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'It's Child's Play: An Interactive programme on early years care and education'

B.C Consultants  and Borders College £175

Available from Pavillion Publishing

www.pavpub.com

Star Rating: 3/5

This 4 CD pack is a support tool for child care students studying at NVQ levels 2 and 3. The programme is accessible to users with basic computer skills, with clear instructions are provided throughout.

The programme covers the following themes: Child Health, Play Environment, Parents as Partners, Children's Behaviour, Child Development, Children's Play, Planning and Observing and Child Protection.

Each easy-to-use CD covers two themes, each is divided into four sub-themes. Each sub-theme consists of simultaneous written and spoken text covering the main points, linked activities, supporting photographs, as well as help and information points.

Although not a stand-alone study guide, the programme gives a good basic grounding in the underpinning knowledge needed at NVQ levels 2 and 3. It provides ideal opportunities for independent study and will appeal to a range of learning styles - for example there is an audio on / audio off facility on all the text pages and you can go straight to the activities without viewing the main text.

The linked activities extend the main teaching points and many are challenging and encourage the students to think beyond the text.  The photographs and short video clips reflect a range of childcare situations, including home based childcare - these alone are a valuable resource allowing students a peep into many different settings.

The only minor concern is that the programme was produced in Scotland and some information regarding legislation is misleading, as it does not reflect Ofsted requirements for England.  

Karen Hudson Head of Centre, Coquet Early Excellence Centre.