An emerging cause for concern over the recent cull of playwork qualifications and the resulting potential effects on the sector has inspired two new action points from Play England’s National Playwork Conference that took place in March 2017.
The first element aims to support and promote the development of a new playwork apprenticeship coined the ‘Trailblazer’ qualification. Unlike previous apprenticeship, this one will not have the restrictions on age, and so will be an important way for the play sector to take on new staff and get them trained and qualified.
Secondly, the lobbying for CACHE and City and Guilds to extend registration of the Diploma in Playwork levels two, three and five. The two organisations have reviewed their stance and extended the registration for some of the qualifications for another year. Ellee Gunnell, Project Worker at Birmingham PlayCare Network said:
“Playworkers have been fantastic so far in lobbying qualification awarding bodies to extend registration of playwork qualifications.
“Playwork qualifications are still in danger of disappearing as each awarding body will have a required number of registered participants to make it financially viable. Here at Birmingham PlayCare Network we encourage the whole playwork sector to support and champion the recognition of the playwork qualification.”
Play England has produced a model template letter if you wish to express your concern at the reduction of playwork qualifications.
If you are interested in registering for a Playwork Qualification then here are the last dates for registration:
City and Guilds
Qualification Level and Title Last date for registration
Level 2 Award in Playwork 31 July 2018
Level 2 certificate in playwork 31 July 2018
Level 2 Diploma in Playwork 31 July 2018
Level 3 Diploma in Playwork 31 July 2018
Level 4 Award in Playwork 30 Nov 2017
Level 5 Diploma in Playwork 31 July 2018
NCFE CACHE
Level 2 Diploma in Playwork 31 Aug 2019
Level 3 certificate in Playwork 31 Aug 2019
Level 5 Diploma in Playwork 31 Aug 2019