Foundation degree early years
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  1. #1
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    Default Foundation degree early years

    After lots of thinking I'm going to apply for foundation degree this sept. I was thinking of doing voluntary work with home start, i am working towards outreach work in future.
    but discovered my la is funding 80% foundation degree, so seems crazy not to. I love to learn and would love to do f.d to extended my knowledge, support my business and for my own personal Dvp

    What to expect? That's my questions. I have to attend a day a week, I assume ill have home readings and assignments. Just wondering how you found it.

    Slightly concerned if any of my children leave ill need to look at new business and don't want the day a week at college to count against me.

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    I am almost at the end of my FDEY. However, I have studied with OU. I do wish I had done it one day a week at a UNI or college as it has been difficult in fitting it around life and work. It has been a long four years but OU worked for me as I could not get one day a week on the day I wanted. I would say go for it, it will be worth it in the long run. For me it was more about learning and personal satisfaction, I was not in pursuit of a particular job. At times I have wanted to throw in the towel due to life/kids/moving/death in family and so on and on and on. I am now weeks away and so glad I have stuck with it. It will give you a different perspective on how children learn, development theories. There is also a LOT of reflection on your practice. Also if it is funded then why not!

  3. #3
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    I did my first year on the foundation degree but couldn't do 2nd year as LA has no funding but would really love to complete it.
    Smiles love emma

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    I am thinking of applying with the OU next year sometime. It's something I definitely want to do but I know it will be hell to do at home because working around kids and life is a great idea but it never does lol. xxx

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    Peekaboo I thought that with ou will be easy as can do everything in the evening but I found it so hard to begin with as doing it every evening wasn't working and found I was catching up on weekends and ended up having no time for myself or family. In the end I did myself a timetable and worked round that and it worked really well as I set aside time to do OU work and housework eg so at the weekends I could spend with my family. It is worth it though doing though OU if you can't get to college.
    Smiles love emma

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    Quote Originally Posted by specks4 View Post
    Peekaboo I thought that with ou will be easy as can do everything in the evening but I found it so hard to begin with as doing it every evening wasn't working and found I was catching up on weekends and ended up having no time for myself or family. In the end I did myself a timetable and worked round that and it worked really well as I set aside time to do OU work and housework eg so at the weekends I could spend with my family. It is worth it though doing though OU if you can't get to college.
    Yeah I know what you mean specks, I did a course online it was only a short one but I found I had no time with family and things till I done a time table total godsend they are! How did you find OU as a whole? Xxx

  7. #7
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    I did my degree with honours through OU. I must admit I found it easy but only because my situation was different then. It took 6 years in total - my two eldest children were young but I was a single mum so did spend most weekends if they were with their dad and an evening here and there when they were in bed studying. More time was needed when an assignment was due. I was working full time so basically had no time to myself. I met my husband two years before I completed it and kept to the same routine - he would be working on the house etc to let me get on. I would recommend OU definitely! But if you have the chance to get the course funded and have that support of a tutor one day a week I would jump at that chance! Good luck if you choose to go ahead!

  8. #8
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    I'm starting my degree with the OU this year. Registration date is the 24th april, beginning to feel slightly nervous :-/
    I'm sitting down with dh this weekend and we're going to work out a rota for housework. He's agreed 1 day a month he will take our kids out for an entire day so I can study! I just hope he sticks to the plan :-/

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    Quote Originally Posted by PeekABoos View Post
    Yeah I know what you mean specks, I did a course online it was only a short one but I found I had no time with family and things till I done a time table total godsend they are! How did you find OU as a whole? Xxx
    I didn't go to any of the offered tutorials as they were too far away but my tutor support was good and the OU forum was really good. If you know anyone who also wants to do I think that would help as you could work together as I found apart from my tutor on the other end of phone at set times and emails not answered straight away it was hard but I would do OU again to do 2nd year if some funding became available.
    Smiles love emma

  10. #10
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    I have done my level 3 online, and found it so so easy. Just applied for the foundation degree via OU but I have stopped childminding and working 2 hours a day in a school, also have only a 5yo son at school so I guess I am very lucky with the time I have on my hands.

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    i did the FD. I worked 4 days per week but still around 48 hours per week. I went to college 4-9pm once per week and 1 saturday per month for 2 years.

    i went on to do the top up year at uni and did 1 day 2pm-9pm and 1 evening every other week.

    I'd say on top of college attendance you'd need to put in 5-10 hours of self study per week. Not sure about OU.

    I did both, got a first and am now doing a PGCE whilst working full time.
    if you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got

  12. #12
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    Juggler well done! was all your study funded ?

    I've nearly finished my ucas application - just getting a reference sorted. So excited!! Husband thinks I'm daft being so excited to start a degree. But secretly proud!

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    Quote Originally Posted by KatieFS View Post
    Juggler well done! was all your study funded ? I've nearly finished my ucas application - just getting a reference sorted. So excited!! Husband thinks I'm daft being so excited to start a degree. But secretly proud!
    The early years degree with OU you get a student loan for. Like you would in a brick UNi. Xx

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    Quote Originally Posted by KatieFS View Post
    Juggler well done! was all your study funded ?

    I've nearly finished my ucas application - just getting a reference sorted. So excited!! Husband thinks I'm daft being so excited to start a degree. But secretly proud!
    it was mostly funded. when I did the FD at college in 2007 it cost £800 now it's nearer £2k. I got £900 from the LA as at the time there was the Graduate Leader Fund to be used up.

    My 3rd year cost £3,500 (now £9K!) i asked nicely and my LA gave me £1000 towards it.

    PGCE is funded as I'm doing the School Direct (salaried) route so I'm employed as an unqualified teacher and uni fees are paid for - however, it's tough working full-time and doing the same coursework and assignments as the university based PGCE students

    12 weeks to go though

    good luck with the course hon. and yes def. get loan for fees and you can apply for a maintenance grant if you study full=time (dependent upon your partner income). Also if you are fulltime your partner/you can get a 25% reduction on your council tax
    if you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got

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    Thank you! I'm aiming to get the paperwork in to ucas and finding applications in this week. Ill let you know how it goes. So exciting!

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    Quote Originally Posted by KatieFS View Post
    Thank you! I'm aiming to get the paperwork in to ucas and finding applications in this week. Ill let you know how it goes. So exciting!
    Good luck I think I am a study addict I am already panicking about what I am going to do once I finish my BA Hons in May!! I started with an FD which was originally offered as part classroom based and part distance learning. After the first few terms I moved to wholly distance learning as it suited me much better. I can honestly say I have loved every minute of it (well maybe not the last few hours before submission deadlines!). It has changed my life enormously and opened doors I would never have imagined.

    Keep us posted with how you get on

  17. #17
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    Thanks - what's your experience manjay? What 'doors' were open to you ?

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by KatieFS View Post
    Thanks - what's your experience manjay? What 'doors' were open to you ?
    I think the confidence boost for me is enormous! I am nearly 45 and unless I have a drastic fail with my dissertation I am on track to obtain a first class honours degree. That fact in itself is pretty amazing to me! I now feel I have the academic underpinning knowledge to back up everything I do with my children. Most benefits so far are related to my childminding business but I have managed to build such a good relationship with my LA that they are often trying to poach me. I have also had the privilege of sitting as a trustee on the board of PACEY which is a fantastic experience and gives me the opportunity to attend all sorts of high level meetings. This is just the tip of the iceberg for me and whilst I acknowledge that not everyone's experience will be the same as mine, for me all the study has definitely been worth it. I don't intend to move on from childminding for the forseeable future as it suits my family circumstances and I am very lucky in that I have more work than I can deal with passed to me from my LA.

    Good luck with your applications

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  20. #19
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    Oooooooooo

    Interview in may with 'short study skills test'
    Help! What is this test and what might they ask me?!???!?

    Frightened! Excited!!! Eek

  21. #20
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    [QUOTE=KatieFS;1354605]After lots of thinking I'm going to apply for foundation degree this sept. I was thinking of doing voluntary work with home start, i am working towards outreach work in future.
    but discovered my la is funding 80% foundation degree, so seems crazy not to. I love to learn and would love to do f.d to extended my knowledge, support my business and for my own personal Dvp

    What to expect? That's my questions. I have to attend a day a week, I assume ill have home readings and assignments. Just wondering how you found it.

    Slightly concerned if any of my children leave ill need to look at new business and don't want the day a week at college to count against me.[/QUOTE]

    I also started my FD with a Thursday off to study. I actually went to college Wed evening then did all my work on a Thursday (and CM paperwork), then in my third year at uni Thurs was the day I needed to attend uni.

    I'd say you'll need to find between 5-10 hours per week for reading and assignment prep depending on how mad about grades you are
    if you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got

 

 
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