Children’s Care, Learning and Development (BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma)

Specific Entry Criteria

Grade C in English Language or Maths. About the

About the Subject

The BTEC National Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Development is a varied and interesting course which is designed to give you an insight into working with young children. At the end of the course you will not only have the equivalent of three A level passes allowing you to progress to higher education, but will also have gained a professional qualification which will allow you to work as a nursery nurse in an early years setting. Throughout the course you will develop a range of different skills and will acquire knowledge in the classroom which you will put into place whilst on work placement.

Course Content

Year 1

During the two years of the course you will spend two days a week on work placement. In the first year you will be placed in a primary school for the whole year but will work in both Key Stage 1 and the Foundation Stage. Whilst on placement you will be expected to keep a professional practice log book and plan and implement a range of activities with small groups of children.

You will also study units which help you to build positive relationships and environments for children as well as a unit where you will learn in depth about children’s development. Knowledge will be gained about how to safeguard children and how to support the development of their literacy and numeracy skills. You will also study other optional units such as design technology.

Year 2

In the second year you will continue with your work placement only this year you will work in a private day nursery, a play group and an early years setting of your choice. You will also continue to add to your professional practice portfolio and will continue to plan, implement and evaluate activities that you will carry out whilst on placement.

Units studied will introduce you to promoting the rights of children and how to develop play and learning activities to aid their development. You will also carry out a research project based on a current early years issue and will study a range of optional units one of which will involve looking at meeting additional requirements for children’s care learning and development.

Assessment

All units will be assessed through the submission of coursework assignments. You must enjoy doing coursework as over the two year you will be submitting sixteen pieces of coursework as well as building up your professional practice portfolio with evidence gained from activities you have planned on work placement.