This course is designed to inspire and enthuse learners to consider a career in early years, or related sectors, where knowledge of child development is relevant.

It aims to;

• give learners the opportunity to gain a broad knowledge and understanding or, and develop skills in, the early years sector, for example, of child development and using play to promote child development.
• support progression to a more specialised Level 3 vocational or academic course, such as in early years, health and social care or psychology, or an apprenticeship.
• give learners the potential opportunity, in due course, to enter employment.

Children's Play, Learning and Development is not taught as a discrete subject in Key Stage 3.  Elements of this subject are addressed in the Academy's Science and Personal, Social, Health and Economic curricula.

Children's Play, Learning and Development is not taught as a discrete subject in Key Stage 4.  Elements of this subject are addressed in the Academy's Science, Health & Social Care and Personal, Social, Health and Economic curricula.

All the units in this course are compulsory.  

They include;

The study of children's development.  Focussing on the five main areas for development - physical, cognitive, communication and language and emotional and social.

Promoting children's development through play, looking at different kinds of play structure; adult-led, adult-initiated and child-initiated play.

The principles of early years practice - looking at how children are taught to be independent and how the key person approach is important to children's learning and development.

Students will have the opportunity to undertake a work experience placement in a related field.

Guest speakers who are employed in this sector will come to the Academy to meet classes and conduct question and answer sessions.  Students will have the opportunity to take part in virtual and real-time workshops with professionals who work in this field.

Students can find out what they will be studying by looking at the Pearson website, which also has examples of past papers and previous assessment materials.

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/btec-nationals/health-and-social-care-2016.html

Students can watch documentaries about this sector and consider how they show the 6Cs or other importance concepts.

They could volunteer at a nursery or a play centre for some extra work experience.

Students who study this course will have access to Google Classrooms for additional resources and new feed items so they can keep their knowledge up to date.

Students who take this course go onto study related fields moving onto Level 2 or 3 courses or undertake an apprenticeship in the childcare sector.