Child Development Subject Overview

Child Development at St Mary’s is a very popular and successful subject. The aim of this subject is to fully engage learners who wish to develop their applied knowledge and practical skills in child development. The course is designed to cover practical and theoretical elements, both of which will prepare students for further qualifications in Child Care, Health and Social Care, Psychology, Sociology and Biology. The Child Development Cambridge National course gives students the knowledge and understanding to become well rounded adults who have the ability to nurture children through their own personal lives or as a professional. We aim to provide the students with the knowledge to understand the importance of reproduction, antenatal care, postnatal care and how to safely look after a young child in order to give them the best start in their lives. The course has an equal focus on both examination and coursework enabling students to demonstrate their ability to learn and apply the syllabus to personal case studies.

The learners will develop an appreciation of the importance of creating the best conditions for a child to thrive. This includes creating a child-friendly home environment, including social safety and the care, management and prevention of childhood illnesses. Students will be able to gain personal first hand experiences of how to prepare a nursery setting with appropriate equipment and develop feeding options for young children.

Child Development prepares every student for their future and importantly the role of being a parent which is probably the most important lesson to learn. It is our hope that students develop in maturity sooner than many of their peers and find a passion for inspiring young people, after having more understanding about what really goes into the conception, creation and nurturing of a young person.