Early Child Development Foundation Online Course
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Our Early Child Development - Foundation course looks to educate learners on various issues that may affect child development. Topics within the course include the stages of development, attachment, vulnerabilities and resilience and the importance of child development. From these topics learners will be equipped with the relevant knowledge to be able to adapt their working practices in relation to child development.
Course Level: Introductory Course
4 Modules (Duration: 1-2 CPD Hours)
Accreditation: CPD Certified
Certificate: Self-Printed Certificate
Last Updated: 31st October 2025
Description
Understanding the importance of early childhood development allows those who work with children as part of their professional role the opportunity to adapt their working practices in a way that improves outcomes for parents and children.
This 1-2 hour early child development course explores how early experiences and relationships can affect and help to mould children into happy adults later in life. Understand the main issues around development including the theories and factors that impact upon it that affect the journey of every child’s development.
All of our courses are created with the learner in mind, allowing them to learn at their own pace. As we know that some of the topics included in this course are sensitive, a safe space has been added with options to take a break or to talk to someone with a list of organisations and contact information.
Lesson Plan
Areas covered include:
- Definitions used within Early Child Development (i.e. Biological Development)
- Theories (i.e. Nature vs Nurture)
- Stages of development
- Attachment
- Vulnerabilities and resilience
- The importance of child development
Throughout the child care course, learners will be challenged to check their knowledge of certain topic areas.
Accreditation
The content of this early child development training has been independently certified as conforming to universally accepted Continuous Professional Development (CPD) guidelines.
Certification
On completion of this baby development course, learners will be able to download a CPD-approved Virtual College certificate.
Guidance
The following guidance is mentioned throughout:
- Working together to safeguard children 2018
- Early Years Workforce Strategy 2017
- The protection of children in England 2009
Duration
This child development training course takes approximately 1 - 2 hours to complete. The length of time taken depends entirely on how quickly learners can study and absorb the material.
Learners can proceed as quickly or slowly as they like, and there is no limit on how long they can take to do the course, their progress will be saved automatically as they work through the training.
Target Audience
This early years child development training course is aimed primarily at authorised practitioners who work with children, young people and families, including Teachers; Midwives and Health Visitors; Youth Services and Connexions; Family Support Workers; Childminders; Social Workers; Voluntary and Community Groups; Early Years and Play Workers, amongst others.
Entry Requirements
There are no specific entry requirements for this early child development course.
What training can I complete next?
We offer a wide range of online courses, including Safer Sleeping for Babies and Working with Children with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities, which are perfect for healthcare professionals responsible for children and young people.
What you'll learn
- Describe the main theoretical concepts linked to child development
- Evaluate information relating to the physical, intellectual, linguistic, social (including sexual) and emotional development of children and young people
- Recognise factors that may affect development
- Recognise factors that may affect how early development impacts on future resilience and vulnerability factors in adolescence
- Explore attachment to identify how children develop secure relationships with their carers
- Consider effective practice in relation to child development
Suitable for
- Authorised practitioners who work with children, young people and families
- Teachers
- Midwives and Health Visitors
- Youth Services and Connexions
- Family Support Workers
- Childminders
- Social Workers
- Voluntary and Community Groups
- Early Years and Play Workers
- Many more
Course Structure
Child development highlights the importance of a wide range of factors that affect the individual pathway along which each child develops. Here the training looks at why every child is unique, the importance of child development, definitions, domains and theories, the different stages of development and the factors involved in each stage.
Certification
Self-Printed Certificate Option
Upon completion of the course, a digital certificate will be available to download instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Children grow and develop rapidly in their first five years across the four main areas of development.
These areas are motor (physical), language and communication, cognitive and social/emotional.
See the examples below:
- gross motor skills, for example crawling, jumping or running
- fine motor skills, such as writing and drawing
- speech and language
- cognitive and intellectual, such as counting or identifying shapes
- social and emotional skills, such as playing with other children
Recent Reviews
12th December 2025
Timely
Timely, with minimal delay in being able to access the course at a time that suited me. The modules flowed into each other smoothly, and I could soon see the practical benefit of the knowledge gained.
11th December 2025
Easy to study
The course was easy to follow. Easy to register Easy to study
11th December 2025
Easy to access
Easy to access, all relevant information available
8th December 2025
Booking was easy the website had all…
Booking was easy the website had all the information I needed so once I booked the package I then received notification to allocate the spaces, which again was really simple to do, our staff will be doing this training on the January training day, but if they wanted to do it before they now could so for staff who work part time it's perfect.
8th December 2025
Easily accessible.
Easily accessible.
7th December 2025
Virtual College courses often come with accredited certificates, which can help with career progression or meeting workplace requirements.
. My experience was greatly enhanced by being able to find exactly what I needed. Virtual College is providing us with valuable opportunities to continue our professional development.
6th December 2025
Easy instructions
Easy instructions
6th December 2025
Virtual college as made me more…
Virtual college as made me more confident
4th December 2025
Don't rush
Ease of layout, also can revert back should you be unsure of content of lesson and there is the ability to make notes on the system although I still use paper and pen.88
3rd December 2025
My overall experience was great.
My experience was great due to the flow and ease of the course. It was interactive and I found it to be enjoyable.
Excellent
4.8 out of 5
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