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Child Development Department

Introduction

Home Economics - Child Development is one of the Design and Technology suite of subjects. It is administered by the OCR Examinations Board.
Child Development is examined at GCSE level. It is open to both boys and girls with an interest in the development of young children.

Scheme of Work

The scheme covers:

• The Family and the Community
• Roles, responsibilities and values of the family
• Parenthood and Pregnancy
• Reproduction
• Family Planning
• Pregnancy
• Preparation for the Birth
• Postnatal care
• Newborn baby
• Stages of development
• Conditions for development
• Nutrition and health
• Conditions for development
• Physical, intellectual, emotional and social development
• Learning through play
• Infectious diseases and the care of sick children
• Community provision – statutory and voluntary services
• All aspects of safety.

During the course visits are arranged with a pregnant mum and mothers with young children of different ages to aid an understanding of all aspects of a child’s development. Professionals in the area of child care and education are invited into school to broaden the students perception of child development, also providing interest and stimulus to the course.

Coursework

Resource Tasks - 2 tasks 10% each
They arise naturally out of the subject content.
Students complete 3-4 tasks. The best two will be submitted.
The tasks are short and should take approximately 3-4 hours to complete.

Examples

• Plan, design and make a leaflet to be given to pregnant women about diet during pregnancy.
• Design and make a mobile to stimulate the sense of sight in a young baby

Individual Task – 30%

This is a longer task taking 12-14 hours to complete which will involve the student studying an area of development in a young child between 0 – 5 years. Students will:

• carry out research
• choose a task title
• plan methods and activities to carry out with the child
• evaluate the results.

Titles could be:

• How a child learns through play
• How do manipulative actions of an 18 month old develop and differ according to the object
• How does a child develop and learn skills required for them to walk.
• The intellectual Development of a child aged 4 years.

Career and Higher Education Opportunities

At The Downs this is a well established course providing opportunities for further progression into the caring professions and the basics of an understanding of what makes a good parent.

Students can consider a profession related to the care of young children e.g. nursery nursing, nanny, hospital nurse, paediatrician, working with handicapped children.

The course is an excellent starting point for GNVQ/NNEB courses at Newbury or Reading College. It can be combined with Sociology as a stepping stone to social work qualifications.