Level 2 - Playworker
The broad purpose of the occupation is to care for and support children in taking responsibility for themselves and their own playing whilst creating a stimulating and adventurous space for children to learn and explore in their own way, following their own intent, ideas and inventions. The focus of all play settings is on child-directed and child-controlled play, with Playworkers planning for and providing an ever-changing environment that allows children to choose what and how they play. Playworkers observe and monitor this play for children’s development, engagement and safety, both physical and emotional.
Playworkers subtly observe play rather than overtly leading activities in order to:
- Understand individual children’s needs and behaviours, as well as their likes and wants in playing.
- Support individual children’s emerging capabilities and competences.
- Understand how to better resource the play environment so that children are provided with opportunities to engage with the elements and their senses to explore, create and change the world around them.
- Reflect on how their adult presence is impacting on the children’s play, in both positive and negative ways, to ensure that children can play and explore without interruption or the necessity to seek approval or permission. Reflections are undertaken individually and as a team in order to improve the quality of play provision and to improve their own practice.
- Undertake dynamic risk-benefit assessments during play sessions to support children’s playful risk-taking. This includes being aware of generally accepted abilities relating to ages and stages, but not being bound by them in order to support individual speed of development. Playworkers support children to naturally stretch their boundaries physically, mentally, socially and emotionally, whilst balancing both the risks and the benefits that this incurs.
Playworkers use the outcomes of their observations to make better informed decisions about whether their intervention is needed and how to do this without taking away from children’s own faculties, abilities and growing expertise. In doing so, Playworkers develop significant and non-hierarchical relationships with the children they support.
Course Information
- To be able to gain a satisfactory Data Barring Service (DBS)
- Be employed in an appropriate role where they care for and support children in taking responsibility for themselves and their own playing whilst creating a stimulating and adventurous space for children to learn and explore.
- Have achieved level 1 English and Maths prior to taking the end-point assessment.
- Employers may set additional entry requirements.
The EPA consists of:
Multiple Choice Questions Test
The test will have 40 multiple-choice questions. You will have 60 minutes to complete it.
Professional Discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
It will last 60 minutes. They will ask you at least 7 questions. The questions will be about certain aspects of your occupation. You need to compile a portfolio of evidence before the EPA gateway. You can use it to help answer the questions.
Observation with questions
You will be observed by an independent assessor completing your work. It will last at least 3 hours. They will ask you at least 4 questions.
Upon successful completion, playworkers are graded: Pass, or Distinction as an overall grade.
The programme is delivered over 15 months through a blended learning approach that includes
monthly face to face visits (more if additional support is required), along with independent learning through online materials and coursework.
Throughout our playworker qualification, learners will build a vast skill set taught across multiple units all relating to areas within the course. Some of these areas will include:
- How to support children and young people’s freely chosen, self-directed play by enhancing the play using appropriate intervention style. Foster children and young people’s development in line with their culture, age and stage of development.
- How to build playful relationships with children, recognising professional boundaries and provide a diverse, inclusive, and accessible setting for all children and young people, taking into consideration any additional requirements they may have.
- How to observe children and young people playing, including how they interact with different environments, other children and young people and staff. Keep reflective records to inform future planning and learn how to use their knowledge of child development, adapting to different behaviours and possible learning needs.
- How to advocate for all children and young people’s right to play when liaising with parents, carer givers, colleagues, local residents, and other professionals.
- How to facilitate the creation of inspiring play spaces with opportunities to include a range of loose parts which foster and stimulate children and young people’s imagination and build an understanding of sustainable attitudes.
- How to choose intervention styles that support children and young people, responding to their behaviour and extending their play.
- How to build and maintain a professional relationship with parents and caregivers in relation to their children’s experiences in the playwork setting/local community.
- How to assist in regular health and safety checks and the maintenance of equipment, resources, and play structures.
- How to identify and report any issues and respond calmly to any accidents or emergencies that may occur during a playwork session, as well as contributing to the process of risk-benefit assessment in children and young people’s play.
- How to work in line with safeguarding policies and procedures to prevent and protect all children from harm. • How to contribute to appropriate administration and financial record keeping in relation to the play setting.
- How to follow policies and procedures that support the health and wellbeing of children and young people, including preparing and providing food and activities.
- How to work as part of a team to assist in cleaning and tidying up, including site opening and closure procedures, and to support and supervise children in off-site activities, including trips, outings, residentials and other community events.
- How to participate in appraisals, professional development and training opportunities, work within the professional boundaries of a playworker, protect the child’s welfare and reflect individually and as part of a team to improve Playwork practice.
On successful completion of this playworker apprenticeship, learners will be eligible for the following roles:
- Engagement worker
- Inclusion/support playworker
- Play ranger
- Playground assistant
- Playworker
- Before and After School Clubs
- Adventure Playgrounds
- Mobile Play Provision, for example a Play bus.
Potential employers may include local councils and government, charities and voluntary management committees, private companies offering after-school/ breakfast/holiday clubs, and private day care nurseries.
