Our Aims:

• Empower students with a deep understanding of child development stages and the factors that influence them.
• Develop practical skills in creating safe, stimulating environments and activities that promote learning and development.
• Foster empathy and responsibility by exploring the needs of children and the role of adults in supporting their care.
• Promote academic and vocational excellence through a blend of theoretical study and hands-on project work.
• Prepare learners for future pathways in childcare, early years education, and health and social care.

At Burton Borough School, our Child Development curriculum is designed to nurture students’ understanding of the physical, intellectual, emotional, and social development of children from birth to five years. Rooted in the OCR Cambridge National J809 specification, our intent is to provide learners with the knowledge, skills, and insight to support children’s growth and well-being, while preparing them for further study and careers in childcare, education, and health.

What Students Will Learn:

• Key milestones in child development from birth to five years.
• The importance of play and how it supports learning and development.
• Nutrition, health, and well-being in early childhood.
• The roles and responsibilities of parents and carers.
• How to plan and evaluate activities that support children’s development.

We believe that understanding child development is essential for building compassionate, informed, and capable individuals. Through engaging lessons, practical assignments, and real-world scenarios, our curriculum helps students become confident contributors to the care and education of young children—whether as future professionals or responsible citizens.

How We Teach:

• The course is divided into three units:
  • RO57: Health and well-being for child development
  • RO58: Creating a safe environment and understanding the nutritional needs of children
  • RO59: Understanding the development of a child
• Lessons are sequenced to build knowledge progressively, revisiting key concepts to deepen understanding.
• A blend of theory, case studies, and practical tasks ensures students connect learning to real-life contexts.

Practical and Applied Learning:

• Students plan and evaluate activities that promote development across physical, intellectual, emotional, and social domains.
• They explore the role of play, nutrition, and safety in early years settings.
• Opportunities for hands-on learning include designing resources, analysing developmental milestones, and simulating care environments.

Assessment and Feedback:

• Assessment includes both internally moderated coursework and externally assessed exams.
• Regular feedback supports students in refining their work and developing independence.

Students are encouraged to reflect on their progress and set personal goals.

The impact of our Child Development curriculum is seen in the confidence, empathy, and professionalism our students develop. By the end of the course, learners are equipped with the knowledge and skills to support young children’s development and are well-prepared for further study or employment in the childcare and health sectors.

Outcomes for Students:

• Strong subject knowledge: Students understand key developmental stages and can apply this knowledge to practical scenarios.
• High-quality coursework: Learners produce detailed, thoughtful work that reflects their understanding of child-centred care.
• Career readiness: Pupils gain insight into roles such as nursery nurse, early years educator, midwife, and paediatric nurse.
• Personal growth: Students develop empathy, responsibility, and communication skills that benefit them in all walks of life.

Measuring Success:

Student progress is tracked through coursework milestones, exam preparation, and reflective tasks.

Students receive 30 minutes of homework each week. This is a blend of examination style questions, research tasks and recall.

Weekly intervention sessions are offered throughout the course.

The OCR Cambridge National in Child Development (J809) at Burton Borough School provides a strong foundation for a wide range of careers in childcare, education, health, and social care. Here’s a breakdown of potential career pathways this course can lead to:

Careers in Childcare and Early Years

• Nursery Nurse
• Early Years Practitioner
• Childminder
• Playgroup Leader
• Teaching Assistant (Early Years or Primary)

These roles involve working directly with young children to support their development, learning, and well-being in settings such as nurseries, preschools, and reception classes.

Careers in Health and Social Care

• Paediatric Nurse
• Midwife
• Health Visitor
• Speech and Language Therapist