Exam Board: OCR
All students will study three mandatory topics as part of the course:
The first topic of study underpins all the other learning in this qualification. Students will develop the essential knowledge and understanding in child development, covering reproduction, parental responsibility, antenatal care, birth, postnatal checks, postnatal provision, conditions for development, childhood illnesses and child safety.
In the second topic of study, students will gain knowledge of the equipment needs of babies and young children and an understanding of the factors to be considered when choosing appropriate equipment to meet all these needs. This topic will also cover nutrition and hygiene practices and students will be given the opportunity to investigate feeding solutions, comparing these to nutritional requirements and evaluating the outcomes. Evaluation skills are developed.
In the third topic of study, students will gain an understanding of the development norms from birth to five years and the stages and benefits of play. Students will gain knowledge of, and skills in, developing activities to observe development norms in children up to the age of five. This topic will include researching, planning and carrying out activities with a child and observing and evaluating these activities, as well as comparing the child to the expected development norms.
The course is marked through the three topics described above.
R018: Health and well-being for child development (40%)
Written paper exam (1hour 15 minutes) 80 marks
R019: Understand the equipment and nutritional needs of children from birth to five years (30%)
Centre assessed task – 60 marks
R020: Understand the development of a child from birth to five years (30%)
Centre assessed task – 60 marks
As part of this course students will need to observe, interact and evaluate a child between the ages of 0–5. To ensure that they are able to complete the coursework tasks they will need to have a child of this age to interact with. As a school we will facilitate this.
This course is designed for learners who have an interest in children’s learning and development and wish to develop the skills and learn the theory that can prepare them for further study and employment within the childcare sector, paediatric nursing, midwifery along with early year education.