BA Honours Degree in nursery management, Liverpool Hope University. The course aims to furnish students with an academic qualification with practical application and enable them to gain management positions.
Candidates
Experienced early years practitioners, with supervisory/managerial experience and an NVQ 3 or equivalent qualification.
Content
The course is modular and has three levels: Level 1 includes developing business skills and working in partnership with parents. Level 2 includes management theory and practice, human resources management, and marketing, finance and budgets. Level 3 includes strategic management, social policy and legislation.
Duration
Each level takes two years of part-time study but distance learners may be able to finish faster.
Fees
Students take three modules a year at 85 each.
More information
Call award director Petra Luck on 0151 291 3744 or visit www.hope.ac.uk.
Lesley Baugh, 45, is nursery manager at Vauxhall Neighbourhood Council Day Nursery, Liverpool
I gained the NNEB qualification in 1977 and have worked in the maintained, private and voluntary sector since then. I have also gained many other qualifications, including the City and Guilds 7303. So, I felt that there were no other training courses available that would challenge me enough until I heard about the BA in nursery management.
Since starting the course, we have covered subjects such as international educare and the internal business environment. These subjects have given me a greater understanding of the organisation where I work, the reasons behind our actions and the implications of those actions.
Both the tutors and the other students on the course are very supportive. I am in a unique position as my daughter Joanne is a student on the course as well, so we encourage each other.
I hope that the course will enable me to be more effective in the management of my setting, use my transferable skills and assist in the development of my organisation.
Joanne Duff, 23, creche leader, Childwise Staffing Agency, Liverpool I am a creche leader with an agency that organises creches for children of parents attending access courses.
I think the management course is brilliant, and it has already helped me improve the way I do my job. It has shown me how to write up more detailed procedures and improve our record keeping.
I like the fact that there are students of different ages on the course, as you get a range of opinions.
My son is ten months old so will be at school by the time I finish the course, when I hope to go back to work full time. I'd like to have my own nursery or follow in mum's footsteps and go into nursery management.