BA (Hons) Children, Schools and Families (Graduate Practitioner) · University of LancashireBachelor's degree · Duration varies
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BA (Hons) Children, Schools and Families (Graduate Practitioner) Bachelor's degree at the University of Lancashire

BA (Hons) Children, Schools and Families (Graduate Practitioner) at University of Lancashire. The University, founded in 1828, is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, and this qualification is nationally recognised.

BA (Hons)
Award
Years
Part-time
Study mode
65%
in work/study (15m)

About this course

Would you like to work with children, young people, and the services that support them? Our BA (Hons) Children, Schools and Families is the course for you. From the provider’s course page.

BA (Hons) Children, Schools and Families (Graduate Practitioner) is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at the University of Lancashire, based in Main Campus,Burnley Campus. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.

For Health and social care graduates from this provider, 65% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, typical earnings around £30,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)

For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Nursing & Health, see the sections below.

Course evidence score

The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.

6.5
/ 10
1 of 3 official measures
Graduate outcomes
In work or further study 15 months after graduating
Solid65

Stronger evidence Published sample: 880. Cohort 2021-22. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 65% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Curriculum & modules

Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.

Year 1 5 modules
  • The Social Construction of ChildhoodCompulsory
    Module details

    In this module you will explore different representations and ideas about the 'nature' of childhood. You will examine social institutions and how ideas about childhood feed into ways we work with children. You will explore the role that children themselves take in shaping our understandings of childhood. You will consider childhood as a social phenomenon.

  • Introduction to Children's Services and Systems 1Compulsory
    Module details

    An introduction to the key legislation, policy and themes shaping current service provision for children and young people, and their families and carers.

  • Transitions in Children and Young People's LivesCompulsory
    Module details

    This module aims to identify and examine transitions in children and young people's lives using theories to explain the effects. You will consider the need to manage transitions to ensure good practice and reflect on your own responses to change and transition, as well as developing strategies for coping with transitions.

  • Supporting Well-being and DevelopmentCompulsory
    Module details

    Significant classical and contemporary theories of child, adolescent and adult development. Ecological influences on children and their families. Socio-cultural influences on development. Understanding atypical development. Adverse childhood experiences and safeguarding risk factors. Social and emotional resilience. Social and emotional wellbeing. Professional responses to support well-being and development, and enabling the voice of the child, young person or family members to be heard and unde

    Assessment: You are required to undertake and attain a pass mark of 40% or above for the written assessment.

  • Professional Practice with Children and Families 1Optional
    Module details

    This module introduces you to the children and families' workforce and focuses on four key areas. Firstly, you will develop effective communication skills for professional practice. Then you will learn to recognise expected patterns of children's development from birth to 18 years. Third, you will explore professional responsibilities, including codes of conduct, ethics, safeguarding, health and safety, and the role of supervision. Finally, you will build academic and transferable skills such as

Year 2 5 modules
  • Diversity and Inclusive PracticeCompulsory
    Module details

    Discover the contested nature of key concepts and terminology in the area of diversity and inclusion, challenge oppressive practices and promote an understanding of the diverse experiences of different social groups. Recognise the significance of the interplay between various dimensions of social inequality and gain knowledge and understanding of relevant policy contexts, investigating the relationship between policy and inclusive practice

  • Researching with Children and Young PeopleCompulsory
    Module details

    This module examines research with children and young people by studying a number of key research studies. You will gain insights into the research process and build your competence and confidence within yourself as a researcher.

  • Early Childhood: Pedagogy and PlayCompulsory
    Module details

    This module examines the emergence of early childhood pedagogy. Drawing upon theoretical, historical and contemporary thinking in relation to the importance of play in early childhood development.

  • Safeguarding Children and Young PeopleCompulsory
    Module details

    You will develop knowledge and understanding of the National Occupational Standards policy, legislation, and guidance. The module explores the evidence base shaping contemporary safeguarding practice within children's services.

  • Professional Practice in Childrens Services 2Optional
    Module details

    This module primarily focuses on exploring the roles and responsibilities associated with the children and families workforce. The module considers the skills, knowledge and standards that underpin specific roles and continues to develop your academic and transferable skills by, amongst other things, developing your skills in critical thinking and analysis and composing job applications.

Year 3 4 modules
  • DissertationCompulsory
    Module details

    This module provides an opportunity for you to undertake independent study in an area of your own choosing involving a particular issue of relevance to children and young people's lives and services. You will be guided and supported by your dissertation supervisor to plan, carry out the project and write it up as an academic research.

  • Working with Children, Young People and FamiliesCompulsory
    Module details

    This module will provide you with an overview of critical issues for children, families and young people, taking into account a variety of factors and including the views of service users and carers, theoretical concepts, research evidence and relevant policy and legislation. This module recognises and critically discusses the prominence of children, families and 'youth' in Government policies.

  • International Perspectives on Children's LivesCompulsory
    Module details

    This module aims to give you the opportunity to consider international approaches to childcare and family policy. You will consider the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of childhood and family life. This will ultimately build your understanding of how childhood is socially constructed worldwide.

  • Professional Practice Early Childhood Graduate PractitionerOptional
    Module details

    On this module you will understand the professional practices of an Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner. You will become an advocate for young children's rights and participation and recognise that young children are active co-constructors of their own learning. You will critically apply high-level academic knowledge of pedagogy and research evidence, to the holistic development of infants and young children (0-8), in a practice context that is respectful of the child, their family and communi

Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.

Course in depth

What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.

What you'll study

This course focuses on supporting children, young people and the services that work with them. You'll build from foundations in child development and safeguarding through to specialist practice in areas such as mental health, community care and leadership. A typical progression moves from core theory in Year 1, covering child psychology, communication and family-centred practice, through applied study in Year 2, where you'll explore acute care, long-term conditions and medicines management. Throughout, you'll undertake supervised placements in schools, children's services and healthcare settings (around 50% of your time). Year 3 consolidates complex cases, evidence-based practice and leadership skills, preparing you for professional registration or advanced roles in children's services.

Who it's for

This part-time programme is designed for graduate practitioners seeking to deepen their expertise in children, schools and families. It suits those balancing study with professional or personal commitments, offering flexibility whilst maintaining academic rigour in a health and social care context.

University & format

The University of Lancashire, founded in 1828, offers this BA (Hons) course at its Main Campus in Burnley on a part-time basis, taught in English. The university is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, and this qualification is nationally recognised. The University has a Silver teaching rating in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 and was.

Applicant information

The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.

2027 entry deadlineApply directly to the provider

Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates

Open daysAttend our next Open Day

See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.

2026 entryLive availability check

Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.

Entry & how to get in

Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check the University of Lancashire's official course page for the current offer.

Entry & your chances

An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.

Offer-based entry

Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.

How to apply

Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.

Apply byApply directly to the providerfor this course
UCAS codeL541quote this on your application
  1. 1
    Register on UCAS Hub

    Create your UCAS application and add this course (code L541). One application covers up to five choices.

  2. 2
    Write your personal statement

    A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.

  3. 3
    Submit by Apply directly to the provider

    Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.

  4. 4
    Reply to your offers

    When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.

  5. 5
    Results day & confirmation

    On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.

💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask University of Lancashire whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.

Fees & funding

What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.

Tuition per year

Homeup to £9,790 / yr
International£17,325 / yr

Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).

Check fees at University of Lancashire →

For students who normally live in England

illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
Check providertuition used per year, no published course home fee, total not estimated
total borrowing, course length not published

2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.

Starting on or after 1 January 2027?

The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.

Paying for it

  • Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
  • Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
  • Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
  • Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.

England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.

Funding matched to this course

Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for

All University of Lancashire funding →

Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.

Financial Support Package£500–£750 a year
Means-tested2026/27

Undergraduates from low-income households, subject to eligibility

How it worksAutomatic assessment after enrolment when Student Finance shares household-income data.
TimingNo separate application
Check eligibility →
Means-tested2026/27

Eligible undergraduate students with experience of care

How it worksApply through the Student Hub after enrolment.
TimingNine months after the academic year starts
Check eligibility →
Means-tested2026/27

Eligible undergraduate or taught-postgraduate unpaid carers

How it worksApply through the Student Hub after enrolment and provide evidence.
TimingNine months after the academic year starts
Check eligibility →
Sanctuary ScholarshipFee waiver + up to £5,000 a year
Means-tested2026/27

Forced migrants who are not eligible for student finance

How it worksComplete the university application form; an offer is not required to apply.
TimingCheck the current application form
Check eligibility →

National funding for this subject

  • NHS Learning Support Fund: Eligible nursing, midwifery and allied-health students can receive a non-repayable training grant. Official guidance

Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.

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Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check

Careers & earnings

What Nursing & Health graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.

Graduate earnings: this course

WhenMedianTypical rangeGraduates
15 months after£30,000£25,000 – £34,000880
3 years after£22,500£17,000 – £29,50015
5 years after£29,000£19,500 – £32,50020

Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 880. Cohort 2021-22.

Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course

65%
in work or further study 15 months on
  1. 1Newly Qualified PractitionerPreceptorship / first post · 0–2 yrs
  2. 2Registered PractitionerAutonomous practice · 2–5 yrs
  3. 3Senior / SpecialistSpecialist or team lead · 5–10 yrs
  4. 4Advanced / Consultant PractitionerAdvanced practice or management · 10+ yrs

How pay grows: this course vs Nursing & Health nationally

Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£30,000
£27,000 – £30,500
After 3 years LEO
£22,500
£23,800 – £33,600
After 5 years LEO
£29,000
£27,200 – £38,400
national rangethis course’s medianaxis £21,000 – £40,000

National figures for Nursing & Health graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.

Work out your pay

Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.

What happened to 100 students?

Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.

65 of 100

were in work or further study

15 months after graduation

65% working0% working and studying0% in further study

Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 880. Cohort 2021-22. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.

Value compared with similar courses

How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Nursing & Health courses at the same study level.

This course £29,000Peer median £31,500Middle 50% £28,000–£34,000
31st percentile

Compared with 1,506 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.

Job market & outlook

How Nursing & Health graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.

90%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Nursing & Health courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes
87%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled
85%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuation

How AI is changing the work

AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.

What AI takes off your plate

  • Routine documentation and triage support
  • Scheduling and records admin
  • First-pass risk flags from data
  • Standard reference look-ups

More human than ever

  • Hands-on, compassionate care
  • Clinical judgement and accountability
  • Communicating with patients and families
  • Ethics and safeguarding decisions

The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.

Roles & employers

Where Nursing & Health graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.

Where they work

  • NHS trusts
  • Private healthcare
  • Care providers
  • Community & mental-health services

Is this course right for you?

The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.

💷

Student finance

For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.

📈

Where graduates go

65% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £30,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.

Official-data snapshot

Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 6.5 out of 10: in work or study 65%.

Who studies here and in this subject?

Provider- and UK subject-level context.

University of Lancashire

All students23,865
International20.5%
Aged 25+43.6%

Subjects allied to medicine across the UK

Students360,360
Aged 25+51.5%

HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.

Local crime-data context

A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.

Around Main Campus

2,263 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.

Violent Crime 753Anti Social Behaviour 464Shoplifting 194Criminal Damage Arson 169Public Order 166

Around Burnley Campus

1,999 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.

Violent Crime 695Anti Social Behaviour 332Shoplifting 263Criminal Damage Arson 138Public Order 129

Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.

Is Nursing & Health right for you?

Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.

International students

What applying to University of Lancashire from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.

Tuition fees

International tuition is £17,325 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.

English language

Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.

Student visa

You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.

Scholarships & funding

Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check University of Lancashire’s funding pages.

Living costs

Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.

Working while you study

A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.

Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with University of Lancashire and gov.uk before you apply.

Common questions

Set by the University of Lancashire. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
For Health and social care graduates from this provider, 65% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, typical earnings around £30,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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