OCR GCSE in Home Economics (Child Development)

OCR GCSE IN HOME ECONOMICS (CHILD DEVELOPMENT)

WHAT IS THE GCSE CHILD DEVELOPMENT COURSE ABOUT?
This qualification will promote an understanding of the overall needs of young children and the social and environmental influences which affect your development in an up to date, changing and multicultural society. You will explore the specification content through a range of different approaches in order to meet the learning needs of a child care and education. It will also enable you to develop a wide range of transferable skills including ICT.

You will study:

• Parenthood and Pregnancy
• Physical Development
• Nutrition and Health
• Intellectual, Social and Emotional Development
• The Family and Community

You will learn how to:

• Observe and interact with young children
• Carry out individual, original research
• Explore and investigate the needs of young children
• Apply the skills learned in coursework to the examination paper

WHY SHOULD I STUDY CHILD DEVELOPMENT?
Would you like a practical challenge? Do you enjoy working with children? Would you like to be kept up to date with child development issues? Are you ready for life away from school? If you have answered yes to these questions then choose to study Child Development. In this course you will develop your knowledge and skills through studying a range of different topics. You will also have the opportunity to carry out a variety of practical investigations. The qualification can lead to further study at AS/A Level in a variety of subjects. There will also be career opportunities in nursery nursing, nursing, teaching and the caring professions.

COURSE STRUCTURE & CONTENT
This course will give you opportunities to:

• increase your knowledge and understanding of human needs
• increase your awareness of the implications for Child Development of rapid technological changes, the use of ICT and the growth of scientific knowledge and understanding, and to develop your ability to respond effectively to such changes
• foster your critical and analytical approach to decision making and problem solving
• develop the knowledge and skills required for the effective and safe organisation and management of resources

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?
There is a choice between two levels of entry: Foundation and Higher.

• At Foundation level (Paper 1) the grades available are G to C
• At Higher level (Paper 2) the grades available are D to A*

You will produce one Individual Task, which should take 12-14 hours to complete and two Resource Tasks which should take 2-3 hours each to complete.

You then take one exam, either:

Foundation Paper 1 (1 hour 30 minutes)

This includes short answer, data response, structured and frees response questions

Higher Paper 2 (2 hours)

This includes short answer, data response, structured and frees response questions

COURSE COMMITMENT
The course lasts for one academic year with nine hours of study a week. You will be expected to work in private study periods and at home in order to complete the required coursework.

COURSE COSTS
There are no major course courses but you may be asked to contribute towards the costs of trips and visits.

PROGRESSION ROUTES
Progression to further study from GCSE will depend upon the number and nature of the grades achieved. If you are awarded mainly grades G to D at GCSE you could further strengthen your academic base through further study by proceeding to Intermediate Level courses. If you are awarded mainly grades C to A* at GCSE you would be well prepared for study at Advanced Level. This would include opportunities to study A/AS Level Health and Social Care with further progression to relevant employment and/or further and higher education. Or you may wish to take the GCSE as a stand alone qualification as it can be extremely helpful for careers in professions such as Childrens Nursing and Primary Teaching.