Triple Combination: Level 3 Health & Social Care, Childhood Studies & A Level Psychology

This triple‑skill study route combines A Level Psychology, Level 3 Health & Social Care (AAQ) and Level 3 Early Childhood Development (AAQ) into a single, powerful programme designed for students who want to understand people, support others, and build a career making a positive difference.

Together, these subjects give you a deep understanding of:

• How the mind works and why people behave as they do — from memory and attachment to mental health.
  
  
• How humans grow, develop and experience health across the lifespan, including physical, social and cognitive development.
  
  
• How children learn, develop and thrive from birth to 8 years, including safeguarding and play‑based learning.

This combined pathway blends scientific thinking, applied care practice and developmental expertise, preparing you for a wide range of people‑focused careers.

A powerful combination of subjects.

Studying psychology, health & social care and childhood development together gives you a strong foundation for careers where understanding, supporting and advocating for people is key.

Psychology builds critical thinking, analysis, research and understanding of mental health.

Health & Social Care develops care values, communication, applied practice, health knowledge and professional standards.

Childhood Studies provides expertise in early development, safeguarding, play and learning theory.

Skills universities and employers’ value.

Across the pathway you will develop:

• Analytical and scientific thinking
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Understanding of human behaviour and mental health
• Professional care principles and safeguarding practice
• Research, problem‑solving and observation skills
• Confidence working with children, families, or vulnerable people

Designed with real careers in mind. Each course within the pathway is shaped by sector experts and offers applied, practical learning, making your progression routes strong and varied.

Across the three subjects, you will explore:

• Psychology & human behaviour
• Social influence, obedience and conformity
• Memory and forgetting
• Infant attachment and the impact of early relationships
• Biological, cognitive and behavioural explanations of behaviour
• Mental health conditions (phobias, depression, OCD) and treatments
• Research methods, experiments, data analysis and statistics
  
  
• Health, Illness and Care Practice
• Human lifespan development and factors affecting wellbeing
• Human biology, body systems and common disorders (e.g., diabetes, CHD, dementia)
• Person‑centred care, equality, legislation and communication
• Safeguarding, professional standards and ethical care
• Working with vulnerable individuals and understanding health inequalities
  
  
• Childhood Studies & Development
• Development from birth to age 8
• Safeguarding and children’s health & safety
• Play‑based learning and early childhood theory
• Observation, research and reflective practice in early years settings
• Understanding the needs of children and families

On completion of the two years, you can progress to University to study several pathways, including:

• Psychology
• Early Childhood Studies
• Teaching (Primary, Early Years and Secondary)
• Nursing (Adult, Child, Mental Health, Learning Disability)
• Midwifery
• Social Work
• Health & Social Care
• Counselling
• Allied Health (OT, Physiotherapy, Radiography etc.)

Leading to careers in:  

• Mental health support
• Education and early years
• Nursing and healthcare
• Youth work and family support
• Community care and support worker roles
• Research and behaviour roles
• Classroom or early years assistant 

Throughout the year we welcome guest speakers to the College from people who work in the industries that you may wish to go in to.  

As a college we have links with universities and visit many campuses to attend taster sessions for the next steps.

Throughout the programme, you will benefit from:

• Guest speakers from psychology, health, education and care sectors
• Visits to universities and taster sessions for degree‑level study
• Opportunities to explore real‑world employment pathways

You will be allocated a progress coach who will provide you with support to help you succeed on your study programme and progress on to your chosen career or progression path. We have a team of staff dedicated to providing learning support if required, as well as a Welfare Team that is on hand to offer guidance, support and help when needed. Additionally, eligible students can access a wide range of finance and funding support to help them during their time at college.

Click here for learning support: https://wvr.ac.uk/college-life/learning-support

We have expert tutors with real‑world experience in psychology, childcare, education, health and care professions

The college offers

• A warm, inclusive and offers a supportive environment
• Personalised academic and wellbeing support
• Simulation nursery and realistic training environments
• Strong employer and university links
• Excellent preparation for both further study and employment

You will need a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English, maths and science. Alternatively, you will have achieved a minimum grade merit in a level 2 course and have GCSE English, maths and science at grade 4 or above.

There will be additional costs which will be communicated to you where appropriate, by your teacher. This will include:

• Uniforms
• Textbook
• Industry related trips.