Early Childhood Studies BA (Hons)
Welcome and induction information
Welcome to ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½
Whether you are joining us as a new student or continuing your studies, we want to make sure you get off to a flying start. On this page, you will find your course-specific induction information, together with the information on additional welcome activities happening throughout the week.
Please note: where applicable, new Top-up (Level 6) student information will be shared with returning student information.
Important dates
Enrolment: 14 Sep 2026 - 25 Sep 2026
Induction: 21 Sep 2026 - 25 Sep 2026
Teaching starts: w/c 28 Sep 2026
Induction information for new students (foundation year)
Further information specific to your course, including induction activities, any uniform/kit requirements and our Kick-Start scheme, is available below. Additional changes may be made to the schedules before welcome week. You are required to attend your course induction session and other activities unless you have enrolled after these have passed.
Please check this page again prior to your induction for any updates or amendments.
Tuesday 22 September
Meet your teaching team and classmates
Location: The Link (TL), TBC
Time: 10am-12pm
Lecturer(s): Jason Metcalfe
10am–11am - Meet your personal tutor, programme team and fellow students. Find out more about your course, induction week and the support available throughout your studies.
Activity: Padlet introductions. Share a little about yourself, discover common interests and begin building connections with your new learning community.
11am-12pm - Your programme, placements and future career - an introduction to Primary Education Studies and Early Childhood Studies, including foundation year modules and enrichment opportunities.
Activity: Tree of hopes and fears: working together, students will explore their aspirations, goals and any concerns about starting university, helping to create an open and supportive learning environment.
Induction information for new students (Level 4)
Further information specific to your course, including induction activities, any uniform/kit requirements and our Kick-Start scheme, is available below. Additional changes may be made to the schedules before welcome week. You are required to attend your course induction session and other activities unless you have enrolled after these have passed.
Please check this page again prior to the week commencing 21 September 2026 for any updates or amendments.
Tuesday 22 September
Meet your teaching team and classmates
Location: The Link (TL), TBC
Time: 10am-12pm
Lecturer(s): Kumar Jayantilal
10am–11am - Meet your personal tutor, programme team and fellow students. Find out more about your course, induction week and the support available throughout your studies. Representatives from HIRED will also introduce themselves and explain how placements are supported across the programme.
Activity: Padlet introductions - share a little about yourself, discover common interests and begin building connections with your new learning community.
11am-12pm - Your programme, placements and future career - an introduction to Early Childhood Studies, including Level 4 modules, the Graduate Practitioner pathway, placements and future career opportunities.
Activity: Tree of hopes and fears - working together, students will explore their aspirations, goals and any concerns about starting university, helping to create an open and supportive learning environment.
Student success at UCB
Location: The Link (TL), TBC
Time: 1-3pm
Lecturer(s): Kumar Jayantilal
Learn about the range of academic, pastoral and wellbeing support available throughout your studies, including CASE, DICE, Student Engagement, Wellbeing Services, the Library and your Personal Tutor.
2pm-3pm - Professional expectations and building our learning community - explore what it means to be a successful university student and future Early Childhood professional, including attendance, engagement, professionalism, placements and academic expectations.
Activity: Building our ECS cohort charter - students will work together to establish shared expectations, values and ground rules that will shape their learning community throughout the year.
Orientation quiz and campus challenge
Location: The Link (TL), TBC
Time: 3-4pm
Lecturer(s): Kumar Jayantilal
Orientation quiz and campus challenge - working in teams, students will navigate key locations across campus, discover important services and become familiar with their new learning environment through a fun and interactive challenge.
Welcome week activities and support sessions
Throughout welcome week, we've arranged a programme of support sessions and activities to help you settle into university life, meet other students and discover the services available to you.
You'll have the opportunity to meet teams including Disability and Neurodiversity Support, Mental Health and Wellbeing, the Centre for Academic Skills and English (CASE), and the Library. You'll also have opportunities to connect with the Guild of Students (the student union at UCB), find out more about student life, and take part in activities organised by the Student Engagement and Success Team.
Monday 21 September • Student Support & Wellbeing
| Time | Session | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1±è³¾â€“2±è³¾ | Student Support & Wellbeing (Online) Chat online to members of our Student Support & Wellbeing teams and find out how they can support you during your time at UCB. From advice on managing your mental health and staying on track with your studies to signposting you to other support services, this is an opportunity to learn more about what the team can do for you. |
Tuesday 22 September • DNS, Academic Support, Guild of Students
| Time | Session | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1±è³¾â€“2±è³¾ | Disability and Neurodiversity Support (Online) Chat online to members of our Disability and Neurodiversity Support team to find out how the DSA (Disabled Students' Allowance) application system works and how UCB can support students with specific learning difficulties or disabilities. |
|
| 2±è³¾â€“3±è³¾ | Academic Support (Online) Chat online to a member of our CASE (Centre for Academic Skills and English) team to find out how they can support you with your assignments this semester. You will also find out more about ASET/A-ASET. |
Anna Sadowska |
| 3±è³¾â€“5±è³¾ | Maltings Mingle Looking to meet new people and settle into student life? Join the Guild of Students at The Maltings for a fun social evening and the chance to make new friends and connect with other students. |
The Maltings Hideaway |
Wednesday 23 September • WelcomeFest, Library, Academic Support
| Time | Session | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 10.30²¹³¾â€“3±è³¾ There will be a quiet hour from 9.30am-10.30am. |
Come along to WelcomeFest to celebrate the start of the academic year! WelcomeFest is an opportunity to meet new friends and become part of the UCB community. We have a fun-filled programme of activities including:
Come and say hello to the support services, the Engagement Team, and the Guild of Students. They will all be available to answer any questions you may have. |
Moss House Ground floor |
| 1±è³¾â€“2±è³¾ | The Library (Online) Chat online to a member of our Library team to find out more about the fantastic resources we have on offer (both print and online), in addition to how we can help you find them! |
Academic Librarians |
| 2±è³¾â€“3±è³¾ | Academic Support (Online) Chat online to a member of our CASE (Centre for Academic Skills and English) team to find out how they can support you with your assignments this semester. You will also find out more about ASET/A-ASET. |
Laura Hands |
Friday 25 September • Library
| Time | Session | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2±è³¾â€“3±è³¾ | The Library (Online) Chat online to a member of our Library team to find out more about the fantastic resources we have on offer (both print and online), in addition to how we can help you find them! |
Academic Librarians |
Additional activities • Guild of Students
| Date and time | Activity | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 29 September 11²¹³¾â€“2±è³¾ |
Guild Funfair Guild of Students will be running a funfair with games and activities in Moss House, where you will be able to speak to the three elected Officers responsible for making your views heard at UCB. |
Moss House Ground floor |
| Thursday 1 October 6±è³¾â€“8±è³¾ |
Dress as your Course Night Join the Guild of Students for a fun "Dress as your Course" night at the Hideaway! Whether you're a future chef, nurse, business boss, athlete or educator, this is your chance to get creative with your outfit, have a laugh and meet other students in a relaxed social atmosphere. Drinks and refreshments will be available to purchase throughout the evening. |
The Maltings Hideaway |
Other useful information
Have a question about your course or timetable? (Online)
| Session | Time | Location | Lecturer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Have a question about your course or timetable? (Online) Use this link to connect with one of the teaching team – we are here to help! | Monday 21 September, 3pm-4pm | ||
| Have a question about your course or timetable? (Online) Use this link to connect with one of the teaching team – we are here to help! | Tuesday 22 September, |
The Kick-Start Scheme (Home students)
Induction information for returning (continuing) students
Welcome to the new academic year! Whether you're returning to UCB or joining us as a new student, your lecturers have arranged activities to help you prepare for the year ahead. If you're studying a Top-up course, please follow the Level 6 (final year) induction information below.
Level 5 (Year 2)
| Session | Time | Location | Lecturer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome back! Join your personal tutor, Nadia Talukder, and your classmates for a morning of information on studying at level 5. You will discuss your modules for the year, expectations, setting priorities and a reflection on level 4. | Wednesday 23 September, 10am-12pm | The Link (TL), TBC | Nadia Taluker |
| Settling back in Join your personal tutor and classmates for a session of f fun activities. The session will include: Activity 1 - Speed Friending Students pair up for 2-minute conversations before rotating Questions to consider. Why did you choose ECS? What is your dream job? What is one interesting fact that nobody knows about you? What are you most looking forward to this year? Students to share their partners responses. Activity 2 – Human Bingo Find 2 people who: Have met a famous person Speak another language Is the first in their family to attend university Has volunteered Wants to be a teacher Has travelled abroad Has a hidden talent Plays a Musical instrument Students move around the room collecting names. Prize for the first person to have collected names for each statement Activity 3 – The Mystery Object Challenge Give each group random objects. Examples: Spoon Toy dinosaur Elastic band Mug They must create an advert, story, or lesson involving all items. Best group gets a prize! | Wednesday 23 September, 1-2pm | The Link (TL), TBC | Nadia Talukder |
| Have a question about your course or timetable? (Online) Use this link to connect with one of the teaching team – we are here to help! | Wednesday 23 September, 3pm-4pm | ||
| Come along to WelcomeFest to celebrate the start of the academic year! Reconnect with friends, meet new students and enjoy a lively afternoon of food, entertainment and activities. It's also a great opportunity to discover the support and opportunities available across UCB, and chat to the Guild of Students, the Engagement Team and university support services to help you make the most of the year ahead. | Wednesday 23 September, 10.30am-3pm There will be a quiet hour from 9.30am-10.30am. | Moss House (MS), Ground floor | Multiple teams |
Level 6 (Final year)
| Session | Time | Location | Lecturer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Back! Join your Personal Tutor, Alis Wren, for a welcome back session as you begin your studies at level 6. You will be given information on study at level 6, modules across the year, expectations of you in your final year and a chance to relfect on your progress so far. There will be group activities, a chance to set your priorities for level 6 and information on placement from your Employability Tutor. | Wednesday 23 September, 11am-1pm | The Link (TL), TBC | Alison Wren |
| Question and Answers Drop in and visit your Personal Tutor, Alis Wren, to ask any questions about studying at level 6. | Wednesday 23 September, 2-3pm | The Link (TL), TBC | Alison Wren |
| Have a question about your course or timetable? (Online) Use this link to connect with one of the teaching team – we are here to help! | Wednesday 23 September, 3pm-4pm | ||
| Come along to WelcomeFest to celebrate the start of the academic year! Reconnect with friends, meet new students and enjoy a lively afternoon of food, entertainment and activities. It's also a great opportunity to discover the support and opportunities available across UCB, and chat to the Guild of Students, the Engagement Team and university support services to help you make the most of the year ahead. | Wednesday 23 September, 10.30am-3pm There will be a quiet hour from 9.30am-10.30am. | Moss House (MS), Ground floor | Multiple teams |
Reading lists
To view the recommended books and journal articles for the modules you will be studying as part of your course, search for your course or module name on the dedicated page for the reading lists at the link below.
Please note that you will not have full access to eBooks and journal articles until you have a UCB username and password (after enrolment). For more information about the library and our resources, please visit the . To contact the library, please email library@ucb.ac.uk.