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Child Development & Care

Introduction

Child Development focuses on the development of children from birth up to the age of 5 for KS4 and age 7 for KS5. Students will gain the knowledge and understanding of how to support children’s development and care for their well-being, managing and planning for a range of possible barriers. Knowing how to work professionally with children and colleagues in a variety of different childcare settings is a key factor throughout both KS4 and KS5. At KS5 this also includes a mandatory placement, allowing students to further their learning through first hand experience, putting theory into practice. Working with other professionals is a key factor of KS5 theory and practice.

Years 10 & 11 

What will I study?

In Year 10, you will study the following topics;

  • Aspects of holistic development including physical, cognitive, communication, language, social and emotional
  • Factors that influence child development including nature and nurture and transitions
  • Care routines, play and activities to support children
  • Early years provision
  • Legislation

In Year 11, you will study the following topics;

  • Expectations of the early years practitioner
  • Roles and responsibilities within early years settings
  • The importance of observations
  • Planning in early years childcare
What skills will I develop?

Year 10:

  • Time management of answering short case scenarios
  • Organisation of revision materials
  • Identifying key factors within a child’s life
  • Describe transitions and evaluate support and impact

Year 11:

  • Organise time effectively for controlled assessment
  • Prepare and answer exam questions
  • Describe and analyse key roles
  • Identify key aspects of planning with analysed future impacts upon the child
How will I be assessed?

Year 10:

  • In lesson, mock controlled assessments
  • Short exam and scenario-based exam questions

 Year 11:

  • In lesson, mock controlled assessments
  • Short exam and scenario-based exam questions
  • External controlled assessment, 14 hours
  • External exam, 1.5hrs

Key Stage 5 

What will I study?

In Year 12, you will study the following topics;

  • Child development from conception to seven years - you will learn about the expected milestones of development.
  • Children’s health and well-being- you will learn about the needs of children to allow them to be well and supported.
  • Providing safe environments for children - you will learn how to ensure that children are safeguarded in early year’s settings.
  • Child health - you will learn about common childhood illness and the care that must be implemented to support ill children.

In Year 13, you will study the following topics;

  • Play and learning - you will learn about how to orchestrate holistic learning through play.
  • Understanding children’s additional needs - you will learn how to support children with more complex needs.
  • Observation, assessment and planning - you will learn how to assess children during observation and how that then informs future planning.
What skills will I develop?

Year 12:

  • Identifying and explaining key factors
  • Describing, evaluating and analysing key support and professional impacts
  • Communication
  • Time management

Year 13:

  • Organise time effectively for controlled assessment
  • Discussion of links and impacts concerning the wider world
How will I be assessed?

Year 12:

  • 4 written coursework units, assessed internally and externally moderated.

Year 13:

  • 4 written coursework units, assessed internally and externally moderated.
  • External Controlled Assessment, 20 hours
Further Information

See Mrs Alkarafi