Level 3 Diploma in Playwork

Are you seeking a more independent role in playwork? Our Level 3 Diploma in Playwork online course will enable you to use your initiative to create effective play environments for children aged 4 to 16.

The CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Playwork is a must-have for ambitious playworkers, keen to progress to more specialist or senior roles. This engaging course covers key concepts in playwork such as: self-directed play, safeguarding well-being, supporting positive outcomes, relationships in play, and health and safety.

To support more independent working, the Diploma route covers a broad range of higher-level skills. So, whether you’d like to learn how to develop, evaluate and promote a service or how to approach family liaison, managing budgets or recruitment – there is scope to tailor the course to suit your career plans.

Studying the Level 3 Diploma in Playwork online builds theoretical knowledge and offers opportunities for workplace application. Through this practical, engaging course, you’ll demonstrate your competency in playwork and gain skills that put you a step-ahead when it comes to effective service provision and management.

Why study Level 3 Diploma in Playwork?

This course is accredited by CACHE, the UK’s only specialist awarding organisation for the childcare sector. By studying with NEC, you’ll benefit from the support of a personal tutor, plus 24/7 access to NEC Laser, an online learning system that makes submitting work, completing activities and accessing feedback simple.

You’ll be assessed via an online portfolio of evidence – including learning plans, written tasks, discussion and direct observation, alongside face-to-face assessment in the workplace.

Course content

Award in Playwork units

• Understand playwork principles
• Understand children and young people’s self-directed play
• Understand how to safeguard the wellbeing of children and young people’s play

Certificate in Playwork units

• Understand the organisational framework for play
• Understand how to support positive outcomes for children and young people
• Understand relationships in the play environment
• Understand health, safety and security in the play environment
• Understand how to plan for and support children and young people’s self-directed play
• Engage in personal development in health, social care of children and young people’s settings

Diploma in Playwork units

• Contribute to an organisational framework that reflects the needs and protects the rights of children and young people
• Develop and maintain a healthy, safe and secure play environment for children and young people
• Develop and promote positive relationships in the play environment
• Plan for and support children and young people’s self-directed play

Optional units

• Work with colleagues in a playwork team
• Engage with parents, carers and families in a play environment
• Administer playwork provision
• Inclusive play, working with disabled children and young people
• Promote own organisation in the community
• Contribute to evaluating, developing and promoting services
• Organise and supervise travel
• Manage a budget
• Recruit, select and keep colleagues
• Provide learning opportunities for colleagues

Our course tutors

You’ll have access to support from a personal tutor. All NEC tutors are subject experts, with experience of supporting online learners.

What you need to know

Accreditation

• This course is accredited by the NCFE CACHE

Format

• Online learning with support from a personal tutor

Entry requirements

• A good command of basic English
• At least 18 years of age
• Working or volunteering regularly in a playwork setting. You will need to give details of your workplace setting when you enrol, and your manager will need to confirm some information
• Your playwork setting must be able to arrange one or more sessions of practical assessments.
• You need to be able to gather evidence – such as accident reports, health and safety procedures, feedback on child behaviour – from the playwork setting where you work. Your face-to-face assessor will require you to talk about your experiences.
• You need to be based within the UK, or if you are overseas within Europe. If you are based overseas it is essential that you contact our course advice team before enrolling on this course.
• Registration with CACHE – we will take care of this process, but you will need to pay an additional registration fee, which is not included in the price of your course, when you enrol

Hours

• Complete at your own pace across 24 months
• Approx. 650 study hours

Assessment

• You need to gain a total of 65 credits to achieve the full Diploma in Playwork
  • 46 credits by completing the mandatory units, including the units from the Award and Certificate
  • 19 credits from a choice of two or three optional units
• You will create an online portfolio of evidence using different formats such as learning plans, written tasks and discussions, and direct observation

Resources

• No additional set texts required

Requirements

• Internet access
• Computer operating system, browser and software to enable you to complete the course using the NEC Laser online learning platform

What's included?

Our course fees are open and honest to help you plan for any additional costs.

Your course fee includes:

• Access to the NEC Laser online learning platform
• All the course materials you need to complete the course
• Support from a personal tutor for up to 18 months from your date of enrolment
• Assignment marking
• NEC’s guide to study skills: How to Succeed as an Independent Learner
• Spelling, punctuation and grammar guide
• Time planner to help you plan your study timetable

Your course fee does not cover:

• CACHE registration fee – NEC will register you with CACHE but the £125 registration fee is not included in your course fee and will need to be an additional payment at the time of enrolment.

Exams and assessment

• You need to gain a total of 65 credits to achieve the full Diploma in Playwork
  • 46 credits by completing the mandatory units, including the units from the Award and Certificate
  • 19 credits from a choice of two or three optional units
• You will create an online portfolio of evidence using different formats such as learning plans, written tasks and discussions, and direct observation

Ideal for those who need a flexible training solution to progress in their playwork career.

• No formal entry requirements
• A good command of basic English
• At least 18 years of age
• Working or volunteering regularly in a playwork setting.
• Your playwork setting must be able to arrange one or more sessions of practical assessments.
• You need to be based within the UK, or if you are overseas within Europe. If you are based overseas it is essential that you contact our course advice team before enrolling on this course.
• Registration with CACHE – we will take care of this process, but you will need to pay an additional registration fee, which is not included in the price of your course, when you enrol

Gaining a Diploma level qualification opens up more autonomous managerial positions in playwork across all settings. Specific roles include: playwork development officer, hospital playworker or adventure centre supervisor.