Health and Social Care Curriculum Overview
At Forge Valley School, we believe that Health and Social Care plays a vital role in helping pupils understand the wide range of professions and services that support individuals and communities. Our curriculum introduces pupils to the roles, responsibilities and core values that underpin work in the health, social care and early years sectors. Pupils develop a strong foundation of knowledge drawn from human biology, psychology, sociology and key aspects of legislation—essential understanding for anyone aspiring to work with and support others.
Throughout the course, pupils are explicitly taught key study skills that support success across Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5. They learn how to research effectively, organise their work, communicate confidently with a range of people, present information clearly and meet deadlines—a crucial skill for both academic progress and future employment. Pupils also develop empathy, professionalism, resilience and the ability to work collaboratively, qualities that are central to the ethos of health and social care profession.
Our ambition is to inspire pupils to pursue careers that make a positive difference. By developing their knowledge, practical understanding and transferable skills, we aim to equip them with the confidence and capability to progress into further study, apprenticeships or employment within the health, social care and early years sectors. Ultimately, our curriculum supports pupils in becoming thoughtful, compassionate individuals ready to contribute to the wellbeing of others.
Supporting your child in Health & Social Care doesn’t require specialist knowledge. Much of the course is rooted in everyday life, relationships and real‑world situations. Here are practical ways parents and carers can help at home.
Talk About Real-Life Care Situations
Health & Social Care is full of real examples and scenarios. You can support your child by discussing:
- News stories about healthcare, mental health or social care
- How different professionals support people (nurses, social workers, early years practitioners, etc.)
- The importance of care values such as respect, dignity, confidentiality and empathy
These conversations help them apply classroom learning to real contexts.
Encourage Revision of Key Terms and Concepts
The course includes important terminology linked to development, care values, legislation and health factors. You can help by:
- Quizzing them with flashcards
- Encouraging short, regular revision sessions
- Helping them explain what key terms mean in their own words
Learning vocabulary is essential for both written tasks and assessments.
Support with Coursework Organisation
Health & Social Care often includes coursework where pupils must:
- Research
- Plan
- Organise information
- Meet deadlines
You can support by:
- Helping them break tasks into smaller steps
- Encouraging them to keep notes and resources tidy
- Providing a quiet space to complete written work
Good organisation is key to success.
Encourage Them to Practise Communication Skills
Communication is a core part of the course. Encourage your child to:
- Explain their ideas clearly
- Talk about how professionals communicate with different people
- Practise active listening
- Build confidence in speaking to different audiences
These are real skills used in care settings and in coursework scenarios.
Discuss Health and Wellbeing at Home
Support their learning by talking about:
- Physical and emotional wellbeing
- Healthy lifestyles
- Factors that affect development (diet, environment, relationships, finances, etc.)
- How support services help people at different life stages
This helps them understand the content in a relatable way.
Make Use of External Resources
Encourage your child to explore:
- NHS website pages covering conditions, services and patient care
- Videos on child development, ageing, or health services
- Revision guides recommended by their teacher
Real examples improve understanding and help them answer scenario‑based questions.
Attend School Events and Stay in Contact
Keep in touch with the Health & Social Care team—especially if your child:
- Needs help managing deadlines
- Is unsure about a topic
- Would benefit from extra support materials
Teachers can provide revision resources, explain assessment criteria and offer guidance.
Encourage Positive Study Habits
Help your child maintain:
- A quiet work environment
- Balanced revision periods with breaks
- Healthy sleep and routine
- A positive mindset during coursework and assessments
A calm, organised approach makes a big difference to their confidence.
At Key Stage 4 and 5, the Physical, Intellectual, Emotional and Social (PIES) aspects of development and growth are embedded within all aspects of their studies and pupils endeavour to relate these to all new subject matter such as nutrition, physiological disorders or the care values.
A diverse range of topics are studied at Key Stage 5, enabling pupils to explore subject matter which will shape their future career choices. They will be taught key workplace skills such as infection prevention and control methods and knowledge of policies, legislation and workplace practice.
For our aspiring health and social care professionals we aim to provide them with a clear pathway enabling them successful progression into these careers. For those who choose a different career path at the end of their time with us, we aim to feel satisfied that they have developed and refined important vocational skills in our subject area that will assist them in making a success of whatever their chosen career maybe.
Resources
Access a wide range of resources, homework support, step-by-step tutorials, and in-depth content to support GCSE learning and exam success.
