Working with Babies and Young Children Under 2 Years NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award

• Understand the full statutory and welfare requirements for caring for babies and very young children, as outlined in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) — including safeguarding, health and safety, staff-to-child ratios.

• Recognise typical holistic development in children from birth to 2 years — including physical, social-emotional, cognitive, language/communication, and neurological development — and how early experiences (pre-birth, birth, infancy) may influence individual needs.

• Know how to work collaboratively with parents, carers, colleagues, and other professionals — communicate sensitively, share accurate information, maintain records, and advocate for the babies’ needs.

• Provide high-quality, responsive care in real settings, including physical care (feeding, nutrition, sleep, hygiene, physical activity), emotional care, and creating a safe and nurturing environment that evolves to suit babies’ developmental stages (mobile vs non-mobile), ensuring inclusion and respect for each child’s individuality.

• Support early learning and development for under-2s: plan and offer stimulating, enabling, and inclusive environments and interactions; promote communication and language; encourage positive physical, social, and cognitive development; and evaluate how everyday experiences support growth.

• Reflect on and review your own practice: use evidence-based approaches, observe and assess your care practices, and share best practices with others — improving the quality of care for babies under 2 in early years settings.