Playwork

Learning Programme Content

The Learning Programme provision shall comprise of three mandatory elements:

• Qualifications,
• Essential Skills
• On/off the job training

The total minimum credit value required for the Level 2 Pathway - Playwork is 74 credits

The total minimum credit value required for the Level 3 Pathway – Advanced Playwork is 73 credits

The total minimum credit value required for the Level 5 Pathway - Advanced Practitioner in Playwork is 87 credits

The total minimum credit value required for the Level 5 Pathway – Manager in Playwork is 87 credits

Entry requirements

Potential apprentices should have a positive, motivating and can do attitude with the ability to work both as part of a team or on their own and the willingness to work shifts and travel between sites. They should be willing to undergo a police check should their employment setting require.

Level 2 & Level 3

The Level 2 Apprenticeship in Playwork is designed for those individuals who wish to work in a Playwork setting and wish to develop their skills and knowledge.

The Level 3 Apprenticeship in Playwork is designed for those individuals who are looking to further develop their knowledge and skills to gain employment or for those already employed in a Playwork setting looking for career progression.

Level 5

This higher apprenticeship is designed for those individuals who wish to work in the Playwork sector in higher level roles and wish to further develop their skills and knowledge.

This Pathway provides a professional route to train and develop the leaders and managers in the Playwork sector to the required regulatory standards in Wales.

It is good practice that apprentices are interviewed by both their employer and training provider and undergo a centre devised initial assessment, testing their literacy and numeracy skills as well as their attitude to the workplace and customers and record any related experience and knowledge.

Potential apprentices for this Pathway:

• must have an interest and commitment to working with children and young people and have previous experience and qualifications in the area.
• must be able to demonstrate their ability through initial assessment to communicate in English and /or Welsh at ESW level 2 (GCSE A*-C) and the application of number to an ESW level 1at entry.
• would have ideally completed an approved level 3 Playwork course before commencing  this Pathway, however this is not a mandatory requirement.
• would have to be over 19 and may be 21+ years old.
• should have a positive, motivating and can do attitude with the ability to work both as part of a team or on their own and the willingness to work shifts and travel between sites and should be willing to undergo a police check should their employment setting require.

Apprenticeship pathway learning programme(s)

Lefel 2: Playwork

Lefel 2: Playwork Qualifications

Participants must achieve one of the following Combined qualifications below.

Please see Annex 1 for the relationship between the competence and knowledge qualifications.

Essential Skills Wales (ESW)

Essential Skills Wales qualifications assessment languages are English-Welsh

On/Off the Job training

On/Off the Job Qualification details (Minimum Credit & Hours)

Apprentices completing this Pathway will achieve a minimum of 79 credits in total.

56 credits for competence and knowledge - Level 2 Diploma in Playwork

12 credits for transferrable skills - 6 credits for each Essential Skills Wales qualification

6 credits for ERR - Level 2 Award in Employment Awareness in Active Leisure and Learning

The total amount of training hours - which includes both on and off-the-job learning for this Pathway is 572 training hours. Over a 12 months period.

On/Off the Job Essential Skills details (Minimum Credit & Hours)

• 6 credits/60 GLH Level 1 Essential Skills Wales Communication
• 6 credits/60 GLH Level 1 Essential Skills Wales Application of Number

Level 3: Advanced Playwork

Level 3: Advanced Playwork Qualifications

Participants must achieve one of the following Combined below.

Please see Annex 2 for the relationship between the competence and knowledge qualifications.

Essential Skills Wales (ESW)

Essential Skills Wales qualifications assessment languages are English-Welsh

On/Off the Job training

On/Off the Job Qualification details (Minimum Credit & Hours)

Apprentices completing this Pathway will achieve a minimum of 73 credits in total.

53 credits for competence and knowledge - Level 3 Diploma in Playwork

12 credits for transferrable skills - 6 credits for each Essential Skills Wales qualification

8 credits for ERR - Level 3 Award in Employment Awareness in Active Leisure and Learning

The total amount of training hours - which includes both on and off-the-job learning for this Pathway is 628 training hours.  Over 18 Months.

On/Off the Job Essential Skills details (Minimum Credit & Hours)

• 6 credits/60 GLH Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Communication
• 6 credits/60 GLH Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Application of Number

Level 5: Advanced Practitioner in Playwork

Level 5: Advanced Practitioner in Playwork Qualifications

Participants must achieve the following Combined qualification below.

Please see Annex 3 for the relationship between the competence and knowledge qualifications.

Essential Skills Wales (ESW)

Essential Skills Wales qualifications assessment languages are English-Welsh

On/Off the Job training

On/Off the Job Qualification details (Minimum Credit & Hours)

Apprentices completing this pathway will achieve a total of 87 credits made up of the following components of the Pathways:

Level 5 Diploma in Advanced Playwork - a minimum of 75 credits

Essential Skills Wales - 12 credits in total

The total amount of training hours - which includes both on and off-the-job learning for this Pathway is 702 training hours. Over a 12 month period.

On/Off the Job Essential Skills details (Minimum Credit & Hours)

• 6 credits/60 GLH Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Communication
• 6 credits/60 GLH Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Application of Number

Level 5: Manager in Playwork

Level 5: Manager in Playwork Qualifications

Participants must achieve one of the following Combined qualifications below.

Please see Annex 4 for the relationship between the competence and knowledge qualifications.

Essential Skills Wales (ESW)

Essential Skills Wales qualifications assessment languages are English-Welsh

On/Off the Job training

On/Off the Job Qualification details (Minimum Credit & Hours)

Apprentices completing this pathway will achieve a total of 87 credits made up of the following components of the Pathways:

Level 5 Diploma in Advanced Playwork - a minimum of 75 credits

Essential Skills Wales - 12 credits in total

The total amount of training hours - which includes both on and off-the-job learning for this Pathway is 752 training hours. Over a 12 month period.

On/Off the Job Essential Skills details (Minimum Credit & Hours)

• 6 credits/60 GLH Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Communication
• 6 credits/60 GLH Level 2 Essential Skills Wales Application of Number

Other additional requirements

None

Job roles

Assistant Playworker / Play centre assistant

Works under supervision of the Playworker in charge, contributing to the organisation and facilitation of Playwork opportunities

Playworker / Senior Playworker

Responsible for supervising the team in the Playwork setting, ensuring that policies and procedures are followed, and that a range of Playwork opportunities are provided.

Advanced Practitioner

Responsible for play sufficiency assessment and fulfilment; oversee county wide provision, seek funding for city and regional projects,

identify, access and deliver training. Work with children; engage with communities and partners. Promote children’s right to play across adult agendas.

Playwork Manager

Hold responsibility for staff management, budgets, training, induction, inspections, policies, supervision, local funding applications, strategy development, health and safety. May directly work with children and oversee Playwork provision.

Progression

Level 2

Progression into the Apprenticeship

There are no pre-defined routes into the Foundation level Playwork apprenticeship, however learners wishing to progress into this apprenticeship programme could come from a variety of backgrounds with a variety of qualifications.

These might include diplomas, GCSEs, Welsh Baccalaureate qualifications, A levels or vocational qualifications such as Pathways To Apprenticeships or other vocational qualifications and work experience.

Learners can also progress into this programme if they are already employed in the sector and wish to develop their knowledge and skills to progress their careers.

Progression from the Apprenticeship

On completion of this programme, apprentices can further progress their career in the sector.

Playwork qualifications are available at level 2 and above reflecting job roles in a Playwork setting.

Apprentices can also progress onto the Apprenticeship in Playwork. Gaining level 3 and above qualifications either as part of the Apprenticeship in Playwork programme or in a further education college will allow candidates to become assistant managers and managers in a Playwork setting and be responsible for qualified staff.

Playworkers are employed by local authorities, voluntary organisations or private companies.

There are some full-time jobs but most employment opportunities within Playwork are part time. Some are seasonal, for instance in the school holidays.

For further details on progression routes and employment opportunities please check the SkillsActive Careers site. www.skillsactive.com/career

Level 3

Progression into the Apprenticeship

There are no pre-defined entry routes, however learners wishing to progress into this apprenticeship programme could come from a variety of backgrounds with a variety of qualifications.

These might include diplomas, GCSEs, Welsh Baccalaureate qualifications, A levels or vocational qualifications such as Pathways To Apprenticeships or Foundation Apprenticeships.

Learners can also progress into this apprenticeship programme from the Foundation Apprenticeship in Playwork. Learners can also progress into this apprenticeship if they are already employed in the sector and wish to develop their knowledge and skills to progress their careers. Learners can also progress into this apprenticeship programme from employment in a different sector as a career change.

Progression from the Apprenticeship

On completion of the Apprenticeship in Playwork, level 3 qualifications will allow candidates to become assistant managers and managers in play setting and be responsible for qualified staff.

Playworkers are employed by local authorities, voluntary organisations or private companies.

There are some full-time jobs but most employment opportunities within Playwork are part time. Some are seasonal, for instance in the school holidays.

On completion of this programme, learners can also progress onto a variety of Further or Higher Education courses to study subjects related to the sector.

For further details on progression routes and employment opportunities please check the SkillsActive Careers site. www.skillsactive.com/career

Level 5

Progression into the Apprenticeship

Learners might be already working in a level 3 Playwork post as a Playworker or senior Playworker / supervisor and wish to progress their career into management work, or to further develop their understanding and practice in Playwork with children in order to enhance the service offered.

They may also be recruited from related sectors in the children’s workforce – early years or youth work – and wish to gain a qualification that enables them to move into a more generic management role working across settings which offer a service to a wider age range of children and young people.

Progression from the Apprenticeship

Learners may wish to progress from their apprenticeship to a BA(Hons) in Playwork, however acceptance to degree courses will be done at the discretion and rules of each individual HE institution.

On completion of this apprenticeship, learners will be equipped to take up posts in management in children’s services and senior practitioner posts working across a chain of provision or in a large, multi-sector setting offering a range of services for children and families.

Equality and diversity

It is important that apprenticeship Pathways are inclusive and can demonstrate an active approach to identifying and removing barriers to entry and progression. Pathways should advance equality of opportunity between persons who share protected characteristics and those persons who do not as identified in the Equality Act 2010.

The protected characteristics identified in the Equality Act are age, disability, gender re-assignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity. Marriage and civil partnership is also included although only in respect of the requirement to eliminate discrimination in employment.

Training providers and employers MUST also comply with the other duty under the Equality Act 2010 to ensure that applicants are not discriminated against in terms of entry to the industry based upon those nine protected characteristics

The Apprenticeship in Playwork aim to promote diversity, opportunity and inclusion by offering a high quality learning experience.

The delivery of these programmes must be in a setting free from prejudice and discrimination where all learners can contribute fully and freely and feel valued.

Employers / providers must be able to demonstrate their selection, recruitment and employment practices are in line with the Equality Act and that there are no overt or covert discriminatory practices in relation to any of the protected characteristics.

ISSUES, BARRIERS AND ACTIONS

Playwork is historically a female dominated profession (78%) in Wales with 97% of the workforce being from a white background.

By encouraging more employers from a wider variety of play settings to take on apprentices, we will not only increase the uptake of Playwork Pathways, but also contribute towards encouraging more open access to the sector and representation of a wider variety of communities and employers.

Employment responsibilities and rights

Employment Responsibilities and Rights (ERR) is no longer compulsory.  But it is recommended that all apprentices (especially the 16 years -18 year group) receive a company induction programme.

Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the Training Provider and Employer to ensure that the requirements of this pathway are delivered in accordance with the Welsh Government Apprenticeships Guidance.

 Further information may be obtained from: Welsh Government

DfES-ApprenticeshipUnit@gov.wales

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