, communication and administration management, and personal, professional development. The programme content is chosen and structured to enable participants to become professional, reflective practitioners with an integrated approach in early childhood education and care. The programme aims to produce graduates that can think, act, manage and operate at the level of 'Experienced Practitioner', as defined by the Model Framework (2002). The programme requires placement that will bring students into contact with children, therefore IT Carlow is committed to ensuring that only suitable candidates are allowed to undertake this programme. IT Carlow uses the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) vetting service to assess the suitability of all applicants. Therefore, offers on this programme are conditional and could subsequently be withdrawn if applicants do not meet the Garda Vetting requirements.

The programme aims to produce graduates that can think, act, manage and operate at the level of 'Experienced Practitioner', as defined by the Model Framework (2002). Graduates of this honours degree will be therefore be trained as specialists and experienced practitioners in early childhood care and education. They may find employment as managers, directors, co-ordinators or leaders in a wide range of early years’ settings. Early years’ settings include pre-schools, crèches, special needs services, family support centres and community services in the statutory, voluntary, community and private sectors. Graduates may also pursue careers with Government bodies or public agencies working on behalf of children in policy making, advocacy or inspectorial roles. What follow-on study opportunities are available? This programme affords students the opportunity to pursue a higher degree qualification at Masters or Doctoral level within Early Childhood Studies or related social science and education fields. Upon successful completion of the programme, graduates may undertake post-graduate study by research within IT Carlow in Early Childhood Education and Care to Masters or PhD level.