For children and young people, play is an essential part of a healthy childhood. Not only do children and young people play in their own homes and neighbourhoods but also in a range of staffed settings where adults who work or volunteer there, have a key role in creating and supporting the environment in which children can freely play.

The Playway course aims to provide learners with:

• an understanding of children’s freely chosen play and the roles and responsibilities of the adult in supporting children and young people’s play alongside safe working practices
• underpinning theory around play and playwork
• an understanding of the Playwork Principles, Children’s Rights and the importance of inclusion and equalities when working with children and young people
• confidence and skills when working with children and young people aged 4-16 in a range of settings including a play setting
• opportunities to gain practical experience of working and or volunteering with children and young people and to reflect on their experiences
• signposting to information about further training and job opportunities

The UK play sector covers a wide range of settings including playschemes, adventure playgrounds and out of school clubs. Working with children of all ages and abilities is hugely rewarding and training such as the ‘Play-Way’ course is essential to staff and volunteers to enable children to access high quality play opportunities.

Play-Way is a 14 hour course, divided into two hour sessions:

1. Understanding Play
2. The Importance of Play
3. Playing for ALL
4. Playing Safely
5. Supporting Play
6. Play Spaces
7. Reflective Practice

The course consists of many tasks and activities that should be fun and participatory in order to make your learning enjoyable and worthwhile. Your trainer will introduce the aims of each session and the notebook provided is for assessment tasks and your personal thoughts.

Assessment and Recognition

Play-Way is a 14-hour professional development training course that has previously been accredited and endorsed by Skillsactive, the Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure and Learning. The course, written by Playwork Partnerships at the University of Gloucestershire, provides learners with an introduction to children’s play and playwork. The course content provides some of the underpinning knowledge for Playwork National Occupational Standards at Level 2.

The course will consist of 2 days of learning (21, 23 Oct) and 1 day of assessment (30 Oct).