Child Care and Education (Levels 1 and 2)

Course description:

In Year 10 students follow the CACHE Level 1 Foundation Certificate in Caring for Children course. It is worth the equivalent of 3 GCSE’s at D-G grades. In Year 11 students move on to follow the CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Child Care and Education (equivalent to 5 GCSE’s at A-C grades).

The Year 10 course has seven units to complete and students need to pass all of them. These include:

Unit 1	Personal Development
Unit 2	Human growth and development from birth to old age
Unit 3	Food and nutrition
Unit 4	Health and safety practices in home and group settings
Unit 5	Care of children
Unit 6	Play and practical activities
Unit 7	Orientation to work programme

The Year 11 course has five units to complete and students need to pass all of them. These include:

Unit 1	An introduction to working with children
Unit 2	The developing child
Unit 3	Safe, healthy and nurturing environments for children
Unit 4	Children and Play
Unit 5	Communication and professional skills within child care and education

For both courses students will spend 1 day per week in school following a structured learning programme to cover the underpinning knowledge of the course and 1 day in a placement gaining practical experience.

Assessment, weighting and timings of assessments:

Students will be assessed by completing multiple choice question papers, short answer tests, portfolio work and practical evidence records.

Homework:

Students will be expected to complete 2 hours homework per week.

Opportunities for study beyond Key Stage 4:

Continue education or enter into employment with training.

Career opportunities supported by this subject:

Level 2 qualifications are suitable for workers who will be working under supervision in the following type job:

• Family Support Worker in a Family Centre
• Parent/Toddler Group Assistant
• Home-start Worker
• Nursery Assistant
• Pre-school Assistant
• Crèche Assistant
• Teaching Assistant
• Holiday Play-scheme Worker
• Playgroup Assistant
• Toy Library Worker

See also: Child Development GCSE

Visit these childcare career sites:

CACHE (Leading qualifications for working in childcare)

Childcare Choices

Childcare Careers