Qualifications in playwork develop confidence and competence working with children and young people.
You can download the following documents to find out more about the different qualifications currently available in playwork plus find out about the various progression pathways available in playwork.
The qualification reform that is taking place across England, Wales and Northern Ireland at the moment mirrors the new developments in playwork qualifications.
New playwork qualifications
The change in Qualification and Credit Framework design rules for qualifications means that qualifications need to be reviewed and re-written in a new format.
The new playwork qualifications will be available in an award, certificate and diploma format at level 2, level 3 and level 4.
SkillsActive have been gathering enquiries from training providers and employers on the new qualifications and have created an FAQ document. This will be updated regularly.
Information on the latest developments in playwork qualifications.
Playwork NVQs on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF)
The new QCF level 2 qualifications including the Diploma (NVQ) are now available and have replaced the NQF level 2 qualifications, and SFA funding has switched to the QCF qualifications. At level 3, the new QCF qualifications including the Diploma (NVQ) will replace NQF level 3 qualifications from 1 October, and the new level 4 QCF qualifications including the Diploma (NVQ) will replace NQF level 4 qualifications from 1 January.SFA funding should be available for these QCF qualifications which are eligible for funding, as soon as they are available.
Once registered, candidates usually have 3 years to complete their qualification and claim certification, but this depends on the awarding organisation. For those who have already achieved an NVQ in playwork, the good news is that it will continue to be accepted as ‘full and relevant’ for practice in early years and childcare registered settings.
For details of all our accredited qualifications, please refer to our qualifications spreadsheet which is updated regularly.
CWDC level 3 diploma for the children’s workforce
Skills for Care and Development, with the help of Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC), has developed a level 3 diploma for work with children and young people.
The qualification incorporates units based on the common core for England as well as specialist pathways for those sectors in the CWDC footprint:early years, learning mentors and people working in social care. It is not a playwork qualification and does not equip playworkers for their role in a play environment or cover essential playwork topics such as the Playwork Priniciples or support for children and young people’s self-directed play. Where staff holding this qualification are employed in a playwork setting, we recommend that they undertake the Level 3 Award in Playwork for Early Years and Childcare Workers in order to equip themselves with an understanding of the playwork approach.
Find out more about the level 3 diploma for the children’s workforce.
Integrated qualifications framework
As a result of the Laming report into the death of Victoria Climbié, there is a government commitment to ensuring that agencies and individuals who work with children and young people do so in a collaborative and cooperative way. A key action to support this is the development and implementation of an integrated qualifications framework (IQF) on which appropriate qualifications for members of the children’s workforce will be placed.
Visit the integrated qualifications framework website for more information.
