Child, Health & Social Sciences
Mrs. R. Brown – Curriculum Leader
Child Development
Child Development introduces students to the essential knowledge and practical skills needed to understand how children grow and develop. Through exploring topics such as child development, health and well-being, and the importance of play and learning, students gain insight into the needs of children from birth to early childhood. The course combines theory with practical activities, helping learners develop valuable skills for further study and potential careers in childcare, education, and health-related fields.
Curriculum Intent
At KS4, students study the OCR Cambridge National in Child Development. The course will develop knowledge, understanding and practical skills that would be used in the Childcare sector. Students may wish to study this qualification if they prefer learning in practical, real-life situations, such as:
- Preparing a feed or meal for a child
- Choosing suitable equipment to use in a childcare setting
- Planning suitable play activities
- Helping to prevent accidents in a childcare setting.
This course will help to develop independence and confidence in using skills that would be relevant to the Childcare sector. The qualification will also help you to develop learning and skills that can be used in other life and work situations, such as:
- Research skills – for example, within the NEA set assignment students will need to complete research for equipment to help make decisions on which to choose and explain why
- Communication skills – for example, within the NEA set assignment students will need to make recommendations to the nursery on how accidents can be prevented.
Health & Social Care
Health and social care is one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK with demand for health and social care employees continuously rising. In 2020, the adult social care sector contributed approximately £41.2 billion a year to the UK economy. Social care employees, such as care assistants and social workers work with individuals to support them to be as independent as possible in their own homes or in care homes. Healthcare employees, such as doctors, pharmacists, nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants and physiotherapists, work with individuals to enhance their quality of life by improving their health. Approximately 3 million people are currently employed in the sector. In 2019, it was estimated that by 2035 approximately 2.17 million health and social care job vacancies will need to be filled.
Curriculum Intent
The Pearson BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Health and Social Care is for learners who want to acquire sector-specific knowledge through vocational contexts by studying human lifespan development, health and social care services and values, and health and wellbeing as part of their Key Stage 4 learning. The qualification recognises the value of learning skills, knowledge and vocational attributes to complement GCSEs.
The qualification involves studying three components.
Component 1 – Human Lifespan Development (assessed internally with a piece of coursework normally completed in Year 10.
Component 2 – Health and Social Care Services and Values (assessed internally with a piece of coursework normally completed in Year 11)
Component 3 – Health and Wellbeing (assessed using an external exam in May of Year 11)
The three components are interrelated, and they are best seen as part of an integrated whole rather than as totally distinct study areas. Students will take this qualification over a two-year period or longer. This means that they must be given the opportunity to build their confidence in understanding the sector, vocational contexts and vocational attributes over a long period during the course before they are assessed.
