Play – Children's Workforce Guide to Qualifications and Training

Ofsted-registered out-of-school clubs and holiday play schemes are not required to employ staff with childcare or playwork qualifications. However, a number of organisations are developing playwork qualifications.

Play Wales has developed a suite of Level 2 and 3 qualifications, which it hopes will be available for delivery in England by the end of 2020. PlayBoard Northern Ireland also offers training across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Play Scotland and others have developed the Professional Development Award in Strategic Planning for Play, a new qualification that will help organisations deliver the Scottish government’s Play Strategy.

Cache offers a Level 2 Diploma in Playwork, Level 3 Certificate in Playwork, Level 3 Diploma in Playwork, Level 5 Diploma in Playwork, and in Wales a Level 5 Diploma in Advanced Playwork. City & Guilds offers playwork qualifications at Levels 2, 3, 4 and 5, including a Level 3 Award in Transition to Playwork (From Early Years).

A new Play England scheme endorses courses that represent good practice and are underpinned by the Playwork Principles. One course has been endorsed and the organisation hopes more will follow.

Leeds Beckett University offers a BA (Hons) in Childhood Development and Playwork. The University of Gloucester’s Playwork Partnerships courses can be delivered by the partnership or local providers who have registered on the Playwork Partnerships Associate Trainer scheme.

Cache is supporting a trailblazer group of play employers to write an apprenticeship standard for playworkers. Progression has been delayed by Covid-19, but the group hopes the standard will be signed off by January 2021.

• Read more from the Children's Workforce Guide to Qualifications and Training