BTEC Child Care Courses

BTEC Level 2
Children’s Care, Learning and Development

Aims
This is an exciting, stimulating and rigorous course, suitable for students who wish to work in a professional capacity with young children.  Students who successfully complete the course will gain:-

1. Assistant Practitioner Status which will enable you to work with young children in a supervised capacity.  This only applies to the First Diploma.
2. Able to progress to Level 3 qualifications such as the BTEC National Certificate or Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Development.

Entry Requirements

Four GCSE’s grade D, including Maths, English, Science, other subjects could include Health and Social Care and Child Development.

Level 2 Qualifications
Route 1 – BTEC First Certificate in Children’s Care, Learning and Development 2 GCSE’s A* - C.

Route 2 – BTEC First Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Development 4 GCSE’s A* - C.

Contents of the Course

The course has a number of compulsory units which must be passed in order to gain the qualification.  The Diploma also has a number of optional units that must be completed.  Some examples of the units include:-

1. Understanding Children’s Development
2. Keeping Children Safe
3. Communication with Children and Adults

The course requires students to work independently, have good personal organisational skills and self-discipline.

Professional Practice

Students will demonstrate their professional competence working with a range of children aged 0-8 years, this is a requirement for both the First Certificate and the First Diploma.

Assessment

All of the units are assessed by assignments at Pass, Merit or Distinction level which equates to GCSE grades.  The professional practice enables students to obtain assistant practitioner status, which will enable you to work in a supervised capacity within early years. This only applies to the Diploma.

BTEC Level 3
Children’s Care, Learning and Development

Aims
This is an exciting, stimulating and rigorous course, suitable for students who wish to work in a professional capacity with young children.  Students who successfully complete the course will be:-

1. Qualified to work with young children in a professional capacity immediately. This only applies to the Certificate and the Diploma.
2. Able to progress to higher education courses such as initial teacher training, children’s nursing, psychology and other relevant degrees.

Entry Requirements

Four GCSE’s grade A* - C. English is essential, Maths or Science, other subjects could include Health and Social Care and Child Development, for the Level 3 qualifications.  (Students will be encouraged to resit Maths as this is essential for education related careers).

Level 3 Qualifications
Route 1 – BTEC National Award in Children’s Care, Learning and Development 1 ‘A’ Level.

Route 2 – BTEC National Certificate in Children’s Care, Learning and Development 2 ‘A’ Levels.

Route 3 – BTEC National Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Development 4 ‘A’ Levels.

Contents of the Course

The course has a number of compulsory units which must be passed in order to gain the qualification.  The certificate and the Diploma also have a number of optional units that must be completed.  Some examples of the units include:-

1. Positive Relationships for Children’s Care, Learning and Development
2. Promoting Children’s Development
3. Protecting Children
4. Psychological Perspectives on Behaviour

The course requires students to work independently, have good personal organisational skills and self-discipline.

Professional Practice

Students will demonstrate their professional competence working with a range of children aged 0-8 years in a variety of settings such as:-

1. Schools
2. Voluntary pre-schools
3. Private nurseries
4. Special schools

The professional practice experience continues over the whole of the course and must total a minimum of 800 hours.  The procedures for absence must comply with the attendance policy.

Assessment

All of the units are assessed by assignments at Pass, Merit or Distinction level which equates to relevant UCAS points for entry to university.  The professional practice enables students to obtain licence to practice as an early years worker.  This only applies to the Certificate and the Diploma.
Usefulness in the Future

Important Information

During the first half term of the course students will be monitored and assessed for their suitability for the Diploma.  The course is academic and demanding and requiring the regular submission of the coursework, with frequent deadlines from individual staff throughout the whole course.  All of the formal deadlines set for assessed work must be met.  It is in the interest of the student to be able to stagger the work and meet the deadlines.

1. Students who are assessed at this stage by the Early Years team and are struggling with deadlines, professional practice and/or academic work will be interviewed by the staff.

1. At this stage it may be more suitable for students to transfer to the BTEC Children’s Care, Learning and Development Route 2.

1. 800 hours Professional Practice experience (same as the Diploma)
2. 720 Guided Learning Hours (GLH).  Approximately 12 units
3. It is the equivalent of 2 ‘A’ Levels and is still a level 3 qualification

1. Parents/Guardians would be contacted at this stage.

1. In the event that the student is not suitable for the Diploma or Certificate a meeting will be held with the Head of Sixth Form, Curriculum Area Manager, Parent/Guardian and the student concerned.  At this stage the student may be asked to leave the course if it is deemed that they are unsuitable or may have difficulty completing the course.

The Course Structure

1. At present the course requires students to attend college for 3 days and placement for 2 days per week.  This may change to one week in placement and one week in college at the discretion of the Assistant Headteacher or other responsible for timetabling.
2. Students in the Lower 6th will be involved in 3/4  weeks induction programme prior to commencement of the placement.

3.    Block week placements either in college or at the setting will be negotiated by the professional practice tutor.  They will enable students to experience a full working week observing all of the curriculum activities.  Block weeks will also enable the student to complete any assignment related work that links with the placement.  To meet with individual tutors either to upgrade work to a merit or distinction level or to ensure all unit work has achieved the pass criteria.

There are occasions when placements offer the opportunity of gaining extra hours experience when college may be closed for the holidays.  Students can take up these offers in negotiation with the professional practice tutor.  Occasionally there are days when placements are on holiday and the college is open.  Attendance in college is required by the student to continue with private study, unless directed otherwise by the Course Leader/Professional Practice Tutor.

Course Requirements

Due to the nature of this course students will not stand down at the same time as other students who follow the standard AS/A2 route within the Sixth Form.

There are no external examinations for this course and therefore students will be required to remain in college for lessons during Lower and Upper Sixth stand down time when other students are taking external examinations.  This also applies to the final date that students in their final year will be required to attend college to complete the course.

First Year of the Course

Students will be required to pass all the units and work set prior to the commencement of the second year of the course and this includes two successful professional practice placement reports.

Second Year of the Course

The date that all students will be able to leave college is 30th June of their final academic year.

All work outstanding will be required for first marking by individual tutors by 15th June of the last academic year to enable staff to complete assessment.  All work must be completed and signed off by all individual tutors by 27th June in the final year of the course.

No more than 10% of the total work can be submitted on 15th June.  It would be unreasonable to submit huge amounts of work at the last minute to staff to mark and assess.

All students must complete a form which will release them from placement and the course by asking staff to sign it, ensuring all work is submitted and books returned.

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