Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory

The Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory qualification combines theoretical knowledge in children's care, play, learning and development with the practical skills needed to work within the sector.

It is designed for post-16 learners in further education who are:

• interested in working in a support role in the childcare sector
• studying, or have completed Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Core qualification
• returning to the workforce after a career break looking to refresh their knowledge and skills in the Childcare sector

This qualification is suitable for learners who have no previous knowledge of the children's care, play, learning and development sectors or who have achieved a Level 1 qualification.

Learners who have not yet completed the Level 2 Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development: Core qualifications are strongly advised to do so prior to or alongside this qualification.

This qualification allows learners to develop the knowledge and skills required for employment and/or career progression in childcare or health settings.

It combines both practice units that are assessed within the workplace with additional theoretical knowledge. The practice element of this qualification mirrors that of the Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice qualification.

Topics include:

• supporting core practice in children’s care, play, learning and development
• supporting play, learning, growth and development
• supporting nutrition and hydration in early years
• responding to signs of potential illness and infestation/infection
• children’s health, well-being and development, 0-19 years, and factors that support health, well-being and development
• the role and value of social care, education and health services available in Wales to support with children's care, health, well-being and development needs

Learners are required to complete a minimum of 280 hours of work placement to achieve this qualification.

The Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory is credit based and allows learners to combine mandatory units with a wide-range of optional units depending on their work placement or future career aspirations.

The mandatory practice based units are:

Plus the following mandatory theory unit:

The Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory qualification is assessed through 90% internal assessment and 10% external assessment.

Candidates must successfully complete:

• an externally set, internally marked set of tasks
• a portfolio of evidence
• a discussion with their assessor
• an external examination (assessing content from Unit 216).

An assessment pack detailing the requirements of the internal assessment can be downloaded from the key documents and supporting materials tab of the qualification page on the website.

Completion of the Level 2 Children's Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory qualification will allow learners to work as a qualified Level 2 Childcare worker in a supervised capacity. Learners may also choose to progress to the following qualifications:

• Level 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice
• Level 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory
• Level 3 GCE in Health and Social Care, and Childcare