The Pearson BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Child Development is ideal for you if you would like to find out more about child development and the early years sector. This course offers a practical introduction to life and work in the early years sector. 

Do you want to be employable in one of the largest employment sectors? 

The early years sector focuses on the learning, development and care of children. In the UK, there were approximately 1.7 million Ofsted registered childcare places for children offered by many different types of early years settings in England in 2019, ranging from childminders and nannies to nurseries, crèches and preschools. 

Knowledge of child development is important in a variety of occupations outside of childcare and teaching, for example, in healthcare roles such as paediatricians, psychologists, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists. 

This course will give you the opportunity to develop knowledge and technical skills in a practical learning environment. You will also develop key skills such as research and written communication skills as you plan different types of play activities to encourage children’s learning and development and investigate how to adapt them to meet children’s individual circumstances. 

Once you have completed the qualification, you will have developed a practical understanding of the early years sector and child development. You will have built useful skills, which are not generally covered in GCSE courses, and you will have developed a good understanding of whether the early years sector is for you, and if so, which part of it you might want to study further.  

If you decide to go on to further study of early years and child development, the best option for you will depend on the grades you have achieved in this and the other qualifications you have taken, and what you enjoy doing. You could progress to a Level 2 Technical Certificate or to a Level 3 programme, such as A Levels, a T Level or a BTEC National, either on its own or in combination with A levels.