Update on the adaptations to the Health and Social Care and Childcare Wales qualifications
In response to the on-going disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and recognising that the sector will continue to be affected for the remainder of 2021/22, the Consortium have continued to work with Social Care Wales (SCW) and Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) to identify adaptations to assessment that will support learners to achieve their qualification(s).
The arrangements outlined below will support as many learners as possible to progress to the next stage of their learning, or into employment, whilst ensuring that employers and others retain their confidence in the validity of the qualifications.
Summer 2023: Advance Information summaries now available
- GCSE Health and Social Care
- AS & A level Health and Social Care, and Childcare
- Level 2 and 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory
- Level 2 and 3 Health and Social Care: Principles and Contexts
You can now access Advance Information for Summer 2023 exams and assessments here.
GCSE Health and Social Care, and Childcare
GCE Health and Social Care, and Childcare
WJEC Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Core
Changes to level 2 HSCCC Core assessments
We have made changes to the assessments following sector consultation and feedback. Qualification Wales has agreed for us to make changes to the assessment strategy for the following qualifications:
- Level 2 Health and Social Care: Core
- Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Core
With immediate effect any learners completing the Core qualifications will be required to complete the following reduced assessments only:
H&SC Adults and CYP pathways, and CCPLD:
- One case study and the MCQ test
H&SC Combined pathway
- Two case studies and the MCQ Test
Approved providers will continue to provide learners with teaching and learning opportunities across the full qualification content.
You will also be required to rotate the case study chosen to ensure that the full qualification content is assessed over time. A strategy to achieve this must be approved by the EQA.
This amendment will be in place until 31 December 2023.
Centres should submit results via Walled Garden by 30 November 2023 to ensure that learners are certificated by 31 December 2023.
Arrangements for the assessment of the Core qualifications from 01 January 2024
Learners who are ready for assessment on or after 1 January 2024 will be assessed via an MCQ only. From this date, the internal assessment component (case studies) of the Core qualifications will be permanently removed.
The MCQ is now a familiar assessment tool for learners/centres and statistically, the MCQ and different versions of the test show strong reliability in outcomes (consistent pass rates). This instils confidence in the validity/reliability of the MCQ as an assessment tool, and the ability for learners to access the type of assessment. This permanent amendment to the assessment strategy will significantly reduce the assessment burden for providers and learners.
In most cases learner certification will be automatic, following a successful MCQ result, thereby reducing the emphasis on the EQA whilst simultaneously enabling more streamlined learner progression.
Please note: when there is a new version of the assessment learner results cannot be published immediately. In these circumstances, to ensure quality assurance, learner results may not be available for up to 20 days but will then move to automatic release.
We will update the qualification specifications and assessment packs as each change takes place. Any changes will be listed in the version control table in the front of the qualification handbook and other associated documents and materials.
Approved providers must ensure that their learners and delivery teams have access to the most up-to-date version of the qualification handbooks and assessment packs, which are available on the relevant qualification page on the HCLW website.
WJEC Level 2 Children’s Care, Play Learning and Development: Practice and Theory
Important update: Amendments to Practice qualifications
There are some changes that have been made that we would like to make you aware of to the following assessment delivery guides (v2-0) and qualification handbooks for the qualifications listed below.
Assessment delivery guide changes:
- Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice
- Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory
- Level 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice
- Level 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory
- Level 2 Health and Social Care Practice: Adults
- Level 3 Health and Social Care Practice: Adults
- Level 3 Health and Social Care Practice: Children and Young People
Qualification handbook changes:
- Level 2 Health and Social Care Practice: Adults (v2-0)
- Level 3 Health and Social Care Practice: Adults (v2-0)
- Level 3 Health and Social Care Practice: Children and Young People (v3-0)
Level 2/3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Health and Social Care Practice
Confirming learners’ readiness for assessment: Due to the ongoing challenges faced by the sector during this time, we have taken the decision to revise the process assessors must follow when determining learners’ readiness for assessment.
These changes are outlined in Section 3 of the Assessment Delivery guides
Health and Social Care Practice only
Following extensive consultation with the sector, in collaboration with Social Care Wales and Health Education and Improvement Wales and with endorsement from the Qualification and Standards Committee, we are pleased to confirm that a range of additional units have been added to the Optional Group A in the following qualifications:
- Level 2 Health and Social Care Practice: Adults
- Level 3 Health and Social Care Practice: Adults
- Level 3 Health and Social Care Practice: Children and Young People
Before supporting learners to complete any of the additional units, approved providers must first ensure that assessors are occupationally competent and available to assess them and that this has been confirmed by their EQA.
All of the new units should be assessed via the pre-set tasks.
All the changes are listed in the version control table at the front of the qualification handbook, associated assessment packs and/or assessment delivery guides. These are available for download from the HCLW website.
Approved providers must ensure that their learners and delivery teams have access to the most up-to-date version of the qualification documents and materials.
WJEC Level 3 Children’s Care, Play Learning and Development: Practice and Theory
Important update: Amendments to Practice qualifications
There are some changes that have been made that we would like to make you aware of to the following assessment delivery guides (v2-0) and qualification handbooks for the qualifications listed below.
Assessment delivery guide changes:
- Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice
- Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory
- Level 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice
- Level 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory
- Level 2 Health and Social Care Practice: Adults
- Level 3 Health and Social Care Practice: Adults
- Level 3 Health and Social Care Practice: Children and Young People
Qualification handbook changes:
- Level 2 Health and Social Care Practice: Adults (v2-0)
- Level 3 Health and Social Care Practice: Adults (v2-0)
- Level 3 Health and Social Care Practice: Children and Young People (v3-0)
Level 2/3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Health and Social Care Practice
Confirming learners’ readiness for assessment: Due to the ongoing challenges faced by the sector during this time, we have taken the decision to revise the process assessors must follow when determining learners’ readiness for assessment.
These changes are outlined in Section 3 of the Assessment Delivery guides
Health and Social Care Practice only
Following extensive consultation with the sector, in collaboration with Social Care Wales and Health Education and Improvement Wales and with endorsement from the Qualification and Standards Committee, we are pleased to confirm that a range of additional units have been added to the Optional Group A in the following qualifications:
- Level 2 Health and Social Care Practice: Adults
- Level 3 Health and Social Care Practice: Adults
- Level 3 Health and Social Care Practice: Children and Young People
Before supporting learners to complete any of the additional units, approved providers must first ensure that assessors are occupationally competent and available to assess them and that this has been confirmed by their EQA.
All of the new units should be assessed via the pre-set tasks.
All the changes are listed in the version control table at the front of the qualification handbook, associated assessment packs and/or assessment delivery guides. These are available for download from the HCLW website.
Approved providers must ensure that their learners and delivery teams have access to the most up-to-date version of the qualification documents and materials.
City & Guilds Level 2 Health and Social Care: Core
Changes to level 2 HSCCC Core assessments
We have made changes to the assessments following sector consultation and feedback. Qualification Wales has agreed for us to make changes to the assessment strategy for the following qualifications:
- Level 2 Health and Social Care: Core
- Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Core
With immediate effect any learners completing the Core qualifications will be required to complete the following reduced assessments only:
H&SC Adults and CYP pathways, and CCPLD:
- One case study and the MCQ test
H&SC Combined pathway
- Two case studies and the MCQ Test
Approved providers will continue to provide learners with teaching and learning opportunities across the full qualification content.
You will also be required to rotate the case study chosen to ensure that the full qualification content is assessed over time. A strategy to achieve this must be approved by the EQA.
This amendment will be in place until 31 December 2023.
Centres should submit results via Walled Garden by 30 November 2023 to ensure that learners are certificated by 31 December 2023.
Arrangements for the assessment of the Core qualifications from 01 January 2024
Learners who are ready for assessment on or after 1 January 2024 will be assessed via an MCQ only. From this date, the internal assessment component (case studies) of the Core qualifications will be permanently removed.
The MCQ is now a familiar assessment tool for learners/centres and statistically, the MCQ and different versions of the test show strong reliability in outcomes (consistent pass rates). This instils confidence in the validity/reliability of the MCQ as an assessment tool, and the ability for learners to access the type of assessment. This permanent amendment to the assessment strategy will significantly reduce the assessment burden for providers and learners.
In most cases learner certification will be automatic, following a successful MCQ result, thereby reducing the emphasis on the EQA whilst simultaneously enabling more streamlined learner progression.
Please note: when there is a new version of the assessment learner results cannot be published immediately. In these circumstances, to ensure quality assurance, learner results may not be available for up to 20 days but will then move to automatic release.
We will update the qualification specifications and assessment packs as each change takes place. Any changes will be listed in the version control table in the front of the qualification handbook and other associated documents and materials.
Approved providers must ensure that their learners and delivery teams have access to the most up-to-date version of the qualification handbooks and assessment packs, which are available on the relevant qualification page on the HCLW website.
WJEC Level 2 Health and Social Care: Principles and Contexts
WJEC Level 3 Health and Social Care: Principles and Contexts
City & Guilds Level 2 and Level 3 Practice qualifications
Important update: Amendments to Practice qualifications
There are some changes that have been made that we would like to make you aware of to the following assessment delivery guides (v2-0) and qualification handbooks for the qualifications listed below.
Assessment delivery guide changes:
- Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice
- Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory
- Level 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice
- Level 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory
- Level 2 Health and Social Care Practice: Adults
- Level 3 Health and Social Care Practice: Adults
- Level 3 Health and Social Care Practice: Children and Young People
Qualification handbook changes:
- Level 2 Health and Social Care Practice: Adults (v2-0)
- Level 3 Health and Social Care Practice: Adults (v2-0)
- Level 3 Health and Social Care Practice: Children and Young People (v3-0)
Level 2/3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Health and Social Care Practice
Confirming learners’ readiness for assessment: Due to the ongoing challenges faced by the sector during this time, we have taken the decision to revise the process assessors must follow when determining learners’ readiness for assessment.
These changes are outlined in Section 3 of the Assessment Delivery guides
Health and Social Care Practice only
Following extensive consultation with the sector, in collaboration with Social Care Wales and Health Education and Improvement Wales and with endorsement from the Qualification and Standards Committee, we are pleased to confirm that a range of additional units have been added to the Optional Group A in the following qualifications:
- Level 2 Health and Social Care Practice: Adults
- Level 3 Health and Social Care Practice: Adults
- Level 3 Health and Social Care Practice: Children and Young People
Before supporting learners to complete any of the additional units, approved providers must first ensure that assessors are occupationally competent and available to assess them and that this has been confirmed by their EQA.
All of the new units should be assessed via the pre-set tasks.
All the changes are listed in the version control table at the front of the qualification handbook, associated assessment packs and/or assessment delivery guides. These are available for download from the HCLW website.
Approved providers must ensure that their learners and delivery teams have access to the most up-to-date version of the qualification documents and materials.
City & Guilds Level 4 and Level 5 Qualifications
Level 4/5: Scope for adaptations
Where possible all centres will continue to prioritise the full assessment strategy, including direct observation by a qualified and occupationally competent assessor[1], however in circumstance where access to assessment is still problematical due to Covid 19 restrictions or related safeguards, the current adaptations will continue to be available to ALL learners throughout the academic year 2021/22.
Centres are requested to prioritise these learners for certification via the August certification window or sooner.
All learners registered from 01 September 2022 will complete their assessment as detailed in the assessment packs, including the requirement to use direct observation by a qualified and occupationally competent assessor[2] as per the requirement within some tasks.
Learners who have used an adapted assessment process for part of their qualification but have not completed their assessment journey before the end of the academic year 2021/22
Where this is referenced in the assessment tasks, direct observation by a qualified and occupationally competent assessor will be expected. Learners are not expected to repeat assessments that have already been completed using the adapted approach. VARCS processes and marking/grading criteria will be used to determine the final judgements made by internal and/or external assessors. Should further evidence be required before a final judgement can be made, the internal and/or external assessor will follow the guidance already outlined in the full assessment pack.
[1] With the exception of Level 4 Preparing for Leadership and Management HSC/CCPLD (8040-09/8041-16) wherein the requirement is a qualified and occupationally knowledgeable assessor
[2] With the exception of Level 4 Preparing for Leadership and Management HSC/CCPLD (8040-09/8041-16) wherein the requirement is a qualified and occupationally knowledgeable assessor
Useful Links
You can also find the latest information about COVID-19 from the following websites: