Child development

Curriculum intent

The social sciences department includes the vocational subjects of health and social care and child development. We only deliver our subjects to key stage 4. We aim to prepare our students for a future in the care sector and to give them the knowledge and skills to enable them to go on to further study or apprenticeships and be valuable members of the community.
In child development, we focus on the first eight years of life and the effect that play has on our learning and development. We consider the support that children receive from adults and what effective early years settings look like.
Any student who is considering working in a care setting, either with adults or children would benefit enormously from these courses. In the same way, these courses would both equip all students in the skills and knowledge of how to relate to people in different circumstances.

Christian distinctiveness

In social sciences we regularly explore christian distinctiveness. We will have regular discussion about QEA’s nine core values and link these to the health and social care values which run through our curriculum and which are explicitly taught in year 11 health and social care. We consider the importance of faith in a number of ways, for example, the celebration of festivals in an early years or older adults care setting and the importance of inclusive practice. Joy matters to us in social sciences and we celebrate the successes of our students. Knowledge and wisdom are demonstrated throughout the courses and students show nurture towards others, honesty and truthfulness while working together and independently.

Knowledge in social sciences

The knowledge we share in social sciences relates to the vocational courses that we deliver and enables students to complete their external assessments and coursework as appropriate to each course.
In child development key knowledge focuses on child development milestones and normal expectations of development, how children play and learn and how this is then applied to an early years setting. Students demonstrate their knowledge through an external assessment and two units of coursework where the knowledge is applied to early years settings and tasks are linked to these scenarios. This is of direct benefit to students who want to go on to work with children.
As our courses are for key stage 4 only, our plans cover two years. They follow the BTEC recommended delivery and content of the course, but we have built in the opportunity for revisiting the exam content before taking the exam for the first time in January in year 11, with the opportunity to re-sit in June.

Careers and aspirations

Both health and social care and child development are vocational courses and point directly towards careers in both sectors. Most of the tasks that students are required to complete for coursework are application of their knowledge to a work scenario, for example, creating health care plans for and individual. In each of the courses, time is spent looking at a variety of settings and roles within them. When considering work placement options students are encouraged to find placements in care settings. In health and social care we are developing links with a local care home to enable visits (when possible) and experience of what it is like to be in the setting.

Child development GCSE

Why study child development?

The BTEC in child development will give you the fundamental knowledge and understanding of child development and of promoting development through play.

What will I learn?

Patterns of child development
This unit looks at child development and the patterns that can be seen as children grow and develop. It will help you to understand why children at particular ages and stages tend to do similar things.

Promoting children’s development through play
You will learn how play can promote children’s development and about the type of play opportunities that early years settings provide.

Principles of early years practice
In this unit we explore the different types of early years settings including childminders, nurseries and schools. Although different, they all work on the same basic principles to make sure each child benefits from the opportunities on offer within each setting.

How will I be assessed?

Examination
Coursework

Internally assessed work is coursework based and students are required to complete a variety of assignments in different formats to show their understanding. For example, this might be in the form of producing an information booklet or producing a plan for play opportunities.