Cambridge National in Child Development
This Cambridge National at Montgomery Academy enables students, aged 14-16 to develop their knowledge and skills in child development. It is designed with both practical and theoretical elements, which will prepare students for further qualifications in Child Care, Health and Social Care, Psychology, Sociology and Biology. In all aspects of this course students are encouraged to learn a wide range of subject specific vocabulary and apply it within their work. They are given regular opportunities to read news articles and reports to enable them to see how their theoretical learning can be applied in the real world.
There are three units to be completed over the two year course
Unit RO57 - Health and well-being for child development
This first unit underpins all of the other learning in the qualification. All students will learn the essential knowledge and understanding of child development, covering reproduction, parental responsibility, antenatal care, birth, postnatal checks and care, conditions for development, childhood illnesses and child safety. This unit will be assessed through examination at the end of Year 11.
The remaining two units are both non-examined assessment (NEA) which means they are assessed in school and moderated externally.
Unit RO58 - Create a safe environment and understand the nutritional needs of children from birth to five years.
This is assessed through a ‘live’ set assignment. In this assignment students will learn how to create a safe environment for children from birth to five years within a childcare setting. Students will research and choose equipment that is suitable and safe for use and will learn about children’s nutrition and their dietary needs.
Unit RO59 - Understand the development of a child from one to five years
In this ‘live’ assignment students will learn about the physical, intellectual and social developmental norms for children from one to five years. Students will develop understanding of the importance of creating plans and providing different play activities to support children in their development.
Assignment topics/tasks include:
• Physical, intellectual and social developmental norms from one to five years
• Stages and types of play and how play benefits development
• Observing the development of a child aged one to five years
• Planning and evaluating play activities for a child aged one to five years for a chosen area of development