When Baby P died three years ago after months of abuse, in spite of being seen repeatedly by medics and social workers, it highlighted the difficult issues confronting those who work with children.
"Unfortunately every time we have a case like Baby P it makes people aware that what they have to know is deeper than the superficial knowledge they often get," says Sharon Vitali, course lead for the MSc in child and family wellbeing at Oxford Brookes University.
It is one reason, she suggests, that demand has been growing for postgraduate courses directly related to jobs working with children.
Another is a host of recent research showing how crucial the early years are.
Catherine Meehan, project manager of New Leaders in Early Years, which launched earlier this month, says: "Research is saying that for children the first five years of life are really important. Interventions put in place at primary school can be too late."
Inspired by the success of Teach First, which puts graduates from the UK's top universities into challenging schools, the New Leaders in Early Years course, is designed to encourage the best graduates to be leaders in the early years sector and to raise the profile and status of those working in the area.
Delivered at Canterbury Christ Church College, it is supported by the Children's Workforce Development Council, which works with different agencies to support the way children are looked after.
Dorothy Faulkner, senior lecturer in child development at the Open University (OU), says government policy has also helped boost provision of higher level courses in early years education.
The previous government's Every Child Matters programme, which aimed to improve professional support for children, focused attention on organisations and the knowledge of their staff.
For the past two years, the OU has offered a master's in Childhood and Youth Studies, which combines theory with reflection on practice plus optional modules involving management, children's learning and legal aspects.
Faulkner says it attracts those who want to deepen their understanding of the issues involved in working with children and those who want to become involved in management.
Distance learning courses, such as those offered by the OU and Oxford Brookes, are popular for their flexibility and the extra opportunities for interdisciplinary and international study they offer.
But a huge variety of postgraduate courses related to early years education are now available, from the University of East London's MA in Early Childhood Studies, to Kingston University's Professional Studies in Early Years Education certificate, diploma and MA, to specialist courses for those working with children with autism, such as those offered by the University of Birmingham.
