Launching Play Wales’ new playwork quality mark

To celebrate Dydd Gŵyl Dewi (St David’s Day), we are launching Chwarae o Safon – Play Wales’ new playwork quality mark.

Chwarae o Safon is Play Wales’ new playwork quality mark. The meaning of the Welsh title ‘Chwarae o Safon’ in English is ‘Play of Quality’. Chwarae o Safon is intended to be used in unregulated playwork settings, as well as settings regulated by Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW). It also applies to those involved in playwork in non-dedicated playwork settings.

There are two different playwork quality mark awards, one focused on practice and the other on policy. Playwork settings can work towards one or both of these awards:

1. Chwarae o Safon – playwork practice quality mark

This assesses:

• children’s play experiences
• the playwork environment.

This is suitable for settings using a playwork approach or whose staff have completed playwork training or qualifications and want to show good playwork practice. As well as dedicated playwork settings, this can also include youth work, childcare, education, sports and health provision.

2. Chwarae o Safon – playwork policy quality mark

This assesses:

• playwork policy and practice
• the playwork organisation.

This is suitable for settings whose main purpose is supporting children’s play using a playwork approach. This includes both regulated and unregulated settings that define themselves as either peripatetic or play ranger provision, adventure playgrounds, out of school childcare, open access playwork or street play. It focuses on the policies, procedures and organisational ethos that support playwork practice. To achieve this quality mark, settings will already have received the playwork practice quality mark.

Chwarae o Safon builds on and replaces two Play Wales resources:

• The First Claim … a framework for playwork quality assessment (2001)
• The First Claim – desirable processes (2002).

Find out more

Please get in touch with us to find out more about how you can apply for the Chwarae o Safon quality mark, and for current costs.

Getting started 

Chwarae o Safon involves both self-assessment and external assessment. The guidance features more detailed information about the playwork quality mark and the different stages of the process. The Self-assessment and evidence framework is a fillable form to gather evidence in readiness for external assessment.

Download the Chwarae o Safon guidance

Download the Chwarae o Safon Self-assessment and evidence framework

Find out more about playwork quality assurance