Childcare Products and Services

Talk to five parents or carers and one centre. Ask what is hardest in the day: safe play, meals, learning aids, after-school care. Write down what they do now, how often and what they pay.

• Pick ONE age group (for example 3 to 5 years). Needs change fast with age.
• Separate what adults say they want from what children can safely do.
• Check the price range: note three similar offers and their prices in your currency.

Activity. Interview five adults and write a one-page idea: age group, offer, place, price you hope for.

Standard to meet. Record five interviews, choose one age group and compare three price points.

Safe design starts with the age range. Small parts, sharp edges, long cords, unsafe materials and unsupervised water are the main hazards.

• Choking: anything that fits through a tube the size of a toilet-roll core is unsafe for under-threes.
• Materials: non-toxic, washable, no loose paint or small magnets. Check your country's product-safety rules.
• Design for what the child can do: 2-3 year olds grasp and stack; 4-5 year olds follow two-step games.
• Write the supervision ratio your local authority expects and plan to exceed it in the pilot.

Activity. Write a one-page safety checklist for your product or session and mark each line pass or fix.

Standard to meet. Give every hazard a control, and have the trained adult in charge sign the checklist.

Design a 45-minute play-based session or a first product. Learning through play means the activity is the lesson.

• Structure: welcome (5 min), main play (20), quiet activity (10), tidy and goodbye (10).
• Write the learning aim as one verb and one measure: "Count to 5 with objects" and note how many reach it.
• Plan B: what you do if the group is tired, loud or one child is upset.
• Safeguarding: never be alone with a child; always a second adult; know whom to tell and how to record a concern.

Activity. Write the full session plan or product spec with checklist, plan B and materials list with costs.

Standard to meet. Plan fits 45 minutes; safety checklist attached; costs listed with currency.

Safeguarding means protecting children from harm. You teach the awareness here; local law and your partner centre set the rules.

• Know the reporting route: who to tell, in what time, and how to record facts only.
• Never promise to keep a secret; never be alone with a child; never take photos without written permission.
• Talk to parents in plain words: what happened, what we did, one next step.
• Keep personal data minimal and locked.

Activity. Write your parent note and a one-page safeguarding rule card for helpers.

Standard to meet. Write a note under 80 words that is factual, and name the reporting person on the card.

Run the session or product trial with the partner centre. A trained adult is always present and in charge.

• Before: check the room, the checklist and the first-aid kit location.
• During: observe more than you talk; write quick notes, not names in public files.
• After: clean up, record any near miss, and thank the staff.
• Collect parent feedback with three simple questions.

Activity. Run the pilot; keep the checklist, observation notes and feedback forms.

Standard to meet. Pilot happened with a trained adult; all notes dated; one improvement made.

Value comes when parents see learning and the price covers cost.

• Cost per child = (materials + helper time + room + insurance share) ÷ children.
• Margin = (price − cost) ÷ price.
• Read feedback for patterns: three parents say the same thing, change it.
• Compare your price to the three you found in module 1.

Activity. Build the cost sheet and compute cost per child and margin; decide: keep, change or stop.

Standard to meet. Give every cost line a currency and write the decision with a reason.

Turn the pilot into a repeatable offer.

• Write the final session plan, safety checklist and a one-page parent leaflet.
• Set a schedule, number of places and cancellation rule.
• Check legal needs with the local authority: registration, insurance, background checks.
• Plan how you will find the next ten families.

Activity. Produce the final offer pack and a 90-day plan.

Standard to meet. Pack is complete; the 90-day plan names who, what, when.

Present your evidence and give peer feedback.

• Show: need, safety checklist, plan, pilot notes, feedback, costing, decision.
• Give two peers one strength and one fix each.
• Take the 10-question check.
• Choose a follow-on: Online Sales or IT Business.

Activity. Present for 8 minutes, then answer three questions: what you changed after the pilot, what you would stop, and how many children one adult can supervise.

Standard to meet. Score all rubric lines at 3 or more and give the weakest line a dated fix.

On the slide: L1 Basic · Who needs childcare help. Focus module: Find a real need (Understand, 6 h). Talk to five parents or carers and one centre. Ask what is hardest in the day: safe play, meals, learning aids, after-school care. Write down what they do now, how often and what they pay. Key points: Pick ONE age group (for example 3 to 5 years). Needs change fast with age. Separate what adults say they want from what children can safely do. Check the price range: note three similar offers and their prices in your currency.

Notes: Describe a real family need. Notes: parents of 3 and 4 year olds want a 45-minute weekend session. Teach: open with the worked example. Need found: parents of 3-4 year olds want a 45-minute weekend play session for 8 children that is calm, safe and teaches colours and counting. Three local sessions charge EUR 12 to 20 per child. Then set the activity: Interview five adults and write a one-page idea: age group, offer, place, price you hope for. Mark against the standard: Record five interviews, choose one age group and compare three price points. Check at this level: Why choose one age group? Model answer: Needs and safe design change quickly with age.

On the slide: L2 Awareness · Safe products. Focus module: Safety standards and age-appropriate design (Analyse, 6 h). Safe design starts with the age range. Small parts, sharp edges, long cords, unsafe materials and unsupervised water are the main hazards. Key points: Choking: anything that fits through a tube the size of a toilet-roll core is unsafe for under-threes. Materials: non-toxic, washable, no loose paint or small magnets. Check your country's product-safety rules. Design for what the child can do: 2-3 year olds grasp and stack; 4-5 year olds follow two-step games. Write the supervision ratio your local authority expects and plan to exceed it in the pilot.

Notes: Check size, paint and age fit. Notes: pieces must be larger than the choking size; water-based paint only. Teach: open with the worked example. A wooden counting set for 3-year-olds: pieces larger than the choking size, water-based paint, rounded corners, tested by pulling and dropping. Label: age 3+. Then set the activity: Write a one-page safety checklist for your product or session and mark each line pass or fix. Mark against the standard: Give every hazard a control, and have the trained adult in charge sign the checklist. Check at this level: Name three hazards for children under 3. Model answer: Small parts that can be swallowed, long cords and unsafe water or heat.

On the slide: L3 Foundation · Plan a supervised session. Focus module: Build the first version (Apply, 35 h). Design a 45-minute play-based session or a first product. Learning through play means the activity is the lesson. Key points: Structure: welcome (5 min), main play (20), quiet activity (10), tidy and goodbye (10). Write the learning aim as one verb and one measure: "Count to 5 with objects" and note how many reach it. Plan B: what you do if the group is tired, loud or one child is upset. Safeguarding: never be alone with a child; always a second adult; know whom to tell and how to record a concern.

Notes: Write a simple activity plan with an aim. Notes: "Colour hunt" with 10 hidden cards; aim to name colours. Teach: open with the worked example. Session plan "Colour hunt": hide 10 coloured cards, children find and sort by colour. Aim: name 4 colours. Plan B: seated sorting game. Ratio planned: 1 adult for 4 children. Then set the activity: Write the full session plan or product spec with checklist, plan B and materials list with costs. Mark against the standard: Plan fits 45 minutes; safety checklist attached; costs listed with currency. Check at this level: Write a learning aim with a measure. Model answer: "Count to 5 using objects" and note how many children manage it.

On the slide: L4 Practitioner · Run a pilot with safeguarding. Focus module: Run the supervised pilot (Analyse, 35 h). Run the session or product trial with the partner centre. A trained adult is always present and in charge. Key points: Before: check the room, the checklist and the first-aid kit location. During: observe more than you talk; write quick notes, not names in public files. After: clean up, record any near miss, and thank the staff. Collect parent feedback with three simple questions.

Notes: Run the pilot with a trained adult and clear parent notes. Notes: 8 children, 7 stayed, one near miss logged. Teach: open with the worked example. Pilot result: 8 children, 7 stayed for 45 minutes, 6 counted to 4 or more. One near miss: a chair too close to the door. Fixed by moving it. Then set the activity: Run the pilot; keep the checklist, observation notes and feedback forms. Mark against the standard: Pilot happened with a trained adult; all notes dated; one improvement made. Check at this level: Why record near misses? Model answer: They show hazards before anyone is harmed.

On the slide: L5 Specialist · Cost and price. Focus module: Feedback, costing and price (Evaluate, 14 h). Value comes when parents see learning and the price covers cost. Key points: Cost per child = (materials + helper time + room + insurance share) ÷ children. Margin = (price − cost) ÷ price. Read feedback for patterns: three parents say the same thing, change it. Compare your price to the three you found in module 1.

Notes: Work out cost per child. Notes: EUR 130 for 8 children is EUR 16.25 each; set a price above it. Teach: open with the worked example. Cost: materials EUR 40, helper time EUR 60, room EUR 30 (total EUR 130) for 8 children = EUR 16.25 per child. Price EUR 20 gives a margin of 18.75%. Parents said the session was a little long: shorten the quiet time. Then set the activity: Build the cost sheet and compute cost per child and margin; decide: keep, change or stop. Mark against the standard: Give every cost line a currency and write the decision with a reason. Check at this level: Compute cost per child: EUR 130 cost, 8 children. Model answer: EUR 16.25.

On the slide: L6 Advanced · Lead quality and safeguarding. Focus module: Safeguarding and communication (Apply, 10 h). Safeguarding means protecting children from harm. You teach the awareness here; local law and your partner centre set the rules. Key points: Know the reporting route: who to tell, in what time, and how to record facts only. Never promise to keep a secret; never be alone with a child; never take photos without written permission. Talk to parents in plain words: what happened, what we did, one next step. Keep personal data minimal and locked.

Notes: Review incidents and feedback. Notes: sample the near-miss log and the parent notes. Teach: open with the worked example. A parent note after the pilot: "Today the group practised counting to 5 with blocks. One child counted to 4 and asked for more. At home you could count stairs together." Then set the activity: Write your parent note and a one-page safeguarding rule card for helpers. Mark against the standard: Write a note under 80 words that is factual, and name the reporting person on the card. Check at this level: Two safeguarding rules for helpers. Model answer: Never be alone with a child; know and use the reporting route.

On the slide: L7 Super expert · Design a childcare service. Focus module: Improve and prepare to offer it (Create, 28 h). Turn the pilot into a repeatable offer. Key points: Write the final session plan, safety checklist and a one-page parent leaflet. Set a schedule, number of places and cancellation rule. Check legal needs with the local authority: registration, insurance, background checks. Plan how you will find the next ten families.

Notes: Plan offers, staffing and checks. Notes: EUR 20 per child, 8 places, refund if cancelled 24 hours before; check legal rules with an adviser. Teach: open with the worked example. Offer card: Saturday 10:00, 8 places, EUR 20 per child, ages 3 to 5, refund if cancelled 24 hours before. Then set the activity: Produce the final offer pack and a 90-day plan. Mark against the standard: Pack is complete; the 90-day plan names who, what, when.