• Children's Development: You'll explore theories, principles, and factors influencing developmental progress (physical, cognitive, social, and emotional) and the potential impact of various factors on achieving developmental milestones.
• Keeping Children Safe: This covers health and safety procedures, safeguarding responsibilities in an early years setting, emergency best practices, and recognising/addressing concerns about a child's welfare.
• Play and Learning: You'll study the concept of play, the influence of different theories and approaches to play, and the benefits of play-based learning activities for children's development (including numeracy and literacy).
• Research and Reflective Practice: This involves understanding how research findings influence policy and provision for children and how professionals use reflective practice in an early years setting.

The course is assessed through a mix of external exams (50%) and internal coursework (50%), covering the four mandatory units listed above. The assessment combines theory with practical tasks and sometimes placements, and leads to grades like Pass, Merit, Distinction, or Distinction*, which are equivalent to A Level points. 

Assessment Breakdown:

• External Assessment (50%): Two mandatory units are assessed via written exams, each lasting 1 hour 45 minutes.
• Internal Assessment (50%): Two mandatory units are assessed through internally set assignments (coursework). These assignments involve applied knowledge, practical tasks, and research. 

This course will open doors to lots of roles, like Teaching Assistant, Nursery Practitioner, and Early Years Educator, supporting children in play and structured learning. It also provides a foundation for apprenticeships (like Early Years Educator) and progression to higher education qualifications (Level 4/5 Diplomas) for management, special educational needs (SEN), or advanced support roles, leading to careers in health, social work, therapy, or becoming an Early Years Teacher.