The Child development and Care course starts in Year 9. It allows the students to develop the skills and knowledge required to move onto a career in child care.

The aim of the course is to provide the students with an insight into the world of child care and establish how children grow and develop.  The lessons are designed to be based on real life scenarios which will engage and create a natural curiosity for the subject.

Year 9 to Year 11

Hours per week: 2

Exam board: Pearson BTEC

The students will complete Component 1 in Year 9, Component 2 and an assignment in Year 10. During Year 11, students will complete Component 3, an assignment, and a written exam.

Unit 1: Children’s Growth and Development. This unit covers how children, ranging from birth to 5 years old, grow and develop in the following areas: Physical, Emotional, Social, Cognitive, Intellectual, Communication, and Language. It includes explaining how different factors, for example disabilities, impact on the growth and development of a child.

Unit 2: Learning through Play. This unit covers the different stages and types of play and the role of adults in promoting play. It will cover how play can be used to help children develop across all areas of development discussed in Unit 1.

Unit 3: Supporting Children to Play, Learn and Develop. This unit links Units 1 and 2  and expands the knowledge by using different scenarios.  It allows the pupils to have a greater understanding of the risks taken during play and how to plan out an area.