For successful careers working with children, training and qualifications in playwork which help to develop confidence and competence working with children and young people are essential.
Find out more about the various progression pathways available in playwork that can help you build successful careers working with children and young adults.
Playwork qualifications
Playwork qualifications are available in an award, certificate and diploma format at level 2, level 3 and level 4/5.
People wishing to undertake the level 3 Award in Transition to Playwork (from early years) must have achieved a level 3 early years qualification based on either the early years, care and education standards or the children's care, learning and development standards. Accepted entry qualifications include the level 3 NVQ in Children's Care, Learning and Development, the level 3 NVQ Early Years, Care and Education and the level 3 NVQ in Childcare and Education. From July 2012, this also includes the level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (early years pathway) and the NNEB.
Playwork NVQs on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF)
The new QCF level 2, level 3 and level 4/5 qualifications including the Diploma (NVQ) are now available and have replaced the NQF qualifications
Once registered, candidates usually have 3 years to complete their qualification and claim certification, but this depends on the awarding organisation, so those registered on NQF qualifications will still have time to complete. 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.
During the development of the level 5 Diploma in Playwork (NVQ) it was agreed that some units of the level 4 playwork national occupational standards (on which it is based) were describing knowledge and skills at level 5. As a result, we developed a level 4 Award in Playwork, a level 4 Certificate in Playwork but a level 5 Diploma in Playwork (NVQ).
On the basis of this development, we have agreed that the Level 4 NVQ in Playwork, not now available for registration, can be deemed a level 5 NVQ in Playwork for purposes of transferability and progression. In Northern Ireland, this means that playworkers who have achieved the level 4 NVQ in Playwork can consider themselves qualified to level 5 for social services registration and inspection purposes.
Further information:
SkillsActive believes that training providers delivering playwork training should have occupationally competent staff.
