There is a range of courses on offer through the Open University for people with an interest in child development. Whether your interest is professional or parental, there’s sure to be a course for you.


Openings
Not sure where to start? Returning to education, or seeking an introduction to studying with the OU? This level could be perfect for you:

Y156 Understanding Children
A course focusing on children up to the age of 11, Understanding Children follows a family growing up in the modern world and considers the choices and rights of the children.
If you’d like to know more about this course, why not try our taster activities?

Level One courses
These courses provide a grounding in your chosen field, and provide the foundation for further study.

K100 Understanding Health and Social Care
Using real examples, Understanding Health and Social Care explores the nature of modern caring, the effects of technological, social and political change, and the shift to more flexible, interprofessional ways of working. Students will receive a broad introduction to all aspects of health and social care.

DD100 An Introduction to the Social Sciences: Understanding Social Change
An approachable and accessible course, DD100 will help you understand some of the big issues in the contemporary world, such as changes in family, work and identity, risk and the environment and the impact of globalisation.

E123 Working with Children in the Early Years
Designed for people already working in an early years environment, this course looks at practice in relation to working with young children and adults - including parents and carers - and explores how young children develop and learn.

E124 Supporting Children's Learning in the Early Years
Again, intended for people working in an early years environment, this course focuses on the student’s role in working with young children including those identified as gifted or talented, those with special educational needs and those who have English as an additional language.

E660 Specialist Teacher Assistant Certificate
Available to people with at least a year’s experience as a primary level Teaching Assistant, this course equips you with the knowledge, skills and understanding to work effectively with teachers in the classroom to support children’s learning.


Level Two
These courses are more advanced, and it’s recommended that students complete a Level One Course before embarking on them.

K204 Working with Children and Families

E243 Inclusive Education: Learning from each other

U212 Childhood

K201 Working with Young People

DSE212 Exploring Psychology

ED209 Child Development
You can try ED209 for yourself with our four course samples, extracted from the teaching materials students receive:

• Cognition and gender development
• Executive functions in childhood: development and disorder
• Attachment theory
• Influence of temperament

Level Three courses

K302 Critical Practice in Health and Social Care

K307 Managing Health and Social Care

EK310 Research with Children and Young People

D317 Social Psychology: Personal Lives, Social Worlds

DD303 Cognitive Psychology

K350 Assessing Practice in Nursing and Midwifery

Postgraduate courses
This course is for students who have already completed their Bachelor's Degree:

ED840 Child Development in Families, Schools and Society

E842 Developing Practice in Primary Education