LNF Cymru Literacy and numeracy for Wales

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Foundation Health and Social Care, and Childcare

Foundation Health and Social Care, and Childcare is a two-year, two-unit Work-Related Foundation Qualification for learners aged 14 to 16 working at Entry Level or Level 1. Every learner takes Unit 1 on the sectors, communication, safeguarding and wellbeing, then either Unit 2 Adult Health and Social Care or Unit 3 Childcare, all assessed through a teacher-set portfolio moderated by WJEC. Literacy runs through everything: Unit 1 has a whole learning outcome on communicating with children and adults in Welsh or English, and evidence comes from role-plays, presentations, case studies, reports, leaflets and blogs. Numeracy is light and sits mainly in Unit 3, in child development milestones by age and in snack and mealtime tasks, with some planning of meals and daily routines in Unit 2.

Awarding body
WJEC
Level
Entry Level and Level 1
First taught
September 2027
Amount of literacy work
High
Amount of numeracy work
Low
Specification
Open the specification
How this qualification is assessed
  • Unit 1: Introduction to the Health and Social Care and Childcare sector, and Basic Safeguarding: Compulsory, taught first. Centre marked non-examination assessment, a portfolio of evidence from teacher-set tasks, maximum assessment time 12 hours (typically 9 to 12 hours), 52 of the 120 qualification points, assessed in centre and moderated by WJEC. 48 guided learning hours, first moderated summer 2028.
  • Unit 2: Adult Health and Social Care: Optional, taken instead of Unit 3. Centre marked non-examination assessment, a portfolio of evidence from teacher-set tasks, maximum assessment time 18 hours (typically 14 to 18 hours), 68 of the 120 qualification points, assessed in centre and moderated by WJEC. 72 guided learning hours, first moderated summer 2029.
  • Unit 3: Childcare: Optional, taken instead of Unit 2. Centre marked non-examination assessment, a portfolio of evidence from teacher-set tasks, maximum assessment time 18 hours (typically 14 to 18 hours), 68 of the 120 qualification points, assessed in centre and moderated by WJEC. 72 guided learning hours, first moderated summer 2029.

Skills that use Vocabulary, spelling, grammar

  1. Using care sector vocabulary accurately

    Assessed: In coursework (non-examination assessment, NEA)

    Learners match, state and use the terms of the sector, including safeguarding, adult at risk and child at risk, the five types of abuse, PILES, person-centred and outcome-focused care, and equality, diversity and inclusion. Entry level criteria often ask learners to match definitions to terms, and Level 1 asks them to use the terms in explanations.

    Literacy: Vocabulary, spelling, grammar, Clarity and vocabulary

    Getting pupils ready

    Year 7
    Pupils match ten health words, such as hygiene, wellbeing and diet, to their meanings and use three of them in sentences.
    Year 8
    Pupils keep a glossary of health and care terms in their book, spelling each correctly and writing an example for each.
    Year 9
    Pupils explain a short care scenario using at least five sector terms, such as person-centred, safeguarding and independence, checking spelling and meaning with the glossary.
    Show the specification wording and the LNF statements

    Where it is in the specification: Unit 1, assessment criteria 1.3.1 and 1.3.2, page 18; example tasks LO1.3, page 21; Unit 2, assessment criteria 2.1.1 and 2.2.2, pages 29 and 30

    “match the correct definition to the correct term”
    Progression step 3

    • I can use varied, appropriate and precise vocabulary including area of learning and experience/discipline-specific words for different purposes.

    • I can express issues and ideas clearly using area of learning and experience/discipline-specific vocabulary and examples.

    Progression step 4

    • I have experienced a range of area of learning and experience/discipline-specific and general academic vocabulary, and can use them in my own communication.

    • I can use a variety of strategies and resources to spell familiar and unfamiliar vocabulary and area of learning and experience/discipline-specific words correctly.

Good to know

Links with other qualifications

The specification names GCSE Health and Social Care, and Childcare as the next step, and the two share the same structure: a sector and wellbeing unit, then Adult Health and Social Care or Childcare. There is no WJEC VCSE in this subject. The GCSE steps the literacy up from short spoken and written tasks to an examination and two 12 hour NEA units that need organised, evaluative writing, close reading of case studies and a researched childcare investigation, and its numeracy adds physiological measurements, wellbeing statistics and surveys. The Foundation communication, case study and report work prepares for that. Communication and role-play link with English or Cymraeg oracy, and meal planning with Food and Nutrition.

Source: WJEC Entry Level/Level 1 Foundation Health and Social Care, and Childcare specification, approved by Qualifications Wales, teaching from September 2027, for award from 2029 (© WJEC CBAC Ltd 2026).