🎍 NSQ/QCF · Level 2 · Ref: SCD/CCD20/L3 0001
Child Care & Learning Development
A comprehensive professional qualification for early years practitioners — covering child development from conception to age 7, safeguarding, nutrition, observation, and inclusive practice across 21 specialist units.
Full Qualification Summary
All 21 Units
Mandatory units are compulsory for all learners. Optional units are chosen to match individual career goals, for a minimum of 30 credits total.
Mandatory Units — Compulsory (20 Credits)
| Ref No. | Unit Title | Type | Level · GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCD/CCD/001/L2 | Promote Effective Communication for Children | Mandatory | Level 2 · 20hrs |
| SCD/CCD/002/L2 | Introduction to the Role of Early Years Practitioner | Mandatory | Level 2 · 30hrs |
| SCD/CCD/003/L2 | Providing Safe Environments for Children | Mandatory | Level 2 · 20hrs |
| SCD/CCD/004/L2 | Lesson Planning | Mandatory | Level 2 · 30hrs |
| SCD/CCD/005/L2 | Develop Effective Working Relationships with Others | Mandatory | Level 2 · 30hrs |
| SCD/CCD/006/L2 | Children's Learning Perspectives | Mandatory | Level 2 · 30hrs |
| SCD/CCD/007/L2 | Reflective Practice for Own Professional Development | Mandatory | Level 2 · 20hrs |
| SCD/CCD/008/L2 | Support Healthy Lifestyles for Children Through Food & Nutrition | Mandatory | Level 2 · 20hrs |
Optional Units — Elective (minimum 10 Credits)
| Ref No. | Unit Title | Type | Level · GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCD/CCD/009/L3 | Child Development from Conception to Seven Years | Optional | Level 3 · 40hrs |
| SCD/CCD/010/L2 | Preparing for School Readiness | Optional | Level 2 · 40hrs |
| SCD/CCD/011/L2 | Children's Health and Wellbeing | Optional | Level 2 · 30hrs |
| SCD/CCD/012/L3 | Observation, Assessment and Planning | Optional | Level 3 · 80hrs |
| SCD/CCD/013/L3 | Supporting Emergent Literacy | Optional | Level 3 · 30hrs |
| SCD/CCD/014/L3 | Play and Learning | Optional | Level 3 · 50hrs |
| SCD/CCD/015/L3 | Understanding Children's Additional Needs | Optional | Level 3 · 40hrs |
| SCD/CCD/016/L3 | Promote Children's Early Learning in the School Environment | Optional | Level 3 · 40hrs |
| SCD/CCD/017/L2 | Understand How to Support Children Who Are Unwell | Optional | Level 2 · 20hrs |
| SCD/CCD/018/L2 | Record Keeping and Reporting | Optional | Level 2 · 20hrs |
| SCD/CCD/019/L3 | Develop the Speech, Language and Communication of Children (Birth–5yrs) | Optional | Level 3 · 30hrs |
| SCD/CCD/020/L2 | Promote the Physical Development of Children (Birth–5yrs) | Optional | Level 2 · 20hrs |
| SCD/CCD/021/L2 | Contribute to an Inclusive Environment | Optional | Level 2 · 30hrs |
Learning Outcomes
What You'll Learn
Each unit has specific learning outcomes with detailed assessment criteria. Click any unit to expand the full outcomes.
Unit 1Promote Effective Communication for Children
Learners will establish understanding of children's communication preferences; support children to interact using preferred methods; communicate on difficult issues; and manage records and reports.
- Establish the child's preferred communication method, needs and any extra support required
- Develop relationships and environments that promote communication
- Communicate effectively on complex and sensitive issues with children and key people
- Complete and maintain records and reports in line with legal and work setting requirements
Unit 2Introduction to the Role of the Early Years Practitioner
Learners will understand the skills, knowledge and attributes required for the EY practitioner role; how communication affects practice; working relationships; and the importance of CPD.
- Identify the skills, knowledge and attributes required for the role across various settings
- Describe the relationship between legislation, policies and procedures
- Use communication methods that meet individuals' needs and preferences
- Explain why CPD is integral to the Early Years practitioner role
Unit 3Providing Safe Environments for Children
Learners will understand safeguarding principles, current legislation, signs of abuse (neglect, physical, emotional, sexual, domestic), whistleblowing responsibilities, and how serious case reviews inform practice.
- Explain what 'safeguarding' means and how it protects and values children
- Identify current legislation and frameworks relating to safeguarding
- Describe signs, symptoms and indicators of all five forms of abuse
- Explain whistleblowing responsibilities and confidentiality boundaries in reporting
Unit 4Lesson Planning
Learners will understand how to set lesson objectives, apply SMART criteria, develop a lesson plan using the WWWWH concept, and create a full unit plan for a teaching term.
- Explain how to identify objectives and use SMART criteria for effective lesson plans
- Develop a lesson plan covering objectives, resources, location, engagement and assessment
- Develop a unit plan for a full teaching term with expected outcomes and delivery methods
Unit 5Develop Effective Working Relationships with Others
Learners will develop productive partnerships with colleagues and external organisations, set realistic team targets, communicate required information, and reflect on practice.
- Establish relationships that promote effective partnership working
- Agree outcomes, responsibilities and actions with team members
- Manage conflicts of interest and disagreements positively
- Reflect on own and others' practice to identify areas for improvement
Unit 6Children's Learning Perspectives
Learners will understand theoretical and international perspectives on children's learning and how they inform current early years frameworks and practice.
- Explain different ways children learn and summarise key theoretical perspectives
- Analyse international Early Years curricula and compare global approaches
- Critically evaluate how international approaches inform current frameworks
Unit 7Reflective Practice for Own Professional Development
Learners will understand CPD, identify their own training needs, explore employment opportunities in health, education and social services, and understand how reflective practice improves outcomes for children.
- Critically evaluate the importance of Continuing Professional Development
- Create an own Professional Development Plan and CV for a nursery assistant role
- Analyse how reflective practice supports improved outcomes for children
Unit 8Support Healthy Lifestyles Through Food & Nutrition
Learners will understand healthy eating, the nutritional needs of children at different ages, how food choices affect development from pre-pregnancy through breastfeeding, and plan activities supporting healthy eating.
- Evaluate national and local initiatives promoting healthy eating
- Explain the impact of food choices during pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Discuss nutritional requirements for children aged 1–7 years across five age bands
- Plan, implement and reflect on healthy eating activities in own setting
Unit 9Child Development from Conception to Seven Years (Optional · Level 3)
Learners will understand stages of development from conception to birth, milestones from birth to 7 years across all domains, theoretical perspectives, and the practitioner's role in promoting holistic development.
- Describe stages of development from conception to birth and routine screening programmes
- Identify cognitive, language, physical, personal, social and emotional milestones
- Plan learning opportunities for children from birth to 5 years across all developmental domains
- Evaluate the practitioner's role in supporting holistic development and partnership with parents
Unit 12Observation, Assessment and Planning (Optional · Level 3 · 80hrs)
The highest credit optional unit. Covers the full observation-assessment-planning cycle, 10 observation methods, child-centred planning, and the value of longitudinal study.
- Explain how observations inform planning, early intervention, transitions and partnership
- Evaluate 10 observation methods — photographic, narrative, checklists, time samples, sociograms, target child, child trackers
- Analyse how child-centred planning meets individual needs
- Evaluate benefits of longitudinal study for the child, practitioners and other professionals
Home Based Care in Practice
Caring for Children Where They Live
Start Your Journey in Child Care & Development
This programme is open to all adults aged 18 and above. No prior qualifications needed beyond a Basic Education Certificate — just a genuine passion for working with children.