Child Development

Curriculum timetable:

Curriculum overview:

The Child Development curriculum aims to encourage students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding whilst supporting their extended writing skills. Alongside this there is opportunity to visit our local primary schools and observe children’s play in Early Years settings to support their learning and to speak to Early years practitioners about the needs of children.

KS4 information:

The Pearson BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Child Development is for learners who want to acquire sector-specific applied knowledge through vocational contexts by planning, developing and adapting play opportunities suitable for young children across five areas of development as part of their Key Stage 4 learning. The qualification recognises the value of learning applied knowledge and vocational attributes to complement GCSEs. The qualification will broaden learners’ experience and understanding of the varied progression options available to them.

The early years sector focuses on the learning, development and care of children in the UK, there were approximately 1.7 million Ofsted registered childcare places for children offered by many different types of early years settings in England in 2019, ranging from childminders and nannies to nurseries, crèches and preschools. Knowledge of child development is important in a variety of occupations outside of childcare and teaching, for example, in healthcare roles such as paediatricians, psychologists, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists.

How to prepare for KS4;

To be successful in your Child development studies it is important to have good attendance so that you do not miss vital information that could arise on your PSA.  Your teacher will help you to develop your extended writing skills by providing you pink pen feedback to help you to add detail and fully demonstrate your comprehension of the topics.

A-Level and Beyond

Study of the qualification as part of Key Stage 4 learning will help learners to make more informed choices for further learning, either generally or in this sector. The choices that learners can make post-16 will depend on their overall level of attainment and their performance in the qualification. Learners who generally achieve at Level 2 across their Key Stage 4 learning might consider progression to: A Levels as preparation for entry to higher education in a range of subjects study of a vocational qualification at Level 3, such as a BTEC Level 3 National in Children’s Care, Learning and Development or a vocational qualification in a related sector such as a BTEC Level 3 National in Health and Social Care. These qualifications prepare learners to enter employment or apprenticeships, or for a move to higher education to study a degree in early childhood, childhood and youth areas or in related sectors such as nursing and social care.