Course Content

Unit 1: Growth and development of young children

(F/601/3408, Unit Level: 2, GLH: 18 hours; Credits: 2)

• Patterns and stages of growth for children from birth to 5 years 11 months
• Factors which influence growth and development from birth to 5 years 11 months
• Importance of diet and exercise for children’s growth and development
• Activities which promote children’s physical development
• Ways to help children to develop communication and language skills
• Ways to encourage children to play socially

Unit 2: Practical health and safety when with young children

(H/602/2389, Unit Level: 1, GLH: 27 hours; Credits: 3)

• Health and safety guidance, symbols or instructions on young children’s equipment and toys
• Health and safety instructions on cleaning materials which may be found in a house
• Health and safety rules, guidelines or instructions when taking children out into the street and to the park
• Potential hazards to young children in the home
• Safety features to ensure young children stay safe in the home
• Safety equipment or controls which help to keep young children safe when going out for a walk, when in a car and when in a children’s playground
• Fire safety equipment that is recommended to be in a house
• Possible fire hazards to young children and adults in a house
• Own actions to maintain a young child’s safety if there was fire in the house

Unit 3: Respecting and valuing children

(M/601/0116, Unit Level: 1, GLH: 18 hours; Credits: 2)

• Ways to value children as individuals
• Reasons why children need to be respected as individuals
• Ways to communicate with children to ensure that they feel valued
• Behaviour that shows respect and value of children
• Organisations that promote the rights of children

Unit 4: Understanding learning and development through play

(A/504/0211, Unit Level: 1, GLH: 27 hours; Credits: 3)

• Features of a setting that contribute to a positive learning environment
• How these features might help children to learn through the use of play activities and strategies
• Ways in which play can help children’s learning in developmental areas
• Example of stereotyping in play
• How a given set of materials, resources or activities can challenge stereotyping and discrimination

Unit 5: Confidence Building for the Young Child Through Play 

(T/601/3406, Unit Level: Entry Level 3, GLH: 30, Credits: 3) 

• Understand the support children need to gain confidence when playing 
• Activities that will help improve a young child's confidence 
• Learn to encourage expression through play 
• How interaction and play can build self-esteem
• Activities that will help children to express their feelings 

Unit 6: Sharing Learning Experiences with Children

(Y/601/0109, Unit Level: 1, GLH: 36, Credits: 4) 

• The different ways that youn children learn 
• Understanding the importance of identifying the different ways of learning 
• Sensory aids to develop the learning of young children 
• How to encourage children to take part 
• Ways in which the natural world can support learning 

Unit 7: Self-development

(A/600/3735, Unit Level: 2, GLH: 24, Credits: 3)

• Why self-development and interest is important 
• How self-development contributes to personal achievement 
• Encouraging self-development, weaknesses and strengths 

Unit 8: Science Activities for Young Children 

(D/602/2388, Unit Level: 1, GLH: 27, Credits: 3)

• Recommend science activities for young children of different ages 
• Understand why science activities support learning 
• Learn the health and safety risks with science activities
• Help and advise young children with science activities

Unit 9: Technology Activities for Young Children 

(R/602/2386, Unit Level: 1, GLH: 18, Credits: 2)

• Recognise activities and toys within technology for young children 
• Understand which technology activities are suitable for each age range
• Identify intellectual, physical and language benefits of technology activities 

Unit 10: Musical Activities for Young Children 

(D/602/2391, Unit Level: 1 GLH: 18, Credits: 2)

• Creative musical activities and games for young children
• Understand which musical activities are suitable for each age range
• Identify benefits of musical activities 
• Encourage interaction within musical games and activities