Child Development
At Lacon Childe School we are proud to offer the Cambridge Nationals Level 1/2 Certificate in Child Development. This vocational course provides students with the knowledge and understanding to become well rounded adults who will have the ability to nurture children through their own personal lives or as a professional.
In Child Development we aim to equip all students for life beyond school as successful, confident, responsible and respectful citizens. We believe that education provides the key to social mobility and our curriculum is designed to build strong foundations in the knowledge, understanding and skills which lead to academic and personal success. We want our students to enjoy the challenges that learning offers.
Our aims are underpinned by a culture of high aspirations. Through developing positive relationships, we work towards every individual having a strong belief in their own abilities so that they work hard, build resilience and achieve their very best.
We follow OCR Cambridge Nationals Level 1/2. This means students will be graded Pass/Merit/Distinction at either Level 1 or 2, which is equivalent to performance points at GCSE. The aim of the qualification is to inspire students to learn about the social, physical and intellectual development of a child from birth to 5 years, as well as understanding dietary guidelines and the equipment needs of children of this age.
The course teaches our students that the responsibility for the well-being of a child starts before conception and the examination unit aims to provide learners with an overview of the roles and responsibilities of parenthood alongside an understanding of reproduction and pre-conceptual, antenatal and postnatal care. Learners will develop an appreciation of the importance of creating the best conditions for a child to thrive. This includes creating a child-friendly home environment, including social safety and the care, management and prevention of childhood illnesses.
Throughout the course students will acquire transferable skills in research, evaluating, analytical and critical thinking.
The Child Development curriculum is planned to enable all students to develop skills in the following areas:
- Studying Child Development offers students the opportunity to explore a wide variety of topics that underpin the skills and qualities needed for a multitude of future careers within the childcare sector.
- Allow students to acquire the skills, knowledge and independence required to work in this industry and provide the best possible care for people under their supervision, whether this be a nursery nurse, primary teacher, speech and language therapist or social worker to name but a few.
- Studying Child Development teaches our students about providing physical, emotional and social support to help children aged 0 -5 years live their lives through establishing milestones
- In this subject, students will be academically challenged through the broadness of the curriculum and the wide range of real-life scenarios that they will face which prepares students for their life beyond school.
- The Level1/2 Cambridge National in Child Development course offers a clear assessment and intervention programme where our pupils are encouraged to independently strive to achieve their full potential.
- The course is tailored to build resilience and empathy skills by analysing real life situations.
- Not only does our course in Child Development make our students academically equipped through developing literacy but also focuses on their wellbeing through preparing them emotionally and psychologically by building their confidence, self-esteem and beliefs in their own abilities.
The Child Development curriculum develops cultural capital within the framework of the subject specialist content: learning how to cooperate with others and listen to other’s opinions and emotions to improve their social understanding, improving self-esteem, giving students a sense of achievement, a sense of belonging and an aspiration to achieve. Students will build on the study skills they have already learnt at Key Stage 3, creating a depth of knowledge and understanding of the factors that affect development. These skills will equip students with an understanding to make them ready for the next stage of their education, or if entering into meaningful employment, to be able to contribute to society. The course provides learners with a solid understanding of children’s learning and development that will help them to make choices about further study and career options. The curriculum will develop a wide range of practical skills, all of which are particularly helpful for a career in the childcare sector such as observing, communicating and working with children, and other skills that are valuable no matter what career path they choose, including the skills of research, communication, decision-making and problem solving.
Our scheme of learning is spread over the 2 years of Key Stage 4. The order of learning has been designed to build on previous knowledge and is ordered to follow the natural progression of decisions and actions linked to a developing child. At the end of each unit, students complete a unit test and data from the unit tests completed during this time provides valuable information which is then used to identify pupil need with support sessions provided as appropriate.
To gain this qualification, learners must achieve a minimum of a Level 1 Pass grade in each of the 3 assessment units:
1 x external examination (40%) and 2 x NEA units internally marked and externally approved (2 x 30%)