Playwork
Playwork is a highly skilled profession that enriches and enhances children’s play. It takes place where adults support children’s play but it is not driven by prescribed education or care outcomes.
Our role is to improve the quality and range of play opportunities for children and young people through the professional development of the playwork workforce across the UK.
We offer a coordinated voice for the sector, which is reflected in a coherent and research based demand for skills, and we work with training providers to meet the skills and training needs of the sector.
Professional, well-trained playworkers are a key part of the children’s workforce and we work to influence education and skills policies across the four nations, ensuring their relevance to the sector. We also work to advise government on how to prioritise its funding, as well as re-directing funding into the sector.
About the playwork sector
Playwork principles
The Playwork Principles establish the professional and ethical framework for playwork, describe what is unique about play and playwork, and provide the playwork perspective for working with children and young people.
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Training and qualifications
Training and qualifications in Playwork develop confidence and competence working with children and young people.
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Endorsement
We have an established set of quality systems for training providers and courses which assures employers and learners that the training they undertake is good quality, fit for purpose and follows the playwork approach.
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National occupational standards
Together with employers and partner organisations we develop national occupational standards which describe the knowledge, understanding, skills and principles needed to be a competent playworker.
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