10th
in the UK for student satisfaction
Complete University Guide 2023
4th
in the UK for overall average positivity in Childhood and Youth Studies
National Student Survey 2023
7th
in the UK for our teaching quality
The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022
Join us at our upcoming Open Afternoon!
Wednesday 13 December
Wednesday 13 December
Our next Open Afternoon is in:
Overview
Develop both your understanding of children and your therapeutic skills
Our BA (Hons) Childhood Studies with Therapeutic Play encompasses working with children in a variety of settings and contexts with a focus on utilising therapeutic play approaches.
National Student Survey 2023
Overall average positivity
Organisation and management
Learning resources
Develop your knowledge and skills
This programme is the perfect preparation to work therapeutically with children and young people in specialist SEND settings, to support children with social, emotional and mental health challenges in mainstream settings, or to undertake further training to become a registered Play Therapist.
Choose your pathway
This unique and innovative course will offer two distinct pathways:
- ‘Early Childhood’ working with children aged 0-8 years of age which confers Level 3 ‘full and relevant’ status,
- or ‘Childhood’, which provides the option to work with children and young people across the age range.
Routes for all
We also offer an Integrated Foundation Year option for those looking to develop their academic confidence and skills before beginning a full degree.
On this course you will:
- Investigate, understand and analyse the fast-changing landscape of working with children.
- Develop your understanding of and skills in utilising therapeutic play approaches.
- Pursue specific pathways that allow you to centre your learning around your passions and interests.
- Gain practical experience in real-world environments.
The Course
Develop your practice skills and knowledge of working with children
The course provides the opportunity to gain professional practice experience making clear links between theory and therapeutic practice.
You will be guided through an exciting range of modules that are specifically designed to increase understanding of children, and to develop therapeutic skills.
Study areas include:
- Children's Health and Wellbeing
- Special Educational Needs
- Play, Creative and Expressive Arts
- Therapeutic Play
- Working Therapeutically with Families
- Being Human
This list is indicative and subject to change.
Final research project
Students in their third year will undertake an independent research project with a therapeutic play focus.
ENRICH sessions
In addition to these modules, a programme of ENRICH sessions will provide exposure to a diverse range of relevant subject presentations including: Developing Resilience, Therapeutic Relationships and The Role of the Play Therapist.
Teaching and Assessment
Feel the support of our staff as you gain confidence in your abilities
Teaching
You will learn from expert practitioners and accomplished academics with a wide range of experience within the field of Childhood Studies.
We bring new research together with established theory into the classroom through a mix of direct teaching, seminars, and activity-based learning.
Within your learning sessions, you will be challenged to go further and be encouraged to be proactive, responsive and responsible for your own learning and ideas outside of the classroom.
Our focus on group discussion and the consideration of the thoughts of others allow you to develop your own ideas.
Assessment
It is important that our assessments are designed to meet the various learning needs of students.
We offer a variety of assessment methods that include presentations, assignments, exams, academic posters and placement portfolios.
Experience
Discover facilities that help support your learning
Close community
Our commitment to a friendly and close-knit student community contributes to a high degree of success for our graduates.
Learning Resource Centre
The Learning Resource Centre (LRC) contains the library, a café, IT/teaching rooms, and the Support and Information Zone (SIZ).
Library
Our campus library holds more than 200,000 books and over 500,000 eBooks.
Expert staff
Learn from expert and experienced teaching staff who are here to support your needs.
Subject specific librarians
If you have difficulty finding material for an essay, seminar or project, subject librarians will be happy to provide assistance.
Practice Placements
Gain vital experience within a professional environment to support your learning
As part of our BA (Hons) Childhood Studies with Therapeutic Play course, you will gain the opportunity to undertake practice placements.
These placements will allow you to work directly within local early years settings as you apply your theoretical learning within a real-world environment.
In both your first and second years, you will complete a practice placement, where the age group you work with will change depending on your chosen pathway.
In your second year, this practical element of the programme will include the delivery of therapeutic interventions.
Integrated Foundation Year Option
Build your academic knowledge, skills and confidence before your studies begin
This degree incorporates an additional foundation year to build knowledge and skills to support your academic development.
This option is primarily for students who have not yet met the academic entry requirements of the three-year degree, or feel that they need a little bit more preparation and experience to make the most of their studies.
After the foundation year, you will study modules delivered on the BA (Hons) Childhood Studies with Therapeutic Play course.
This four-year route will help you gain a deeper understanding of this interesting subject and build your confidence and academic abilities.
This course offers
- An additional year to build academic skills.
- Lower entry requirements than the main degree pathway.
- More insight into education degree pathways and careers.
- Includes a school placement to give you a taster of a career in teaching.
Course costs and entry requirements
- 2022/23 UK fee: £9,250
- 2022/23 International fee: £14,500
- A minimum of 48 UCAS tariff points or equivalent.
- A GCSE C or 4 in mathematics and English language is required
- Enhanced DBS check required
- If English is not your first language: IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in writing or equivalent
- Non-standard Application Entry Routes: The University has an alternative entry route for applicants who have relevant skills and experience but who do not hold the formal minimum entry qualifications required. Applicants who demonstrate the necessary skills and experience to enter a course of higher education will be asked to complete an entry task involving the completion of specially set assignments.
Study Abroad
Explore the opportunity to study part of your course abroad
As a student at the University of Chichester, you can explore opportunities to study abroad during your studies as you enrich and broaden your educational experiences.
Students who have undertaken this in the past have found it to be an amazing experience to broaden their horizons, a great opportunity to meet new people, undertake further travelling and to immerse themselves within a new culture.
You will be fully supported throughout the process to help find the right destination institution for you and your course. We can take you through everything that you will need to consider, from visas to financial support, to help ensure that you can get the best out of your time studying abroad.
Course Costs
Course Fees 2024/25
UK fee
International fee
For further details about fees, please see our Tuition Fees page.
For further details about international scholarships, please see our Scholarships page.
To find out about any additional costs on this course, please see our Additional Costs page.
Course specific costs
You will be required to have a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check costing £40 which needs to be paid for before the start of the course.
Entry Requirements
UCAS
A Levels
BTEC
Cambridge Technical
CACHE Level 3 Diploma
T Level
GCSE
Access to HE Diploma
IB
DBS
BA (Hons) Childhood Studies with Therapeutic Play applicants are required to have an enhanced Disclosure Barring Service check which needs to be paid for before the start of the course.
We strongly suggest that all students sign up for the Disclosure and Barring Service update service for which there is a small annual charge, this makes the DBS portable both during and after the degree.
Failure to sign up for the update service might require the student to gain a further enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check which will incur additional costs.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Click the ‘Apply now’ button to go to relevant UCAS page.
Many qualifications have a UCAS Tariff value. The score depends on the qualification, and the grade you achieved.
Head to the UCAS Tariff Points web page where you can find a tariff points calculator that can tell you how much your qualification and grades are worth.
