Health, Social Care & Early Years

Exam Board:OCR

What is this subject about?

This course provides you with knowledge, understanding and skills of a range of health, social care and early years' issues. Input from visiting speaker/s and visits form an important part of the course giving you a chance to see what you are studying relates to real settings.

To choose the course you need to have a genuine interest in all three care sectors (Health Care, Social Care and Early Years) and a deep desire to acquire a good level of knowledge and understanding of the wide ranging and challenging issues relevant to caring for people in all three sectors.

For the AS level you will study:

Double AS- Topics studied in the first year include Promoting Quality Care, Communication in Care Settings, Promoting Good Health, Caring for People with Additional Needs, Working in Early Years Care and Education, and Caring for Older People. On successful completion you would be awarded with two AS grades

Single AS- You would only study the first three of the Double AS course units listed above (Promoting Quality Care, Communication in Care Settings, Promoting Good Health). These are all mandatory units. On successful completion you would be awarded with one AS grade

For the A2 level you will study:

Double A2- The topics you study are Care Practice and Provision, Understanding Human Behaviour, Child Development, Mental Health Issues, Social Trends and Research Methods in Health and Social Care settings. On successful completion you would be awarded with two A level grades.

Single A2- You would study the first three of the Double A2 units (Care Practice and Provision, Understanding Human Behaviour, Child Development). On successful completion you would be awarded with one A level grade.

How is the course assessed?

For both AS and A2, assessment is one third by written test and two thirds by coursework. All units carry the same weight.

What skills will I need and develop for this course?

The courses are predominantly coursework-based therefore you would have a succession of assignments with a brief respite when studying the units assessed by exam.

You will need to carry out independent reading from a range of recommended sources, to be very organised in terms of time, to manage a study kit and to have good listening skills.

Through the course you would be encouraged to develop skills in analysis, evaluation, observation, working with others and skills in making presentations.

What other A levels can I do alongside Health, Social Care and Early Years?

Students are expected to study other A or AS levels alongside the Double or Single courses. Particularly suitable subjects include Biology (strongly recommended for those wishing to study Midwifery or Nursing at Degree level), Psychology, Sociology, Geography, History, English and Physical Education. Your choice should take into account courses you wish to be able to do in Higher Education.

What can the course lead to in terms of higher education and future careers?

Students who have taken this course have progressed to university to study a variety of courses including Occupational Therapy, Nursing, Midwifery, Primary Teaching, Early Childhood Studies and Social Work. Other students have gone straight into employment in a variety of fields related to it - for example going on to work as Nursery Assistants or Care Assistants or to join the Ambulance Service with the intention of becoming a Paramedic.

What are the formal entry requirements for this course?

Aside from the general entry criteria that the College requires, you will also need to achieve at least a Grade C in GCSE Science and in GCSE English. You also need to have a sound level of everyday Maths. Grade C in GCSE Maths is the standard qualification for this. However grade D will be acceptable provided you enrol for GCSE Maths to work to improve the level of your Maths by re-taking the GCSE in your AS year.

What extra support / enrichment activities are on offer?

Many students on the course take part either in the college's Community Care programme or our School Mentoring programme. These involve assisting in a local nursery or school or in a day-centre for older people once a week. If you take the Double AS course you will have two weeks of work experience in a relevant placement at the end of the first academic year.

As part of the unit on Promoting Good Health, you will work with health professionals in planning and implementing a Health Fair for college students. There may also be the opportunity to take part in simulated Clinical Skills sessions at Kingston University.

Classroom support: the college provides learning support in some lessons

Is it a good idea to study Double AS in Health, Social Care and Early Years with a Single AS in Leisure and Sports Studies?

This is not recommended. There would be an overload of coursework and it is more helpful to take a course that develops contrasting skills such as essay writing, which are essential for studying at a higher level after you complete this course.