We aim to develop students’ theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to create the best conditions for a child’s development and well-being. Whether this be a life-skill for future years or a foundation into a career centered around childcare.
Intent – to nurture and develop individuals that are motivated and passionate about child development whilst enabling students to gain an understanding of the role of an Early Years Practitioner and then pursuing a career working with children.
Implementation – the course consists of mandatory units which will be taught and assessed in a sequenced order. Students will begin the summative assignment assessments before completing their exam. 50% of the course is assessed through a written exam, the other 50% of the course is assessed through controlled coursework. Assessment tasks are clearly differentiated with clear instructions to facilitate independent working. Individual feedback is given on practice assessment tasks to facilitate further progress, along with regular opportunities to resubmit improved work.
Impact – Child Development empowers children to start the next chapter of their learning from a secure base with a bright, enquiring and confident mind.
Year 9
Year 9 will be a foundation year where we will predominantly cover nutritional needs of children from birth to five years old (R058). This includes reviewing essential nutrients, hygiene and safety concluding with students planning, preparing and presenting a two-course meal for a specifically aged child. During their independent study students will learn topics on contraception, reproduction, pregnancy, ante-natal, labour then illness in children in preparation for the R057 examination at the end of the course.
Year 10
Year 10 will focus on studying the knowledge required to successfully complete the R059 coursework – Understand the development of a child from one to five years within the same academic year. In this unit, students will learn the expected developmental norms for children from one to five years. They will use observation, research techniques and skills to investigate these development norms and explore their findings. Students will also learn the importance of creating plans and providing different play activities to support children in their development. During their independent study students will learn topics on delivery, post-natal checks, developmental needs and child safety in preparation for the R057 examination at the end of the course.
Year 11
Year 11 will focus on studying the knowledge required to successfully complete the R058 coursework – Creating a safe environment and understand the nutritional needs of children from birth to five years and the R057 examination – Health and well-being for child development. During R058 students will learn how to create a safe environment for children from birth to five years in childcare settings. They will investigate and choose equipment that is both suitable and safe for use and will learn about their nutrition and dietary needs. During their independent study students will consolidate the learnt topics from Year 9 and Year 10 before completion of the R057 examination at the end of the course.
Year 9 will see assessments taking place through the work (theory and practical) related to children’s nutritional needs (R058) and end of topic tests incorporating past paper examination questions from R057.
Year 10 will see the completion of the first externally moderated coursework (R059) during the spring term before starting the theory related to the R058 coursework. End of topic tests will continue throughout Year 10 as part of their preparation for the R057 examination.
Year 11 requires students to have completed both externally moderated coursework (R058 and R059) before sitting the final examination R057.
