Funding for Playwork Qualifications

11/05/12

City College Norwich has been appointed the lead training provider for SkillsActive’s Joint Investment Programme in Playwork.

SkillsActive, the sector skills council for active leisure, learning and well-being, has secured £230,000 of Government funding from the Growth and Innovation Fund, which is jointly administered by The Department for Business Innovation and Skills, the Skills Funding Agency and the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES).

The Fund matches employer funding with Government funding to help meet skills gaps in economically important sectors. The Joint Investment Programme in Playwork focuses on the skills gaps identified to SkillsActive by playwork employers.

Lesli Godfrey, Strategic Lead for Playwork at SkillsActive, says: “We are really pleased that our bid for this funding has been successful and that employers will now have this opportunity to access a Playwork qualification for their staff from an early years background.”

Playworkers provide spaces and resources for children and young people to come together and play in their free time, at out of school clubs, adventure playgrounds, parks and community centres across the country. The subsidised qualification equips staff who have gained early years qualifications with the principles, knowledge and understanding of Playwork that they need in order to facilitate play opportunities for children and young people.

SkillsActive is looking for playworkers in England to take advantage of the offer of 50% matched funding towards the Level 3 Award in Transition to Playwork (from early years).

SkillsActive is now working with City College Norwich and a network of partner training providers to deliver the programme across all counties of England. It is intended that the programme will be completed by the end of July 2013.

To be eligible for funding, learners must hold a full level 3 early years qualification, based on the children’s care learning and development or early years and education standards. Employers will need to pledge at least 50% of the cost of the qualification i.e. £229 to enable this to be matched by Government.

All learners will also receive their own SkillsActive activepassport, an on-line tool to record their qualifications, training and experience.

Dick Palmer, Principal, City College Norwich, says: “We are delighted to be working with SkillsActive and partners to deliver the Level 3 Award in Transition to Playwork nationwide which will help extend the opportunities available to those already trained in early years.”

Details of the training available and the process by which both employers and playworkers can register their interest can be found at www.ccn.ac.uk/form/playworktransition.

Playwork qualifications offer now live

6/1/12

City College Norwich has been appointed the lead training provider for SkillsActive’s Joint Investment Programme in Playwork.

SkillsActive, the sector skills council for active leisure, learning and well-being, has secured £230,000 of Government funding from the Growth and Innovation Fund, which is jointly administered by The Department for Business Innovation and Skills, the Skills Funding Agency and the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES).

The Fund matches employer funding with Government funding to help meet skills gaps in economically important sectors. The Joint Investment Programme in Playwork focuses on the skills gaps identified to SkillsActive by playwork employers.

Lesli Godfrey, Strategic Lead for Playwork at SkillsActive, says: “We are really pleased that our bid for this funding has been successful and that employers will now have this opportunity to access a Playwork qualification for their staff from an early years background.”

Playworkers provide spaces and resources for children and young people to come together and play in their free time, at out of school clubs, adventure playgrounds, parks and community centres across the country.  The subsidised qualification equips staff who have gained early years qualifications with the principles, knowledge and understanding of Playwork that they need in order to facilitate play opportunities for children and young people.

SkillsActive is looking for playworkers in England to take advantage of the offer of 50pc matched funding towards the Level 3 Award in Transition to Playwork (from early years).

SkillsActive is now working with City College Norwich and a network of partner training providers to deliver the programme across all counties of England. It is intended that the programme will be completed by the end of July 2013. 

To be eligible for funding, learners must hold a full level 3 early years qualification, based on the children’s care learning and development or early years and education standards.  This does not include the new level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce at present.  Employers will need to pledge at least 50pc of the cost of the qualification i.e. £229 to enable this to be matched by Government.

All learners will also receive their own SkillsActive activepassport, an on-line tool to record their qualifications, training and experience.

Dick Palmer, Principal, City College Norwich, says: “We are delighted to be working with SkillsActive and partners to deliver the Level 3 Award in Transition to Playwork nationwide which will help extend the opportunities available to those already trained in early years.”

Details of the training available and the process by which both employers and playworkers can register their interest can be found at http://www.ccn.ac.uk/form/playworktransition

Minister: Commonwealth Games legacy workforce on track

 

SkillsActive in Scotland and its partners are making good progress delivering the workforce for the 2014 Commonwealth Games legacy, according to the Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport.

SkillsActive in Scotland established the Active Scotland Workforce Development Group in 2009 to ensure Scotland had the right workforce to deliver the Commonwealth Games Legacy of a more active Scotland. It consists of a range of sport and physical activity employers, government agencies and training providers.

SkillsActive in Scotland manager Pam Scott says the group recently submitted a Status Report on the progress that the Group was making to Shona Robison, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport and received a very positive response.

Ms Robison:
•    welcomed the progress made in identifying the skills gaps and shortages within the physical activity and sports workforce both paid and voluntary.
•    noted sport has an immediate attractiveness for most young people but it is important that we employ the right people with the right skills which will have an impact on their career and more importantly keep them physically active.
•    acknowledged that the Development Model works towards meeting the challenges of skilling the workforce and ensuring the appropriate and realistic qualifications are in place to ensure priority areas such as volunteering and coaching are fit for purpose.

Ms Robison then added that it was “important people working in sport and physical activity have a greater knowledge and understanding of health issues relating to specific client groups and is encouraged by the co-operation of employers and training providers in taking this forward”

Pam says Ms Robison set out several next steps for the group, which they will consider at their next meeting on December 9.

More NI people to get upskilled in Playwork?

16/11/11

Northern Ireland could see a significant increase in the demand for Playwork qualifications, if the Government there agrees to back proposals by SkillsActive.

SkillsActive in Northern Ireland recently completed consultation on proposals for ‘Minimum Standards for Daycare and Childminding for Children under 12’ with Playwork partner PlayBoard NI and eight key Playwork employers in Northern Ireland.

SkillsActive’s Northern Ireland Manager Siobhan Weir says the consultation produced three positive outcomes:

  • If the Northern Ireland Government agree to these proposals, there will be a significant increase in the demand for SkillsActive's Playwork qualifications. This is because in some settings, they will be given the same status as the childcare and development qualifications owned by the Skills for Care & Development Sector Skills Council
  • SkillsActive's Playwork employers and practitioners were directly involved in shaping and influencing government policy that will have a direct impact on how they run their businesses; and
  • SkillsActive demonstrated the importance of working in partnerships to help us deliver our sector vision.

View the full consultation response.

Training and Qualifications

SkillsActive works on behalf of the active leisure, learning and wellbeing sector to develop a framework of qualifications and training that meets employer needs, ensuring the workforce is properly trained and qualified.

Our National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure works with the best training providers in our sector to deliver cost-effective, quality assured training solutions.

 

 

Training

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Providing training for employees not only helps them develop their skills and knowledge – it’s also a building block to business success.

Qualifications

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SkillsActive works with employers and training providers to develop vocational qualifications that enable people to be competent in specific types of work.

Quality Assurance

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Discover more about how SkillsActive ensures that quality training is available to those in the sector.

Training verification

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Keep track of your training or your staff's training with activepassport™

National Occupational Standards - Fitness

The following national occupational standards are currently available for the health and fitness sector.

National occupational standards (NOS) form the basis of qualifications, from Apprenticeships and foundation degrees to vocational qualifications and training programmes.

The standards also help define job roles, measure staff performance and identify and develop routes for progression and professional development.

Some of these standards cross over with other sectors, while the Sport and Active Leisure National Occupational Standards cover our whole sector.

Exercise and fitness

Leisure management

Sport and exercise science

Sports therapy

Physical activity

Fitness and Leisure

The fitness industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK economy. SkillsActive can help those looking for jobs in the fitness industry gain the right training and support employers to identify candidates with the right skills.

SkillsActive helps the fitness and leisure sector cater for the growing number of fitness clubs and leisure centres by developing recognised qualifications frameworks that meet the needs of employers – helping individuals find jobs in the fitness and leisure industries.

The Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) , which is part of SkillsActive, provides recognition those with jobs in the fitness industry as competent professionals.

Discover more about REPs

SkillsActive’s endorsement process makes it easy to identify approved training providers offering quality courses and qualifications relevant to those in the fitness and leisure industry. SkillsActive can also support employers with finding cost-effective ways to train staff in common roles and increase the number of people with jobs in the fitness industry.

Fitness books

National Occupational Standards - Sport

The following national occupational standards are currently available for the sport and recreation sector.

National occupational standards (NOS) form the basis of qualifications, from Apprenticeships and foundation degrees to vocational qualifications and training programmes.

The standards also help define job roles, measure staff performance and identify and develop routes for progression and professional development.

Some of these standards cross over with other sectors, while the Sport and Active Leisure national occupational standards cover our whole sector.

Activity leadership

Administration and governance

Coaching

Leisure management

Officiating

Spectator safety

Sport and exercise science

Sport and play surfaces

Sports development

Sports performance

Sports therapy

Physical activity

Training and Qualifications

Training to develop and update your skills is always important, whether you are about to leave school or are a highly qualified, experienced professional.

SkillsActive offers information, advice and access to quality training for every stage of your career.

Find quality training

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SkillsActive aims to ensure you receive high quality, value for money training in our sector. Find the right training to take your career to the next level!

Qualification information

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Discover more about the qualifications you can take in the active leisure, learning and wellbeing sector, including Apprenticeships.

Funded training options

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Want to get upskilled for less? Find out if you are eligible for funded training through one of the programmes we deliver.

 

Take online courses

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e-learning is a great option for those short on time or money.

SkillsActive's work

SkillsActive’s day to day operations cover many aspects of active leisure, learning and well-being. Our activities encompass everything from setting standards for qualifications to helping individuals find the right career and directing employers to the best training for their staff.

Training & qualifications

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SkillsActive works on behalf of our sector to develop and deliver a framework of qualifications and training that meet employer needs, ensuring the workforce is properly trained.

Projects & programmes

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Learn about the different projects and programmes SkillsActive has been involved with, including programmes which are delivered through our National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure.

Information & resources

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Access free resources and information from SkillsActive

 

Working with industry

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Discover more about how SkillsActive engages with key people in the industry to ensure we meet the needs of employers.


 

Professional registers

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SkillsActive operates the Register of Exercise Professionals

National Occupational Standards

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SkillsActive sets the standards for key occupations across the active leisure, learning and well-being sector. 

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