Curriculum Intent
At Harbour Vale School, the Pearson BTEC Tech Award in Child Development is designed to inspire students to develop a secure understanding of child growth, development, and care from birth to five years. The curriculum aims to equip learners with practical knowledge, transferable skills, and an appreciation of the factors that influence children’s development, preparing them for further study and future careers within childcare, health, education, and related sectors.
Curriculum Implementation
At Harbour Vale School, the Child Development curriculum is delivered through a blend of theoretical learning and practical application, closely aligned to the Pearson BTEC Tech Award specification. Students investigate developmental milestones, health and wellbeing, play activities, and the factors affecting children’s development through engaging lessons, research, discussion, case studies, and vocationally relevant assignments. A range of assessment opportunities, retrieval activities, and practical tasks support students in developing their understanding and applying their knowledge to realistic scenarios. Learning is regularly monitored through formative assessment, knowledge checks, practice examination questions, and feedback that enables students to identify strengths and areas for development.
Curriculum Impact
Through studying Child Development at Harbour Vale School, students gain a strong understanding of how children grow, learn, and develop during their early years. They build confidence in applying their knowledge, develop valuable analytical and communication skills, and achieve success in both internal and external assessments. Students are assessed through a combination of internally assessed coursework components and an externally assessed examination, reflecting the vocational nature of the qualification and ensuring they can demonstrate both practical application and theoretical understanding. Students leave the course well prepared for progression to further education, apprenticeships, or careers in childcare, health, and education, with a clear understanding of the importance of promoting positive outcomes for young children.