Playwork sector gets £600,000 qualifications funding boost

CWDC - 14.12.09

The two qualifications, Playwork Level 3 NVQ and the Level 3 Award in Playwork for Early Years and Childcare Workers  can be gained without class attendance, exams or written tests. Both involve work-based learning within individual settings.

The three-year funding package, which started in April 2008 and has so far enabled 2,027 to enrol on Level 3 courses in playwork, will end on March 31, 2011. A target to support 4,000 playworkers to qualify to Level 3 or above was set out in the government’s ‘Children’s Plan: Building Brighter Futures’.

CWDC is working closely with the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), SkillsActive, and the Learning Skills Council (LSC) to meet this target.

Deirdre Quill, Director of Integrated Workforce at CWDC, said:

“We understand just how important playwork is to the development of children, and that is why we have so far invested more than £2.5 million into this sector”.

“Professional development for the workforce is a cornerstone of creating better life chances for children, young people and their families. So we are delighted to be able to invest an extra £600,000 to ensure more playworkers can take on Level 3 qualifications”.

“This will benefit their professional development, that of their settings and contribute to the positive outcomes for children and young people”.
Playworkers, employers and training providers who want more information and to access a registration form can do so here.