PlayToday issue 70 - Play England

Play training
18
Playwork vocational qualifications are changing
Vocational qualifications are to become more responsive to the demands of employers and learners.
The changes are designed to make qualifications more relevant to employers’ needs and more
accessible to a wider range of learners. SkillsActive’s Uzma Anglin reports.
A new framework
One of the major innovations in this reform of vocational
qualifications is the development of the Qualifications
and Credit Framework (QCF). This is the new framework
for creating and giving accrediting qualifications in
England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
It will give a wider range of learners the
opportunity to get the qualifications they need, in
a way that best suits them. These qualifications are
designed with the help of employers so learners can
be assured that they’re developing the skills that
employers are looking for.
SkillsActive created units jointly with employers,
awarding organisations and key partners to create
a Level 2 playwork qualification in three different
measures: Award, Certificate and Diploma. These
qualifications are a tiered approach to achieving a
full qualification and are available from June 2010.
Level 2 Award in Playwork
The Level 2 Award represents an induction to work
in the sector and covers the essential aspects of
playwork. It involves both knowledge-based learning
as well as opportunities for practical application, and
is short enough to be accessible to those working
for only a few weeks a year in a temporary capacity.
This award should be considered an induction to
the role of the playworker. In order to ensure that
learning does not need to be repeated, the Level 2
Award is nested within the Certificate in Playwork.
Level 2 Certificate in Playwork
The certificate covers the rest of the core of the
playwork standards and an element of practice. It
equips learners with the knowledge and understanding
they need to successfully gain employment in the
sector. To gain the Level 2 Certificate in Playwork,
learners will cover the Award plus the additional
Certificate units at the same level.
Level 2 Diploma in Playwork
On successful completion, the learner can
undertake the Diploma in Playwork (NVQ) which is
the full playwork qualification at Level 2. Seeing
as the Diploma in Playwork contains substantial
assessment of practice (in
the same way as an NVQ),
this qualification enables the
learner to demonstrate their
competence as a playworker.
Should a playworker be
experienced and have a sound
knowledge base, they can
undertake the Diploma as a
full qualification, not necessarily being required
to attend taught sessions but they will still need
to prove their knowledge and skills through
assessment.
Consistency in qualifications
One of the benefits of these new qualifications
is that the learning outcomes and criteria for
assessment will be the same, regardless of the
awarding organisation or training provider delivering
them. This will make it easier for employers to
understand what their staff learned when they say
they have a Level 2 Diploma in Playwork (NVQ).
SkillsActive is currently developing the units for
the playwork Award, Certificate and Diploma at Level
3 and Level 4. The units will be ready for awarding
organisations by June 2010 for Level 3, and by August
2010 for Level 4. We are hoping that once these
are received by awarding organisations they can
be promptly developed into qualifications for the
playwork sector and made available later this year.
❰ For more information about the Qualifications
and Credit Framework, please visit:
www.qcda.gov.uk/qualifications/60.aspx ❱
This page has been compiled by Uzma Anglin.
Email uzma.anglin@skillsactive.com
Tel 020 7632 2024