National Occupational Standards for playwork

The Playwork National Occupational Standards (NOS) are a set of standards outlining the competencies playworkers need in various areas of work.

For playwork, the NOS include the knowledge, understanding and skills required to be a playworker, playworker in charge or playwork manager.

The NOS are used to write playwork qualifications. They can also be used by playworkers and employers to develop training, job descriptions and assess quality playwork practice.

Between 2024 and 2026, the UK Playwork NOS Consortium undertook a review of the National Occupational Standards for playwork. Following the review, new NOS were published – in English and in Welsh – in September 2026. Alongside the NOS, the consortium has also published a Functional Map and Glossary.

The NOS are published on the UK Standards and Framework Database.

NOS review

The UK Playwork NOS Consortium comprises Play Wales, Play Scotland, PlayBoard Northern Ireland, Play England and the Playwork Foundation. The consortium was established to plan strategically across the four nations for the future of workforce development and sector skills initiatives, including a review of the NOS.

The consortium self-funded the review, which was led by Play Wales. More information about the review is available in these updates produced by the consortium: