Exam Board: CACHE

Course Overview

This course provides the opportunity to gain a vocational qualification that gives a basic introduction to the sector. This includes the knowledge and understanding of child development and well-being necessary for working with children in a variety of settings, and the roles and responsibilities they will have as a childcare worker.

Assessment: 

The qualification has 2 assessments externally-set by NCFE: one non-exam assessment and one written examined assessment.

• 14 hour non-exam assessment - This is externally-set, internally marked and externally moderated: synoptic project that is completed in controlled conditions (50% of the final grade).

• 1 hour 30 minutes examined assessment - This is externally-set and externally marked, written exam (50% of the final grade).

Exam Board: CACHE
Level: 3

Course Overview

This qualification prepares learners to become Early Years Educators, enabling them to work with children from birth to 5 years and gain knowledge of children aged 5-7 years.  Upon achievement of the qualification, learners will be able to enter the workforce as Early Years Educators or access Higher Education.

The course has 365 hours of real work environment experience that will be assessed through placement hours and observations. 

Assessment:  

Portfolio of evidence – Each unit is graded A*-D. These are internally assessed

20 hour controlled synoptic assessment.  This is externally set and externally assessed. These contribute 30.8% towards the final qualification grade for the certificate.

Term 1:

• Content area 1 Child development from birth to 5.

Term 2:

• Content area 2 Factors affecting growth and development.

Term 3: 

• Content area 8 Observation methods.
• Content area 3 Care routines.

Term 4:

• Content area 9 The importance of child centred planning.

Term 5:

• Content area 9 The importance of child centred planning.
• Content area 4 Early years provisions.

Term 6:

• Content area 5 Legislations policies and procedures in an early years setting.

Term 1:

• Content area 6 Expectations of the early years practitioner.

Term 2: 

• Content area 7 Roles and responsibilities within early years settings.

Term 3: 

• Controlled assessment practice.

Term 4: 

• Controlled assessment.

Term 5:

• Revision

Term 6: 

• Exam

Unit 1 - Child development from conception to seven years

• Have an understanding of the patterns of development, developmental checks and the factors that affect development.
• Explore a variety of development theories.

Unit 2 - Children's health and well-being

• Investigate children's needs in relation to emotional well-being and during transition.
• Explore physical needs and the impact of the environment on the health and well-being of children.
• Examine the impact of diet and exercise on health.

Unit 3 - Providing safe environments for children

• Explore safeguarding and child protection in relation to legislation, frameworks, policies and procedures and the roles and responsibilities of the child care worker.
• Investigate the purpose of serious case review.

Unit 7 - Observation, assessment and planning

• Explore types of observation and the role of the observation cycle and child centred planning.
• Investigate the professional skills required for effective observation.
   
• Unit 4 - Child health
• Examine common illnesses, how to recognise them, immunisation and the procedures for reporting diseases.
• Investigate the responsibilities of the early years practitioner in relation to health promotion, supporting children for hospital admission and providing routines for children who are ill.

Unit 5 - Play and learning

• Exploration of play including the stages, types, theoretical perspectives of play and how to make it inclusive.
• Investigate the rights of children, current frameworks and the early years practitioners' responsibilities in relation to play, learning and an enabling environment.

Unit 6 - Understanding children's additional needs

• Research biological and environmental factors that affect development.
• Explore what is meant by inclusive practice, reflecting on the practitioner's responsibilities to meet the needs of children with additional needs and the role of the intervention they provide.

CCE1 - Synoptic exam based on Units 1-7

Recommended 180 hours work experience in the sector

NCFE CACHE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Child Development and Care in the Early Years Second Edition

Support is offered to students during lunch and after school sessions that take place on a Friday.

Key Stage 4

Early-Education
Early Years Matter
Literacy Trust
NCT
NHS
Nursery World
Play England
Simply Psychology
Teach Early Years

Key Stage 5

Baby Centre
CACHE Level 2 Google Books