An ambitious and inclusive Health and Social Care curriculum

Powerful knowledge about care and development

Pupils develop secure knowledge of care values, human development, communication, safeguarding, health promotion and sources of support. They learn how these principles influence professional practice and the experiences of individuals using care services.

A carefully sequenced learning journey

Learning is carefully sequenced so that pupils build foundational knowledge before applying it to increasingly complex individuals, settings and situations. They progress from understanding principles of care to assessing life events, identifying support and planning health-promotion activity.

Person-centred care

Pupils learn that effective care begins with the individual. They explore how equality, dignity, respect and individual rights should shape the support provided within health and social care settings.

The 6 Cs

Pupils understand the importance of care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment. They consider how these values influence professional behaviour and the quality of care received by individuals.

Human growth and development

Pupils explore how individuals develop physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially across different life stages. They examine the factors and life events that can influence development, health and wellbeing.

Communication and professional practice

Pupils study verbal, non-verbal, written and specialist communication. They examine how effective and ineffective communication can affect relationships, trust, safety and the quality of care.

Safeguarding and protection

Pupils learn how health and social care professionals protect individuals from harm. This includes safeguarding responsibilities, Disclosure and Barring Service checks, infection control and appropriate safety procedures.

Health promotion

Pupils investigate public-health challenges and the role of campaigns in encouraging healthier choices. They plan, deliver and evaluate health-promotion activity for an identified target audience.

Applied and real-world learning

Pupils apply their knowledge through case studies, practical tasks, role play, interviews, support planning and health-promotion work. This helps them connect theoretical knowledge to situations they may encounter in further study or employment.

Assessment that supports improvement

Assessment is linked to the intended curriculum end points and the requirements of the qualification. Teachers use questioning, discussion, classwork, practical activity and formal assessment to identify what pupils know, what they can apply and what they need to improve.

Ambitious and accessible for all

The curriculum is ambitious for every pupil. Teaching uses differentiated resources, visual aids, structured scaffolding, collaborative learning and targeted support to remove barriers while maintaining high expectations.

The impact of the curriculum

Over time, pupils become increasingly knowledgeable, empathetic and confident. They can explain professional care values, understand individual needs, communicate appropriately and apply their learning to realistic health and social care situations. They are prepared for further education, apprenticeships, employment and responsible participation in society.

Health and Social Care curriculum by year

The summaries below set out the main areas of learning, the knowledge and skills pupils will develop, and the intended curriculum end points. They also show how learning prepares pupils for further education, apprenticeships and employment.

Years 10 and 11

Unit R032: Principles of Care in Health and Social Care Settings

What pupils will know and be able to do

• Understand the rights of individuals who use health and social care services.
• Explain the importance of equality, dignity and respect.
• Understand person-centred values and how these shape effective care.
• Apply the 6 Cs of care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment.
• Understand physical, intellectual, emotional and social development.
• Explain how verbal, non-verbal, written and specialist communication is used.
• Assess how effective and ineffective communication can influence care.
• Understand safeguarding responsibilities and procedures.
• Explain the purpose of Disclosure and Barring Service checks.
• Understand the importance of infection control and safe working practices.

How this builds on previous learning

This introduces the essential values, principles and professional responsibilities that underpin effective health and social care.

How this prepares pupils for future learning

This provides the foundation pupils need to understand individual development, life events, sources of support and health promotion.

Unit R033: Supporting Individuals Through Life Events

What pupils will know and be able to do

• Understand how individuals grow and change across different life stages.
• Explain physical, intellectual, emotional and social development.
• Examine the factors that can influence individual development.
• Understand how different life events affect health and wellbeing.
• Explore events including illness, employment changes and bereavement.
• Explain how the effects of life events differ between individuals.
• Identify formal, informal and charitable sources of support.
• Assess how different forms of support can meet individual needs.
• Conduct an appropriate interview to gather relevant information.
• Use information from an interview to create a support plan.

How this builds on previous learning

This applies the values, communication skills and understanding of individual needs developed through the principles of care.

How this prepares pupils for future learning

This prepares pupils to assess individual circumstances, recommend appropriate support and work with greater independence.

Unit R035: Health Promotion

What pupils will know and be able to do

• Understand the purpose of public-health promotion.
• Explore current health challenges and their effects.
• Examine how campaigns encourage healthier lifestyles.
• Identify the needs and characteristics of a target audience.
• Plan an appropriate health-promotion campaign.
• Create suitable health-promotion materials.
• Deliver a campaign to an identified audience.
• Apply effective communication and presentation skills.
• Evaluate the impact of the campaign.
• Reflect on strengths and identify improvements.

How this builds on previous learning

This brings together pupils’ knowledge of communication, individual needs, health, wellbeing and professional responsibility.

How this prepares pupils for future learning

This develops the planning, communication, presentation and reflective skills required for post-16 study and employment.

Post-16

OCR Level 3 Advanced National in Health and Social Care

What pupils will know and be able to do

• Develop a deeper understanding of professional practice.
• Examine issues connected to mental and physical health.
• Understand the responsibilities of health and social care workers.
• Apply knowledge to practical and realistic situations.
• Develop communication, research and reflective skills.
• Complete both examined and coursework-based assessment.
• Work with increasing independence.
• Understand potential progression routes within the sector.

How this builds on previous learning

The course builds on pupils’ understanding of care values, communication, safeguarding, human development, individual support and health promotion.

How this prepares pupils for future learning

It supports progression to higher education, apprenticeships or employment within health, social care and related sectors.