Playwork
All about playwork
Playwork can be described as the art of working with playing children. Playwork is child-centred and ensures that play is the main focus.
In this section you will find information about:
- Qualifications and training
- The Playwork Principles
- Registered playwork provision
- Safeguarding in play provision
- Quality assurance
- Required qualifications
- Workforce development
![children jumping off platforms](https://play.wales/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/playwork-landing-page-scaled.jpg)
Playwork is a recognised occupation with a set of professional standards, training, qualifications and careers.
Playwork can be a full-time career or something that fits alongside study or other work. Understanding how to support children’s play is the most important task for a playworker. Playwork is different to many other professions involving work with children where the focus may be on learning, physical activity or the arts, for example.
Important qualities for playworkers include:
- A belief that children are the experts about their own play
- A belief that children have a right to play
- A commitment to including all children
- A willingness to let children take the lead in their own play
- A willingness to step back when necessary so children can play in their own way
- An awareness that risk taking is an important part of play and that an adult’s role is to balance risk taking with play’s physical and emotional benefits
- An appreciation of the value of observation and how this helps adults understand children and their play
- An ability to reflect on good and bad experiences to improve playwork practice
- A creative approach to working with others
- A good understanding of how to provide resources for play.
![adult and child playing](https://play.wales/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/registered-play-provision-1-scaled.jpg)
Open access playwork provision and out of school childcare provision information and resources
![bot and girl playing together](https://play.wales/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/PO_080622_MOUNT-STUART_43-scaled.jpeg)
The professional and ethical framework as well as a definition of what is unique about playwork
![adult and child crafting in forest](https://play.wales/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/training-and-qualifications-1-scaled.jpg)
Playwork training and qualifications for the play and playwork sectors in Wales
![child playing on swing](https://play.wales/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/PO_250921_PlayWales_23-scaled.jpeg)
Introduction to our new quality assurance programme, Chwarae o Safon – the playwork quality mark
![children playing in sand](https://play.wales/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/workforce-development-scaled.jpg)
Making sure the play and playwork workforces have the support they need to understand, value and support opportunities for play
![child playing with water](https://play.wales/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/required-qualifications-scaled.jpg)
Playwork qualifications needed for working with children in a regulated after-school or open access setting
![adult and child playing with ball](https://play.wales/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/PO_310719_CWMBRAN_33-scaled.jpeg)
Child protection information and procedures for playworkers and playwork settings