Courses

Accredited Level 3 Child Development Diploma

Introduction

This Level 3 Course in Child Development is designed to provide an introduction to those students who have some experience or understanding of children either formally in a teaching, nursing or social care setting or through knowledge and understanding of raising their own children. On completion of the Course students may wish to consider taking a formal entry qualification in a related field such as a Nursery Nurse or a Teaching Assistant.

The College will provide you with the resources necessary to complete the course and will also provide you with tutor support. Tutors have all been specially selected for their knowledge and understanding of your particular area of study and have experience in Distance Learning support. The Course will combine practical understanding of the developing child and also theoretical knowledge and understanding gained from studying the course material (and indeed further reading).

Topics touched upon in the Course will cover diverse topics such as pregnancy, stages of physical growth, measurement of normative childhood, social aspects of childrearing and as the provision of care to children can only be carried out within legislative frameworks students are required to understand the importance and value of this. Students are encouraged to develop self reflection and understanding during their Course of study which will assist them in their current workplace to develop skills which will assist them when considering a career in their chosen topic of study.

Students are required to pass two marked assignments and this will determine the award of the Level 3 Child Development. The Assignments will be expected to be approximately 1500 words and one will be completed by the mid point of the Course and one at the end of the Course and there will be several tasks contained within each Assignment. The assignments will combine practical understanding of the developing child and combine this with theoretical knowledge and understanding gained from studying the course material (and indeed further reading).

Assignments must be written by the student themselves and work that has been copied and pasted into the assignment will not be accepted as all work has to be screened for Plagiarism. The completed assignments will be marked online by a course tutor and feedback on performance will be provided. Tutors have all been specially selected for their knowledge and understanding of your particular area of study and have experience in Distance Learning support. The assignment will either be graded pass or fail and you will be provided feedback on submitted work. Tutor support will be provided throughout your Course of study and you are encouraged to make contact with your Tutor at the earliest possible opportunity as this will assist you develop your understanding and knowledge of the topic.

The Course duration is one year and students study at home at their own pace using our virtual learning environment. The course offers flexible delivery so that the more time you can allocate to your studies the sooner you can complete the Course. Upon enrolment you will be provided with all the necessary materials to complete the Course and you are free to study as often as you wish. Progression from Level 3 can assist in career development, continued professional development, personal development and provision of basis for further study. On successful completion of this Course you become eligible for Level 5 study at Oxford Distance Learning and can discuss this with student services at any point during the progression of your Course.

Assessment Criteria

The Assessment will assess:

Theoretical knowledge and understanding of theories of Child Development.
Practical Applications (you will be required to provide practice examples from applied childcare settings).
Integrating theory into practice (this will combine theory with applied practice examples)

Course Description
Course Reviews

Accredited Level 3 Child Development Diploma Entry Requirement

Entry to this Accredited Level 3 Child Development Diploma requires that potential students have gained GCSE/IGCSE or equivalent qualifications and have, good English oral, reading and writing skills.

Advice on enrolment and guidance of prior learning (APL) can be obtained through out contact centre. The course is a rolling programme and can be started at any point in the year. Successful students can go on to Higher Education, including remaining as students at OLC to complete courses in our portfolio of higher awards.

All students must be aged 16 or over.

Assesment

The coursework is assessed through continuous assessment with no formal exit examinations.

Study Hours

Approximately: 200 hours of personal study time for the entire course is recommended. All of which is supported by the OLC Course Tutor, who we greatly encourage students to access support from throughout their course.

Quality Assurance

This course has been developed by the College’s professional team of tutors to meet the needs of sector based employers and employees. It is also part of the College’s validated level three Diplomas’, recognised internationally, as verified and moderated Centre for Interactive Education (CIE Global). Further details of our accreditations are provided on our website.

Accredited Level 3 Child Development Diploma Course Length

1 Year.

Awarding Body

CIE Global

Accredited Level 3 Child Development Diploma Course Content

Accredited Level 3 Child Development Diploma Module 1 – Defining Childhood

Definitions of childhood have changed during the course of history and the Course begins with a historical approach to childhood and also contrast modern day definitions of childhood with earlier definitions. Children do not develop in a vacuum and we consider the consequences of historical and legislative reform and the impact this has had upon changing definitions of childhood.

Accredited Level 3 Child Development Diploma Module 2 – Pregnancy and Family Life

In this section of the Course we examine the way that pregnancy develops and consider the development and progress of the foetus and the way this changes as the months progress and delivery happens. We consider how the mother supports life during pregnancy and also examine what happens during the process of birth and the impact this has upon the mother and child.

Accredited Level 3 Child Development Diploma Module 3 – The developing baby

Tests are carried out on the baby during the pre and post birth period and we examine the nature of these tests and why they are carried out. Testing continues throughout childhood and we examine the pro’s and con’s of testing and critically assess the idea of ‘normative childhood’.

Accredited Level 3 Child Development Diploma Module 4 – Theoretical approaches to the study of childhood

There are many theories of childhood that try to explain how children develop and we compare several theories and consider why disciplines such as Psychology and Sociology are useful in helping us understand the developing child. We consider the way theory is used by several disciplines and settings to help them better understand the development of children in everyday life and indeed applied settings such as education.

Accredited Level 3 Child Development Diploma Module 5 – Emotional Development

Many theorists such as Sigmund Freud believe that emotional development is the most important aspect of the early childhood but other theorists do not share this view. We do know that health and well-being can be affected by the kind of environments that we mix in and the demands made upon us by others. Health can also be impacted by our emotional state and in this topic we examine issues such as parenting, environmental demands, issues related to social class and lifestyle choices that can impact upon the development of children.

Accredited Level 3 Child Development Diploma Module 6 – Day Care

In the previous module we examined how Freud thought that the influence of early development was the most important. Throughout history parents have had to work to provide for their children and indeed in modern times work is more likely to be carried out outside of the home. In this module we develop the ideas of Freud and consider the different types of day care and the impact that day care can have upon the developing child. We examine how day care is influenced by budgetary restraints and the impact this has upon children and families. Standards of care differ because of barriers such as language, culture and social-economic status and we consider how access to care can be impeded because of these factors.

Accredited Level 3 Child Development Diploma Module 7 – The Developing Self

We examine how the child develops as s/he progresses through childhood and discovers that they are separate beings from their parents. We consider the influence of different family types upon developing and also the influence of siblings. How does the child distinguish the ‘self’ from others and discover personal boundaries?

Accredited Level 3 Child Development Diploma Module 8 – The Social Construction of Childhood

Childhood does not occur in a social vacuum and we examine the influence of different family types and indeed parenting patterns upon the developing child. We examine whether childhood is an artefact of research and whether children are just mini adults. The influence of the different psychological and sociological approaches to the study of children are considered.

Accredited Level 3 Child Development Diploma Module 9 – The Development of Play

We consider the idea of play being ‘a child’s work’ and consider what a child is gaining (if anything) from play. Is play developing the skills necessary to develop cognition and if so what types of play and indeed toys should be encouraged? We consider theories of play and how they impact upon the development of skills in children.

Accredited Level 3 Child Development Diploma Module 10 – Development in Adolescence

Adolescence is said to be a period of ‘storm and stress’ and we examine this theory by looking at the hormonal changes associated with adolescence and whether there is a basis for defining adolescence as a separate stage of development. We consider the social pressures upon adolescence and indeed consider family life at this particular stage of development. How can care workers support families at this particular time to ensure that the demands of this stage of transition are met.

Accredited Level 3 Child Development Diploma Module 11 – Developmental Problems

This module examines so called ‘normal development’ and looks at statistical data that is produced by public health and social bodies that define how children are constructed in everyday life. We examine issues that are said to be outside ‘normal boundaries’ and the type of solutions that can be provided for children who do not meet normal developmental guidelines. We consider ‘normative’ measurements of health and well-being and how these can be useful indicators of health and well-being but may also be considered problematic if expectations are not met. The impact of different family types is also considered.

Progression

This Accredited Level 3 Child Development Diploma can be used to gain entry to a Level 4 Diploma or higher.

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