Playwork Level 5

HIGHER APPRENTICESHIP

Playwork Level 5

Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship

Playwork The Level 5 Leadership and Management of Children’s Care Play Learning and Development qualification will enable learners to develop and demonstrate their knowledge, understanding, behaviours, skills and practice within a children’s care play, learning, and development care setting.

Contents Apprenticeship Framework Level 5 Playwork Essential Skills Qualifications Welsh Language Development

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Apprenticeship Framework This qualification is for those in a playwork related role within the Early Years sector. This qualification is practice-based and assesses learners’ knowledge and practice. It is designed for learners in work-based learning.

The programme prepares learners for roles such as: • Setting Manager • Deputy Manager

Who is this apprenticeship for?

The Level 5 Diploma in Playwork qualification is for people who ideally hold a Playwork Level 3 Qualification. Learners must be in a strategic role and responsible for large or multiple play settings. This relates to ‘out of school care’ e.g. breakfast/afterschool club, holiday club or wrap around care.

People undertaking this professional framework will have considerable experience in Playwork and be in a managerial role.

Overview This qualification confirms occupational competence for workers who work at advanced practitioner level, or who lead or manage practice in Wales and contribute towards high quality childcare in Wales.

On completion of this apprenticeship you will achieve the following: •

Level 5 QCF Diploma in Advanced Playwork

•

Essential Skills in Application of Number, Communications and Digital Literacy

•

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Prentis-iaith Welsh Language Development

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Level 5 Playwork This is the qualification you will be completing alongside your employment within an Early Years setting.

Length of time to complete We will tailor your learning programmes to suit your needs, so that each learner’s experience is unique. While learner’s needs will be different, the recommended time to complete this programme is 24 months.

Course Delivery This programme will primarily be delivered through 1-to-1 sessions with a member of the ACT delivery team, using a mixture of face-to-face and remote learning sessions. An ACT assessor will meet with the learner, either in the workplace or through digital means (for example, Microsoft Teams) once a month for approximately two hours to support progress.

Learners will also be set tasks to complete between each visit, for approximately 4 hours per month (please note – this is just a guide and will vary based on learner needs).

What you will learn The Level 5 Diploma in Playwork is available in two pathways: Pathway 1: Advanced Practitioner in Playwork Pathway 2: Manager in Playwork To achieve the Level 5 Diploma in Advanced Playwork, the learner must achieve all 9 mandatory units and either additional mandatory pathway 1 or 2, as well as several role related optional units.

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Mandatory Units •

Understand the Principles and Theories Underpinning Playwork Provision

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Understand How to Work with Colleagues and Other Key Partners to Develop an Organisational Framework for Children and Young People’s Play

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Understand How to Develop, Manage and Review Operational Plans for Play Provision

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Understand How to Establish and Develop Working Relationships to support Children and Young People’s Play

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Establish and Develop Working Relationships to Support Children and Young People’s Play

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Develop and Implement Procedures to Safeguard Children and Young People

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Champion Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

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Work with Colleagues and Other Partners to Develop an Organisational Framework for Play

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Applying a Reflective Approach to Improve Professional Development

Additional Mandatory Unit (Pathway 1) •

Understand How to Research, Design and Facilitate Possibilities for Children and Young People’s Self-Directed Play

Additional Mandatory Unit (Pathway 2) •

Develop, Manage and Review Operational Plans for Play Provision

*Learners must also complete a selection of optional units that are relevant to their role and to the children that they care for within their organisation/setting.

Have any questions about our Level 5 Playwork?

We are here to help. If you have any further questions or enquiries about the main qualification element of the programme, please contact our Route Manager:

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Helen Clarke Route Manager for CCPLD, CYP & PW helenclarke@acttraining.org.uk

Essential Skills Qualifications When you agree to undertake an apprenticeship, you may be required to complete Essential Skills as part of your apprenticeship framework.

What are Essential Skills?

The Essential Skills Wales (ESW) will be initially assessed via an online Wales Essential Skills Toolkit (WEST) Assessment. If a Learner already holds an ESW certificate or equivalent qualification this can provide a proxy and learners will not need to complete that ESW element of the programme. Where a Learner is not exempt an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) will be generated from the initial WEST assessment. The modules delivery will include independent learning via WEST, prior to guided learning sessions preparing the Learner for their assessment. ESWs are assessed via controlled tasks and confirmatory tests for Communication and Application of Number, Digital Literacy is assessed via a controlled task and structured discussion.

Proxy If you already hold qualifications, these may be used as ‘proxy’ towards your apprenticeship framework. As a result, you will be exempt from achieving that particular Essential Skill, if you wish. This will be discussed with you before you sign up. Below are some examples, although this list is not exhaustive.

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Essential Skill

Proxy

Communication Level 1

GCSE G or above, Key Skills or Essential Skills Wales

Communication Level 2

GCSE C or above, Key Skills or Essential Skills Wales

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Communication Level 3

AS/A Level E or above, Key Skills or Essential Skills Wales

Application of Number Level 1

GCSE G or above, Key Skills or Essential Skills Wales

Application of Number Level 2

GCSE C or above, Key Skills or Essential Skills Wales

Application of Number Level 3

AS/A Level E or above, Key Skills or Essential Skills Wales

Welsh Language Development As part of your Welsh Government funded framework, you will be supported to develop and maintain your Welsh language skills for the workplace.

What is Welsh Language Development?

ACT are committed to playing their part in the Welsh Government Million Speakers strategy. All learners will complete the Prentis-iaith Welsh Language Development course as part of your framework with us.

Don’t panic – this is as a means of development and is aimed to support you with the development of your Welsh Language skills. This course is specially designed to give apprentices a basic knowledge of Welsh for the workplace and consists of 6 interactive modules to complete online. The course will be completed throughout your framework, with support from your assessor.

Already bilingual?

If you are Welsh speaking you will undertake your learning bilingually. In practice this means that you can choose the elements of your learning that you would like to complete through the medium of Welsh. You will be able to discuss your particular preferences with your assessor.

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