BA (Hons)

Working with Children, Families and Communities

Learn how to support children’s mental health and wellbeing across a range of settings on our Chelmsford-based degree course.

On this degree course, you’ll learn how to make a difference to children and young people with a range of needs across education, social work, and community support settings.

You’ll consider and research issues of social justice, inclusion, diversity and equality, and put your new knowledge and skills into practice in real-world settings. You’ll also learn how to critically reflect on your experiences, in order to improve as a practitioner.

Why ARU?
  • Study a course tailored to support career paths including child and family support services.

  • Learn alongside education and social work students on a true interdisciplinary degree.

  • Learn from experienced lecturers with professional expertise in child and family welfare.

  • Develop essential skills for roles in education, healthcare, and social work.

  • Access careers and employability support throughout your studies.

  • Benefit from extensive support services focused on student wellbeing and success.

Logo: THE Awards 2023
 

Study at an award-winning university

We were named Times Higher Education University of the Year 2023. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.

Course options

Course options

Key facts

Looking for different course options?

Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.

Year 1
  • Critical Skills for Higher Education
  • Perspectives on the Child 1: Childhood as a Construct - Physical and Social Development of Children
  • Contemporary Issues in Social Work
  • Safeguarding in Context
  • Into ARU
Year 2
  • Perspectives on the Child 2: Childhood Cognitive and Language Development
  • Reflective Practice in an Interprofessional Context
  • Studying Research in an Interprofessional Context
  • Working with Communities: Identifying and Responding to Needs
  • Ruskin Module (15 credits) *
Year 3
  • Sustainable Social Work
  • Perspectives on the Child 3: Inclusion, SEND and Developmental Difficulties
  • Special Focus Project
  • Working with Communities: Engaging the Community
Module details

To prepare you for university study, you can take a foundation year at the start of this course. Find out more about foundation years.

Year 1
  • Foundation in Humanities, English, Media, Social Sciences and Education
Module details

It's possible to study this course part-time. You'll take the same modules as BSc/BA (Hons) students, but sometimes in a different order or in different years.

As a part-time student you'll typically study for twice as long as full-time students; for example if the BSc/BA (Hons) course takes three years, you can expect to study over six years, though for some courses the part-time length may differ.

Read profiles of teaching and research staff on this course.

Facilities

As a student in Chelmsford you can make full use of facilities including extensive library and IT resources.

You'll also gain real-world experience by working on live projects, positively engage with your local communities, work alongside education and social work students, and acquire in-demand skills that help to support children’s mental health and wellbeing.

Careers

Our BA (Hons) Working with Children, Families and Communities degree is responding to the Government’s aspiration that health, education and social care services work together in a more integrated way.

This policy development has led to a rapidly developing career arena focused on support for physical, social, emotional and mental wellbeing.

Our course will prepare you for careers as varied as education mental health practitioner, social care support in schools, youth offending, advocacy services, family support services, cognitive and emotional support for children, education welfare services, emotional literacy support services, and family outreach support.

Graduation doesn't need to be the end of your time with us, of course. If you’d like to continue your studies, we offer a range of postgraduate degrees in health, social care and education. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

Entry requirements

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Fees and paying for university

Apply for Working with Children, Families and Communities

UK students

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International students

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