Course overview

Jobs as a Playworker are found in a range of settings. Playworkers may work in schools, afterschool clubs and wrap around care, nurseries, prisons, hospitals, play schemes and play rangers.

The purpose of this work 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 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 the children’s own faculties, abilities and growing expertise. In doing so playworkers develop significant and non-hierarchical relationships with the children they support.

As a Level 2 (Intermediate) Apprentice, you’ll be working for an employer full-time and studying for a qualification at a college or training provider for 20% of your time. That means you’ll actually get paid to study. The course is run as an Apprenticeship – you will be in the workplace and have face-to-face delivery in one of our centres every fortnight.

If you’re interested either call us on the number provided or look through our playworker vacancies that are already available. You can also contact us via our website chat facility.

Course assessment

End-Point Assessment.

Observation, professional discussion and multiple choice questions.

Course progression

You will be able to go on to complete Level 3 (advanced) Apprenticeships. This could be the L3 Teaching Assistant Standard or L3 Early Years Standard. You may wish to consider a L3 access to higher education course to go to University, or get a full-time role in the industry. The world will truly be your oyster!