Child Development

To study Child Development is to understand how children grow, learn and develop from birth to five years. Child Development at Copleston enables students to explore the factors that influence a child's physical, intellectual, social and emotional development, whilst developing practical knowledge and skills that can be applied to real-life childcare and early years settings. Students learn about child safety, nutrition, play, observation, health and wellbeing, alongside the responsibilities of adults who care for young children. The course combines theoretical knowledge with practical application and provides an excellent foundation for further study in childcare, education, health and social care and related professions. Through engaging and relevant content, students also develop valuable transferable skills including communication, problem-solving, analysis and evaluation.

Curriculum map

The topics studied throughout the course are outlined in the curriculum map:

Year 9 curriculum map - Child Development

**Please note that this is a new course, so curriculum maps for Years 10 and 11 will be added later in the year **

How will the course be assessed?

NEA (Non-Exam Assessment) Units

Feedback: All students will receive feedback on their NEA units prior to final submission.

Marking:

Formally marked by the teacher.

Externally moderated by OCR.

Informal Assessment

In addition to formal assessments, students will be informally assessed at various points throughout the academic year.

Assessment Timeline

Year 9

Term	Assessment
Autumn Term	Child Safety and Safe Environments Assessment (R058 TA1 & TA2)
Spring Term	R058 NEA Submission: Create a Safe Environment for Children
Summer Term	Child Development Assessment (Introduction to R059: Physical, Intellectual, Social and Emotional Development)

Assessment opportunities are designed to develop subject knowledge, build confidence and prepare students for both coursework and examination elements of the qualification.

In the Future

Studying Child Development opens the door to a wide range of rewarding careers and further study opportunities. The course provides an excellent foundation for progression into Health and Social Care, Early Years Education and other Level 3 qualifications. It also supports future careers in teaching, childcare, paediatric nursing, midwifery, social work, family support, child psychology, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy. Alongside subject knowledge, students develop communication, organisation, teamwork and analytical skills that are highly valued by employers and universities alike.