At The Rowans, Child Development provides pupils with the opportunity to explore how children grow, learn and develop during their early years. The subject encourages pupils to develop an understanding of the importance of positive relationships, play, individual needs and the role adults have in supporting children's development.

Our Child Development curriculum follows the Pearson BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Child Development (2022 specification). The qualification combines theoretical knowledge with practical learning opportunities, allowing pupils to explore real-life situations and develop skills that are valuable both within and beyond the classroom.

We recognise that our pupils have a range of starting points, abilities and additional needs. Teaching is therefore adapted to ensure learning is accessible, engaging and appropriately challenging, with opportunities for pupils to develop confidence, independence and a greater understanding of themselves and others.

Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11)

At Key Stage 4, pupils study three components that develop their understanding of children's growth, development and learning from birth to five years old. The course will be taught over four lessons per week – totalling four hours.

Component 1 – Children's Growth and Development

Pupils explore how children grow and develop from birth to five years old, including:

• Physical, intellectual, language, emotional and social development.
• The different stages of growth and development.
• Factors that can influence a child's development.
• The importance of positive relationships and supportive environments.

Component 2 – Learning Through Play

Pupils develop an understanding of the importance of play in supporting children's learning and development, including:

• The different stages and types of play.
• How play supports children's development.
• The role of adults in supporting and encouraging play.
• Planning suitable play activities for different ages and abilities.
• Selecting appropriate resources and learning environments.

Component 3 – Supporting Children to Play, Learn and Develop

Pupils build on their knowledge to explore how children's individual needs can influence their learning and development, including:

• Understanding the individual needs of children.
• Recognising factors that may impact learning and development.
• Creating safe and supportive play environments.
• Adapting activities to meet different needs and abilities.
• Promoting inclusion and equal opportunities for all children.

Throughout the course, pupils are encouraged to apply their understanding to real-life situations, develop their problem-solving skills and consider how adults can positively influence children's experiences.

Adaptive Practice and SEND

At The Rowans, we recognise that many of our pupils have additional learning needs which may impact their confidence, engagement and progress. Adaptive practice is central to our teaching, ensuring all pupils can access the Child Development curriculum and achieve success.

Teachers use information from Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), pupil profiles, assessments and ongoing observations to identify barriers to learning and implement appropriate adjustments.

Our approach includes:

• Small, manageable steps: Breaking learning into achievable tasks to support understanding and prevent pupils from becoming overwhelmed.
• Clear modelling and examples: Using demonstrations, worked examples and real-life scenarios to develop understanding.
• Practical learning: Incorporating play activities, investigations and hands-on experiences to make learning meaningful and engaging.
• Visual resources: Using images, diagrams, videos and key vocabulary to support understanding and recall.
• Retrieval and repetition: Regularly revisiting previous learning to strengthen knowledge and build confidence.
• Scaffolding and support: Providing structured tasks, writing frames, sentence starters and additional adult support where appropriate.
• Flexible teaching approaches: Adapting the pace, level of challenge and presentation of learning to reflect individual needs.
• Positive reinforcement: Recognising effort, progress and achievement to develop confidence, resilience and independence.

We recognise that pupils with SEND may experience barriers linked to cognition and learning, communication and interaction, social, emotional and mental health (SEMH), and sensory or physical needs. Our teaching is adapted to address these barriers whilst maintaining high expectations and encouraging pupils to develop greater independence.

The Hidden Curriculum in Child Development

At The Rowans, we recognise that Child Development is about more than understanding how young children grow and learn. The subject provides valuable opportunities for pupils to develop important personal, social and emotional skills that will support them throughout their lives.

This is particularly important within our alternative provision setting, where pupils may experience challenges with emotional regulation, confidence, relationships and social interactions.

Through Child Development, we aim to develop:

• Empathy and understanding: Encouraging pupils to recognise and respect the feelings, needs and experiences of others.
• Positive relationships: Exploring the importance of trust, communication and supportive relationships.
• Emotional awareness and regulation: Helping pupils understand emotions, recognise different responses and develop appropriate ways of managing feelings.
• Confidence and independence: Encouraging pupils to make decisions, share ideas and take responsibility for their learning.
• Communication and teamwork: Developing listening skills, cooperation and the ability to work positively with others.
• Responsibility and safeguarding: Understanding the importance of keeping children safe, recognising risks and promoting wellbeing.
• Respect and inclusion: Recognising that every child develops differently and understanding the importance of meeting individual needs.
• Preparation for adulthood: Developing practical life skills, awareness of parenting responsibilities and an understanding of how to support young children.

Our school values of kindness, commitment and resilience are embedded throughout lessons, encouraging pupils to demonstrate empathy, take pride in their learning and persevere when faced with challenges.

We recognise that progress is not always purely academic. Developing empathy, understanding different perspectives, working positively with others and recognising the needs of children can be equally significant achievements.

Assessment and Progress

Assessment is an important part of the Child Development curriculum, helping pupils demonstrate their understanding and apply their knowledge to realistic situations.

The qualification consists of three components:

• Component 1 – Children's Growth and Development: Internally assessed through a Pearson-set assignment, worth 30% of the qualification.
• Component 2 – Learning Through Play: Internally assessed through a Pearson-set assignment, worth 30% of the qualification.
• Component 3 – Supporting Children to Play, Learn and Develop: Externally assessed through a written assessment, worth 40% of the qualification.

Throughout the course, pupils complete regular retrieval activities, knowledge checks, practical tasks and assessment-style questions to develop their understanding and prepare for formal assessments.

Assessment information is used to identify gaps in knowledge, adapt teaching and provide targeted support to ensure pupils make progress from their individual starting points.

Preparing Pupils for Their Next Steps

Child Development provides pupils with valuable knowledge and transferable skills that can support future education, training and employment.

The qualification introduces pupils to a range of careers and pathways, including:

• Early years education and childcare
• Teaching and teaching assistance
• Health and social care
• Children's nursing
• Social work and family support
• Play work and child development services

Alongside career preparation, the subject helps pupils develop a greater understanding of relationships, responsibility, safeguarding and the importance of supporting others.

Our overall aim is for every pupil to leave The Rowans with a greater understanding of children's growth and development, increased confidence in their own abilities and the personal and practical skills needed for their next steps in education, employment and everyday life.