Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Leadership

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Initiate teaching and learning practices that foster learner engagement in complex contexts and foreground Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander standpoints in early childhood education.
2. Critically reflect on different ways of knowing, being, and doing, founded on the view of children and families as capable contributors to conceptual and pedagogical decision-making in learning and teaching; undertake an advanced study of play and the image of the child in different communities.
3. Design teaching practices that reflect an ability to contextualise, question, resist, rethink, and act towards equity and the public good and design learning opportunities that embrace a rich and varied curriculum, ensure that learning and teaching approaches are based on sound ethical principles and foster reciprocal relationships in early childhood settings.
4. Exhibit a broad and coherent body of knowledge of pedagogy, curriculum and assessment in relation to the changing nature of education in a rapidly-evolving global context; undertake deep inquiry into local and global contexts of Early Childhood Education.
5. Critically review and articulate a range of oral and written communication techniques, including in the use of Information and Communication Technologies, to engage and connect with students, their parents/carers and the wider community,
6. Analyse models of leadership and advocacy and apply principles of ethical leadership in Early Childhood.

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Leadership builds on our three-year Bachelor of Early Childhood Education with a fourth year dedicated to in-depth understanding of:

• leadership skills
• global perspectives in education
• politics and policy of education
• in-depth play-based education.

Plus, a key focus of your fourth year will be a research inquiry project on a topic of your choice relating to early childhood education.

If you have already completed a three-year degree in early childhood education, you can enter this course in fourth year to complete the one-year leadership component. 

Studying at VU means taking advantage of our strong connections with community centres, local councils, childcare settings and kindergartens.

Your 80 days of supervised teaching experience includes:

• 10 days in the unique VU playgroup program
• 15 days with infants and toddlers in a childcare centre
• 55 days with 3–5-year-olds in a childcare centre or funded kindergarten.

In our VU Play pop-up play spaces, you’ll create and maintain play spaces that encourage children to engage in self-directed play, using loose parts and various materials. You’ll adhere to the philosophy of ‘playwork’ to observe, reflect and analyse the children playing and intervene or make changes when needed. This program runs permanently at Footscray Nicholson campus and many other suitable locations.

Find out more about our practical programs in early childhood education.

Experience a range of cultures, histories and early childhood teaching styles to broaden your perspective. As a VU student, you’ll have access to our:

• Study tour to Malaysia: complete a three-week placement in a Malaysian early childhood centre, enjoying a rich cultural immersion experience to learn different approaches to early childhood education.
• Student exchange with Karlstad University in Sweden: spend six months in Sweden studying and completing practical placements that count towards your course, learning European approaches to early childhood education and broadening your cultural awareness.
• Placements in the Northern Territory: spend four weeks in a remote Indigenous community in the Northern Territory, experiencing a rich culture and perspectives to inform your approach to early childhood teaching.

Find out more about practical programs in early childhood education and exchange programs at VU.

If you have already completed a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, enjoy guaranteed entry into this course and skip first year.

If you have already completed a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, you can gain credit for the first three years of this course and study only fourth year.

For your first year of bachelor-level study as an international student, you'll enjoy the supportive experience of our VU First Year College® program in the heart of Melbourne at our modern high-rise City Campus. 

For the remaining years, you'll study at our relaxed and friendly Footscray Nicholson Campus, only ten minutes on the train from Melbourne city centre.