Playwork East - part of the Southern Tri-Region

Details of SkillsActive's involvement with Playwork in the East

Latest news: 

• Playwork Learning and Skills Strategy 2011–2016:

SkillsActive has launched a consultation on its UK strategy for playwork, education, training and qualifications - Playwork Learning and Skills Strategy 2011–2016 - and is urging the playwork sector to get involved.  It follows our first playwork strategy Quality Training, Quality Play (QTQP), which is founded on the principle of Article 31 of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, recognising play as a right and being fundamental to children’s quality of life.  Deadline for the consultation is 9 April.  More information and details of our consultation events here.

• Spirit of Play 2010: 

SkillsActive's south east regional playwork conference, Spirit of Play 2010, will take place on Saturday 13 March in Chertsey, Surrey. Sponsored by Play England South East and Surrey County Council, this year we are welcoming as keynote speaker Liz Elsom, Divisional Manager for Policy and Framework at Ofsted, to talk about the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Workshops include topics such as play in prisons, healthy eating, street dance and play therapy.   More details here.    

• Playwork NVQ Funding:

  Funding for the Playwork NVQ Level 3 will be finishing soon - there is still time to take part and by fully funded to gain your Level 3 in Playwork - sign up by filling in our application form and return it to us asap.

• Playwork Funding for early years or childcare workers:

  Would you like a fully funded Award in Playwork for Early Years and Childcare Workers?  Applications are being taken now on a FIRST COME FIRST SERVED basis so register NOW to avoid disappointment!  Fill in our application form and return it to us asap.

• L6 Management & Leadership in Playwork - fully funded opportunities:

  If you are in a senior role that requires you to think strategically about playwork as part of integrated children's services, then this CWDC funded opportunity is for you. The training is underpinned by the playwork principles and designed to support professional development whilst improving the quality of play, and has been developed to equip people working in senior roles across the play workforce.  More details from Anglia Ruskin, Middlesex University and Best Practice (providers across the Southern Tri-Region).

• Have we got your details?

We are updating our east region database - to make sure we have your correct details please send us your name, position, organisation name and type (training provider, employer, voluntary org etc), address, telephone number and email address to kiran.sahota@skillsactive.com.

Facts and figures

Playwork People 4 results will be available soon.

From the Playwork People 3 survey in 2007, research into the region’s play workforce revealed that:

• 2 out of 5 Playworkers have a Playwork specific qualification
• 59% of employers said new recruits were lacking Playwork specific skills
• 55% of Playworkers work part time and 35% full time
• The time of day when training courses are run are a barrier for 2 out of 3 employers

Contacts:

Playwork Strategy Manager: Claire Mitchell claire.mitchell@skillsactive.com

Playwork Engagement Manager: Hanna Boyce hanna.boyce@skillsactive.com

Southern Administrator: Kiran Sahota kiran.sahota@skillsactive.com (Wednesdays and Fridays)