Guidance for centres delivering the BTEC Childrens Play, Learning Development with the co-assessment of CYPW

Checklist: 10 top tips for success

Following a series of consultations and CYPW portfolio reviews, we hope this checklist will help BTEC Children’s Play, Learning & Development (CPLD) centres with the co-assessment of CYPW.

1. Your CYPW Assessor must be familiar with the CYPW units and assessment criteria.
   
2. You must employ a qualified Internal Verifier (see list of acceptable qualifications).
   
3. Use the Pearson Master Mapping Grid for tracking learner achievement – this identifies opportunities for using CPLD evidence also and lists the CYPW criteria by unit.
4. Be clear about how you log the evidence – are you using BTEC Unit numbers or Sector Skills Council numbers? This is important as it can be confusing for Standards Verifiers if this is not clear. Both are acceptable, but you must use both the unit number and performance criterion number at all times, e.g. ‘8.3.3’ = Unit 8, criterion 3.3. ‘3.3’ alone will not be acceptable.
   
5. Observation records must be a true account of what was seen during the visit. This is why you must plan these to make best use of time and opportunities, and again the criteria must be referenced to the observation as above. Feedback to learners at the end of the visit must be recorded and activities for the next visit agreed.
   
6. The age of the children and duration of the visit must be recorded on the observation record.
   
7. CPLD assignments presented in the portfolio must have an assessment front sheet showing feedback to the learner and confirming achievement. The assignment brief must be included along with internal verification documentation so that the CYPW Standards Verifier can decide if the decisions made against CYPW criteria are valid. All evidence should be authenticated by the learner.
   
8. Learner observations must be assessed so that this important skill can be developed and any relevant evidence used.
   
9. Any learner-initiated activities at placement must be assessed and feedback given. These could contribute to many units within CYPW and, if endorsed by the tutor or placement supervisor, will provide valid and reliable evidence.
   
10. Learner reflections – as above, but also make a significant contribution to Unit 11 Reflective Practice, which is an externally assessed unit in CPLD.