Occupational Studies Childcare 

Childcare is delivered by CCEA. This is a 2 YEAR course and the qualification value is equivalent to 1 GCSE.

The Course Type is 100% Portfolio based;

50% in Year 11

50% in Year 12.

What will I learn about?

If you have a brother or sister and have been interested to find out about their development, this is the ideal course for you. 

This course has also been designed to provide a more ‘hands on’ approach to learning and will appeal to you if you wish to develop your skills in more practical surroundings. Ideally you need to be interested in working with young children.

This unit will introduce learners to working with children in a childcare environment. It focuses on the importance of play and children’s development. It is suitable for those who are interested in child development and who would like to work with children in the future. 

This unit includes: 

• children’s physical, linguistic, intellectual, emotional and social development; 

• the importance of play and children’s learning and development; 

• books, poems, rhymes and games for the age group of your choice; 

• communication difficulties; 

• role of the children’s care worker in various settings and related career opportunities; 

• consideration of health and safety issues within the unit; 

• consideration of environmental issues within the unit;

• a review and evaluation of performance. 

The Course Type is 100% Portfolio based;

50% in Year 11

50% in Year 12.

You will be assessed on what you achieve rather than writing about it, so you will need to collect evidence to show what you have done.

You can use the following types of evidence; items you have made, photographs, recordings, drawings, witness statements, letters, brief notes, work log, notebook, tape, observations etc.

This course is designed to allow students to progress to further qualifications such as the Level 2 and 3 Children’s Care Learning and Development Courses or Health and Social Care A Level. 

These qualifications can lead to employment in Nursery and Primary schools or Day Care Centres as a classroom assistant or follow other further and higher education courses in local universities or Belfast Met or SERC.

If you choose Child Care, you may have the opportunity to take part in the following activities;

• Guest speaker presentations from local midwives and other relevant health professionals.

•  Visits to local childcare settings.

• Participation in local workshops and events supporting children and babies. For example, Home Start Event in Burrendale Hotel, Newcastle.

• Practical activities - bathing, changing and preparing a formula feed for a baby safely and hygienically.

• Creating and preparing play activities and board games to stimulate children’s senses and support PIES development.

• Designing and developing a story corner for children to be inspired when reading.

• A visit to a local Primary School for research and inspiration when planning children’s play resources.