Training and qualifications

Qualifications in playwork develop confidence and competence working with children and young people.

You can download the following documents to find out more about the different qualifications available for working with children plus find out about the various progression pathways available in playwork.

The qualification reform that is taking place across England, Wales and Northern Ireland at the moment mirrors the new developments in playwork qualifications.

New playwork qualifications at level 2

A series of new level 2 playwork units have been developed, comprising playwork units with common content and based on the level 2 national occupational standards.

When combined by awarding organisations, these qualifications will provide an award, certificate and diploma in playwork at level 2. 

Find out more about the new level 2 playwork qualifications.

CWDC level 3 diploma for the children’s workforce

We are aware that Skills for Care and Development, with the help of Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC), is developing a level 3 diploma for work with children and young people. 

The qualification will incorporate units based on the common core for England as well as specialist pathways for those sectors in the CWDC footprint such as early years, learning mentors and social care. 

Find out more about the level 3 diploma for the children's workforce.

Qualifying the playwork workforce

The Children's Plan (DCSF, 2007) included a commitment that...

... the play strategy will support individuals in communities to take a professional role by providing funding to enable 4000 playworkers to achieve recognised play qualifications, and within that to enable a core of professionally qualified new graduate leaders to emerge."

SkillsActive in partnership with the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC), are delivering a range of initiatives to support the children's plan commitment.

Find out more about these initiatives, including funding that is available for candidates to undertake a full level 3 qualification.

Frequently asked questions relating to the level 3 awards in playwork for early years and child care workers and level 3 award in early years and child care for playworkers are available.

Integrated qualifications framework

As a result of the Laming report into the death of Victoria Climbié, there is a government commitment to ensuring that agencies and individuals who work with children and young people do so in a collaborative and cooperative way. A key action to support this is the development and implementation of an integrated qualifications framework (IQF) on which appropriate qualifications for members of the children’s workforce will be placed.

Visit the integrated qualifications framework website for more information.