What you will learn:

• The stages of physical development from birth to age five

• The difference between fine and gross motor skills

• How to create safe, engaging environments that encourage movement

• Practical activities to support balance, coordination, and strength

• The link between physical development and cognitive, emotional, and social growth

• Strategies for observing, tracking, and supporting developmental progress

By the end of this Level 1 course, you’ll have the knowledge and tools to actively support physical development in early years settings — helping every child move, play, and grow with confidence.

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This course is suitable for all staff in the early years. It’s 100% free, CPD-aligned, and includes a certificate upon completion.

What you’ll learn:

• Definitions and types of violence affecting children globally

• International legal frameworks (e.g. UNCRC)

• Socio-cultural influences and risk factors

• Impact of violence on child development and mental health

• Prevention strategies and trauma-informed care

• Role of professionals in safeguarding and advocacy

Flexible, free, and certificate-based, this course supports your professional development while contributing to a safer, more just world for children.

What you will learn:

• How babies express needs, feelings, and preferences

• The role of responsive caregiving and emotional attunement

• Supporting early communication and secure attachment

• Creating nurturing, listening-rich environments in early years settings

• Respecting babies as individuals with rights and agency

Ideal for early years practitioners, nursery staff, and anyone working with infants, this course promotes a deeper awareness of how to truly “hear” babies and support their development from day one.

What you will learn:

• Definitions and types of families in today’s society

• How family structures have evolved over time

• The influence of culture, class, and gender on family life

• Roles and responsibilities within families

• How social policy and services support family wellbeing

• The impact of family life on child development and outcomes

This course is ideal for childcare professionals, social care staff, educators, and anyone looking to deepen their understanding of the family unit within a wider social context.

What you will learn:

• What attachment is and why it matters

• Types of attachment and their characteristics

• The role of caregivers in developing secure bonds

• How early attachment affects behaviour, learning, and resilience

• Supporting children with insecure or disrupted attachments

• Creating emotionally safe, responsive environments in early years settings

This course is ideal for nursery practitioners, childminders, foster carers, and anyone working with young children. Strengthen your understanding of how love, consistency, and trust in the early years shape lifelong wellbeing.

What you will learn:

• How play supports brain development and learning

• Types of play: sensory, symbolic, physical, social, and imaginative

• The role of adults in facilitating meaningful play

• How play builds memory, language, self-regulation, and problem-solving

• Creating rich play environments that nurture curiosity and confidence

• Recognising and valuing play as essential, not optional

Perfect for early years educators, childcare professionals, and parents, this course equips you with insights and strategies to harness the full learning potential of play.

What you will learn:

• What ADHD is and how it presents in children and young people

• Common myths and misconceptions

• The impact of ADHD on daily life, relationships, and learning

• Strategies for support in care, school, and home settings

• Promoting strengths, self-regulation, and self-esteem

• Working in partnership with families and professionals

This course is ideal for early years staff, educators, care providers, and parents. Gain the tools to create supportive, understanding environments where children with ADHD can thrive.

What you will learn:

• The legal and ethical basis for participation (e.g. UNCRC)

• Benefits of meaningful involvement for children and services

• Techniques to encourage active listening and communication

• How to create safe spaces for expression and feedback

• Overcoming barriers to participation

• Real-world strategies for embedding youth voice in everyday practice

This course is ideal for educators, care workers, youth support staff, and anyone working directly with children and young people. Learn how to move from “doing for” to “doing with” — and help shape a more inclusive future.