Quality of playwork training under fire

Nicole Curnow
Wednesday, July 6, 2005

The playwork sector is in danger of becoming a 'diluted workforce' unless the quality of play qualifications improves, according to a playwork educator. Speaking at last month's conference of the London Centre for Playwork Education and Training, Phillip Smith, training and development officer for the early years and childcare section in Wandsworth, London, said, 'Some of the new qualifications - in particular the CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Playwork and to an extent the Diploma in Playwork - are very weak in terms of aspects of child and adolescent development, and the level of evidence required to pass them is low.