News

Up one level

SkillsActive’s biennial survey of the playwork workforce

SkillsActive will launch the Playwork people survey 2009 in February.

Review of the Playwork Education and Training Quality Assurance Systems

SkillsActive is excited to announce that the review of their current quality assurance systems for the playwork sector is now underway, and would like to invite employers, practitioners, training providers and other key stakeholders in Playwork the opportunity to get involved and give us their views in a way that best meets their circumstances.

Our Children, Our Future

In response to the launch of the Government’s ‘Play Strategy’ for England, SkillsActive have produced a guide entitled ‘Our Children, Our Future’, it outlines the variety of resources and tools they have developed to professionalise the play workforce, and encourages all local authorities to embed play within their children’s workforce strategy.

Apprenticeships still number one in sector

According to provisional government figures, the number of young people between the ages of 16 and 24 taking up Apprenticeships fell this academic year. We talk to SkillsActive’s Joe Ruddock on the value of Apprenticeships and why we believe they are still the best possible route for people entering the Active Leisure and Learning sector.

£9 million for young people to become social entrepreneurs

Children and Young People’s Minister Beverley Hughes today unveiled £9 million for a new scheme to help young people spearhead and deliver ideas for positive activities, helping them at the same time to become young social entrepreneurs.

2020 Children and Young People's Workforce Strategy

SkillsActive welcomes the launch of the Government’s 2020 Children and Young People’s Workforce Strategy.

New chair of NSA South East appointed

Mark Whyman, chief executive of Sevenoaks-based Sencio Community Leisure has been appointed regional chair for the inaugural National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure.

Strategy gives workforce boost

The government will today (Thursday 11 December) unveil a new partnership body designed to represent the entire children and young people's sector as part of the 2020 workforce strategy.

New blueprint for world class children and young people's workforce

Plan to improve recruitment, training and support for Teachers, Health Workers and Social Workers

Children's plan: one year on

On the anniversary of the flagship Children’s Plan, Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, today set out his vision for 21st century children’s services to help deliver the ambition of making England the best place in the world to grow up.

2008 in focus: activepassport for playwork

In the run up to Christmas, we’ll be looking back at some of the key achievements and projects taking place across the sector in 2008. Today we look at the rollout of activepassport for playwork, which makes the process of monitoring, recording and planning CPD easier for both employers and employees.

2008 in focus: Qualifying the playwork workforce

In the run up to Christmas, we’ll be looking back at some of the key achievements and projects taking place across the sector in 2008. Today, we look at the efforts to fund 4,000 playworkers to achieve Level 3 qualifications.

25 million will gain right to request time to train

Some twenty five million employees are set to benefit from a new right to request time at work to undertake training, thanks to a new Bill in today's Queen's Speech.

Play provision and Ofsted Early Years Foundation Stage inspections

Ofsted are currently inspecting all settings registered on the Early Years Register, which includes all play provision which has children in the Early Years, with a few exceptions.

Countdown to first national Playwork skills conference in Wales

Cardiff will play host to the first national Playwork skills conference in Wales next month – a major industry event which will also see the launch of Playwork Wales, the new national centre for playwork education and training.

ActiveInsight magazine to become industry conduit

As of 2009, SkillsActive’s quarterly publication, ActiveInsight, will be adopting a ‘new look and feel’.

Workforce development conference attracts key support

The South East’s first workforce development conference within sport and active leisure is gathering key support from across the sector, with a number of local, regional and national organisations registering their support for next month's event.

Review of playwork quality assurance systems

The role of SkillsActive in the playwork sector is to lead on the development of Playwork Education and Training for those working with children and young people, and with current reforms around education, training and qualifications we are looking to review current quality assurance systems for the playwork sector.

Innovative Online Academy goes live

Employers and learners will now be able to access training resources from one coherent source, thanks to the National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure’s innovative ‘Online Academy’ having gone live. The unique and cost effective overall entry point, designed to maximise improved training provision, will impact the whole sector - from large and medium sized companies to small clubs and self employed businesses.

New Diploma in Society, Health and Development in Great Demand

As the new Diploma in Society, Health and Development (SHD) becomes available at Foundation, Higher and Advanced levels, demand for the Advanced Diploma is so great that three of the 39 consortia of schools, colleges and employers delivering it are already over-subscribed.