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Home Economics - Child Development Levels:

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The specification is designed to give candidates an opportunity to extend and apply their skills, knowledge and understanding of the development and care of children from conception to the age of five years. It promotes an understanding of the social, emotional, physical and intellectual development of the child which is inter-linked through the study of the family, community and the responsibilities of parenthood.

NEW: WJEC linear GCSE Home Economics (Child Development) approved

In common with other awarding organisations, WJEC was recently asked to revise GCSE specifications to make the assessment linear.

We are pleased to announce that the WJEC linear GCSE specification in Home Economics (Child Development) has been approved by the regulators.

The subject content remains exactly the same. The only difference is that in linear specifications all examinations must be taken at the end of course. You may view the revised specification here.

Main points:

ALL centres in England will be required to use linear GCSE specifications from first award in 2014 (first teaching of two-year courses in September 2012).

In Wales, centres will be able to choose to follow either of the two options available for courses starting from September 2012:

  • linear specifications (first award summer 2014), where candidates sit all their examinations at the end of the course
  • existing unitised specifications where assessment may be taken in separate units at stages during the course as is currently the case

Key Documents

Controlled Assessment

Child Development: for delivery from September 2012

Unit 2 - Child Study (30%) Please note there is no change to the tasks.

Candidates will complete one investigative task chosen from the following bank of tasks. The task must focus on a child 0-5 years and the time allocation for this task is 15 hours.

  1. Every child experiences a wide range of physical development during early childhood. Undertake a study of a young child to research this area of development.
  2. The emotional and social development of a child is closely linked to both the nature and nurture of the child. Undertake a study of a young child to research these areas of development.
  3. Numeracy and verbal skills begin to develop in early childhood. Undertake a study of a young child to research these areas of development.

Unit 3: Child Focused Task (30%) The new task is highlighted in bold.

Candidates will complete one task chosen from the following two tasks. The task must be aimed at children 0-5 years and the time allocation for this task is 15 hours.

  1. Socialisation is an important aspect of children growing up within the family. Identify and investigate a range of social skills which can be acquired within the home. Plan and make an item that will help a child achieve a social skill.
  2. Introducing young children to a variety of foods is important to ensure a healthy and varied diet later in life. Identify and investigate foods from other cultures that may be introduced into a chlid's diet. Plan and make a selection of foods that will add variety to the diet of a young child.

Resources

  • Past papers and marking schemes are available free of charge to teaching staff on our Secure Website.
  • Presentation explaining the use of item level data from WJEC examinations.
  • Further resources are available through our Online Shop.

Continuing Professional Development

Dates for internal assessment standardising CPD for the next academic year will be published shortly. Examination review will be provided online; further details will be issued in due course.

For further information, please contact

Allison Candy - Subject Officer 
Telephone: 029 2026 5093
E-mail: allison.candy@wjec.co.uk

Jeana Hayes - Subject Support Officer
Telephone: 029 2026 5115
E-mail: jeana.hayes@wjec.co.uk

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