The CCEA GCSE Home Economics: Child Development specification is a broad, coherent course on the development of babies and small children (0–5 years). We also offer a GCSE in Home Economics: Food and Nutrition and an Entry Level Home Economics qualification.

It encourages students to develop knowledge, understanding and skills, including practical skills, by focusing on these key areas:

• pregnancy, childbirth and caring for a newborn baby;
• the responsibilities involved in parenting and other family roles; and
• the social, physical, intellectual, communication and emotional development of small children, including their dietary, health and educational needs.

Students develop subject-specific skills such as evaluating feeding options for a baby. They also learn about relevant scientific and technological developments. This course prepares students for further study in child health or education, or the world of work.

This qualification builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills developed through the Science and Technology and Learning for Life and Work Areas of Learning.

There are two written exams, each worth 30% of the overall mark, and one controlled assessment task, worth 40%.

This specification is unitised, so it’s possible to take part of the assessment at the end of the first year of study.

The specification has three units:

• Unit 1: Parenthood, Pregnancy and the Newborn Baby
• Unit 2: The Development of the Child (0-5 Years)
• Unit 3: Investigation Task.