Child Development

The Child Development Department 

  • Mr M Harris - Head of Faculty  
  • Mrs S Parry - Child Development Teacher 

Our principal aim is to inspire students' interest and excitement in the essential field of Child Development, and nurture and support their natural enthusiasm to nurture and support. Through a guided programme of learning, we will look to provide our students with the knowledge and understanding of children’s growth and development across five areas of development – physical, intellectual, communication and language, social, and emotional, as well as exploring the key influence of play in supporting this developmental process. Our curriculum centres on the key elements of development and how this is nurtured through the application of carefully selected play activities, established from a heightened awareness of holistic development. 

 

Through our application of a carefully designed learning framework, BTEC students within Child Development will be empowered to achieve. Teaching and learning is focused particularly towards the needs of vocational learners, and challenges them beyond their perceived academic limits. Apply this through the lens of supporting the developing child, students will be able to establish their own perceptions of how support is applied, to best facilitate the child’s needs.

KS4: BTEC Level 1/2 Tech Award in Child Development

Exam Board: Pearson https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/btec-tech-awards/child-development-2022.coursematerials.html#filterQuery=category:Pearson-UK:Category%2FSpecification-and-sample-assessments

Specification: https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/btec-tec-awards/child-development/2022/specification-and-sample-assessments/btec-tech-award-child-development-spec.pdf

This qualification gives learners the opportunity to build applied knowledge and skills that promote an aptitude for further learning, both within Child Development and more widely. Student progress is centred around well-established BTEC assessment approaches and innovative teaching and learning strategies, that are proven to be successful in building applied knowledge and skills, motivating learners to engage fully with challenging study. Those studying Child Development, will acquire sector-specific applied knowledge through vocational contexts, by studying how children grow and develop, how play supports development and how learning and development can be shaped and supported.

Component 1: Children’s Growth & Development- Coursework -30%- Feb-May Year 1

https://www.choc.org/primary-care/ages-stages/#:~:text=Growth%20and%20development%20includes%20not,with%20the%20world%20around%20them.

This component will develop learner’s knowledge and understanding of children’s growth and development across five areas of development – physical, intellectual and cognitive, communication and language, social and emotional. Within which, students will discover that there are typical patterns of development for children of different ages. These patterns are sometimes referred to as milestones. Student’s will also assess the roles of family, health professionals and early years practitioners, in monitoring and checking whether a child’s growth and development meets expected patterns of development, or milestones. Learners will also explore the importance of recognising that there are physical, environmental, social and financial factors that can have an impact on a child’s development.

Component 2: Learning Through Play- Coursework -30%- Oct-Dec Year 2

https://www.whitbyschool.org/passionforlearning/how-do-children-learn-through-play

In this component, students will look at the different stages of play and types of play that children experience between birth and five years old and how play can be structured by adults to encourage and influence learning. Student’s will investigate play opportunities that adults can provide for children in community settings, in the home and in early years settings. Learners will assess how specific activities and resources can promote learning across the five areas of development. Once knowledge has been established, students will apply their learning in the theory and practices of play, to plan activities that encourage children to learn and develop. Being confident in planning activities that benefit children’s learning and development is a highly regarded skill in the early years sector.

Component 3: Supporting Children to Play, Learn & Develop- External Assessment -40%- May Year 2

https://www.unicef.org/sites/default/files/2018-12/UNICEF-Lego-Foundation-Learning-through-Play.pdf

This component will develop a learner’s knowledge and understanding of the individual needs that can have an impact on a child’s learning and development. As part of this, students will learn about the physical, cognitive/intellectual, communication and language, and social and emotional needs that children may experience. Learners will also investigate the role of the adult in making sure that all children are safe when engaging in play activities. Finally, learners will assess how activities can be adapted to ensure all children can join in with play and promote their learning and development.

Where will this take me?

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. Once complete, this qualification will generally be followed by a combination of A Levels and study of a vocational qualifications at Level 3, such as a BTEC National in Health and Social Care or a BTEC National in Child Development. Such qualifications prepare learners to enter employment or apprenticeships, or to move on to higher education by studying a degree in the health or social care sector.

Your browser is out-of-date!

Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now

×