NCFE CACHE Level 1 Certificate in Caring for Children

This CACHE Level 1 Certificate in Caring for Children qualification provides students with the knowledge and the skills needed to care for young children. Learn about a child’s growth, learning, and development. Study the different ways that young children learn; understanding the technological, scientific, and musical activities that are suitable for different age ranges; and how interaction and play can build self-esteem in children. This is a nested qualification, meaning you can choose to study either the award, certificate or diploma. You can then top up your level 1 certificate in caring for children to achieve a diploma qualification.

Course Content

Unit 1: Growth and development of young children (F/601/3408, unit level: 2, GLH: 18 hours; credits: 2)

• Patterns and stages of growth for children from birth up to 5 years and 11 months.
• Factors that influence growth and development from birth up to 5 years and 11 months.
• The importance of diet and exercise for children's growth and development.
• Activities that promote children's physical development.
• Ways to help children to develop their communication and language skills.
• Ways to encourage children to play socially.

Unit 2 Practical health and safety when with young children (H/602/2389, unit level: 1, GLH: 27 hours; credits: 3)

• Health and safety guidance, symbols, or instructions on young children’s equipment and toys.
• Health and safety instructions on cleaning materials that may be found in a house.
• Health and safety rules, guidelines, or instructions when taking children out into the street and to the park.
• Potential hazards to young children in the home.
• Safety features to ensure young children stay safe in the home.
• Safety equipment or controls which help to keep young children safe when going out for a walk, when in a car, and when in a children’s playground.
• Fire safety equipment that is recommended to be in the house.
• Possible fire hazards to young children and adults in a house.
• Own actions to maintain a young child’s safety if there was fire in the house.

Unit 3 Respecting and valuing children (M/601/0116, unit level: 1, GLH: 18 hours; credits: 2)

• Ways to value children as individuals.
• Reasons why children need to be respected as individuals.
• Ways to communicate with children to ensure that they feel valued.
• Behaviour that demonstrates respect and value of children.
• Organisations that promote the rights of children.

Unit 4 Understanding learning and development through play (A/504/0211, unit level: 1, GLH: 27 hours; credits: 3)

• Features of a setting that contributes to a positive learning environment.
• How these features might help children to learn through the use of play activities and strategies.
• Ways in which play can help children’s learning in developmental areas.
• Example of stereotyping in play.
• How a given set of materials, resources or activities can challenge stereotyping and discrimination.

Unit 5 Confidence building for the young child through play (T/601/3406, unit level: entry level 3, GLH: 30, credits: 3)

• Understand the support children need to gain confidence when playing.
• Activities that will help improve a young child's confidence.
• Learn to encourage expression through play.
• How interaction and play can build self-esteem.

Unit 6 Sharing learning experiences with children (Y/601/0109, unit level: 1, GLH: 36, credits: 4)

• The different ways that young children learn.
• Understanding the importance of identifying the different ways of learning.
• Sensory aids to develop the learning of young children.
• How to encourage children to take part.
• Ways in which the natural world can support learning.

Unit 7 Self-development (A/600/3735, unit level: 2, GLH: 24, credits: 3)

• Why self-development and interest is important.
• How self-development contributes to personal achievement.
• Encouraging self-development, weaknesses, and strengths.

Unit 8 Science activities for young children (D/602/2388, unit level: 1, GLH: 27, credits: 3)

• Recommend science activities for young children of different ages.
• Understand why science activities support learning.
• Learn the health and safety risks with science activities.
• Help and advise young children with science activities.

Unit 9 Technology activities for young children (R/602/2386, unit level: 1, GLH: 18, credits: 2)

• Recognise activities and toys within technology for young children.
• Understand which technology activities are suitable for each age range.
• Identify intellectual, physical and language benefits of technology activities.

Unit 10 Musical activities for young children (D/602/2391, unit level: 1 GLH: 18, credits: 2)

• Creative musical activities and games for young children.
• Understand which musical activities are suitable for each age range.
• Identify the benefits of musical activities.
• Encourage interaction within musical games and activities.