SkillsActive defends its competency

In an email sent out to thousands of professionals last week, Common Threads director Shelly Newstead called on play workers to raise concerns about SkillsActive at a Play England council meeting.

She said that many play professionals are worried about SkillsActive's approach to play work training and development, and urged colleagues to voice these fears to Play England.

She told CYP Now that play workers have been contacting Common Threads with concerns about SkillsActive's competency for two years.

Newstead said: "There is a serious need for play workforce development issues to be addressed. The email was trying to encourage people to get their concerns heard at the right level."

She warned that play professionals are facing a number of challenges at the moment, including problems implementing the Early Years Foundation Stage.

But SkillsActive has strongly denied Common Threads' claims, describing them as a "minority group".

A spokeswoman for the sector skills council admitted "there is always room for improvement", but said "the sector has come a long way in establishing its identity during its partnership with SkillsActive".

Play England responded to the Common Threads message by emailing all of its members to say that it was not party to the original email. Play England also said the meeting was a regular gathering of members and had not been called to discuss SkillsActive.