🎨 NSQ/QCF · Level 2–3 · Play-Based Learning

Play Work

Specialist training in play-based pedagogy — covering children's rights to play, theoretical approaches, enabling environments, inclusive practice, and how the practitioner supports children's socialisation and behaviour through play.

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9
Learning Outcomes
50
Guided Hours
5
Credit Value
L3
Level

Who This Programme Suits

  • Play Workers in Schools & After-School Clubs
  • Play Support Workers in Community Settings
  • Nursery Practitioners focusing on play-led learning
  • Primary Care Play Facilitators
  • Early Years staff extending specialist skills
  • Community play project workers
Core Reference

Unit: CCD/014/L3
Play and Learning · Level 3
Credit Value: 5 · 50 Guided Hours

The Philosophy

Why Play is the Heart of Learning

Play is not just what children do — it is how they develop, communicate, create, and make sense of the world. This programme trains practitioners to facilitate, extend and protect children's right to play.

🧠

Cognitive Development

Play builds problem-solving, creativity, language, and early literacy — children who play deeply develop stronger academic foundations throughout their education.

❤️

Social & Emotional Growth

Through play, children develop empathy, resilience, self-regulation, and the ability to form meaningful relationships with peers and adults.

🌿

Physical Development

Active play develops gross and fine motor skills, spatial awareness, coordination and physical confidence — essential throughout early childhood.

Unit CCD/014/L3 — Play and Learning

9 Learning Outcomes

The Play Work programme is built on Unit 14 — a comprehensive exploration of play theory, children's rights, enabling environments, and the practitioner's role.

LO 1Understand the Role of Play
Learners will explain the innate drive for children to play, describe how play supports all areas of learning and development, and analyse the impact of play deprivation.
  • Explain the innate drive for children to play
  • Describe how play supports learning and development across all domains
  • Analyse the impact of play deprivation on children's learning and development
LO 2Understand Children's Rights in Relation to Play
Learners will understand children's legal and developmental rights to play and explain how Early Years settings actively protect and uphold those rights in daily practice.
  • Understand and articulate children's rights in relation to play
  • Explain how Early Years settings actively support children's rights to play
LO 3Understand Theoretical Approaches to Play & Learning
Learners will discuss theoretical and philosophical perspectives on play and learning, and explain how these inform contemporary early years practice.
  • Discuss how theoretical perspectives on play and learning inform practice
  • Discuss how philosophical approaches on play and learning inform practice
LO 4Understand Current Frameworks in Relation to Play
Learners will discuss how national and international current frameworks recognise, promote and structure play within early years provision and curricula.
  • Discuss current national and local frameworks in relation to play and learning requirements
LO 5Understand Types of Play for Children
Learners will explain child-initiated and adult-led play, describe and evaluate five types of play (physical, creative, imaginative, sensory, heuristic), and evaluate appropriate resources for each.
  • Explain child-initiated play and adult-led play and their respective roles
  • Describe characteristics and benefits of physical, creative, imaginative, sensory and heuristic play
  • Evaluate appropriate resources for each type of play
LO 6Understand the Enabling Play Environment
Learners will explain the key characteristics of an enabling indoor and outdoor play environment — design, safety, accessibility, and how the environment itself supports children's learning and development.
  • Explain the characteristics of an enabling indoor play environment
  • Explain the characteristics of an enabling outdoor play environment
LO 7Understand Inclusive Play Practice
Learners will discuss inclusive play practice in relation to current frameworks and describe how play is adapted to support the diverse interests, abilities and needs of all children.
  • Discuss inclusive play practice in relation to current frameworks
  • Describe how play supports the diverse interests and abilities of all children
LO 8Support Children's Socialisation & Behaviour Within Play
Learners will analyse the practitioner's role in supporting children's socialisation within play environments and evaluate strategies to help children manage their own behaviour positively.
  • Analyse the role of the EY practitioner in supporting socialisation within play environments
  • Evaluate a range of strategies to support children to manage their own behaviour
LO 9Understand Play at Different Stages of Development
Learners will discuss how children's play needs and preferences change across developmental stages, and the benefits of involving parents, siblings and peers in children's play.
  • Discuss how play needs and preferences change with the child's stage of development
  • Discuss benefits of involving others in children's play — parents, siblings, peers
Key Content

The 5 Types of Play

Learners explore the characteristics, benefits, and appropriate resources for each of the five play types covered in this programme.

🏃

Physical Play

Running, climbing, balancing and active outdoor play. Develops gross motor skills, coordination, spatial awareness and physical confidence in children of all ages.

Gross MotorOutdoorActive
🎨

Creative Play

Art, music, construction and making. Children explore materials, express ideas, and develop fine motor skills and creative thinking through hands-on activities.

Art & MakingFine MotorExpression
🎪

Imaginative Play

Role play, small world play, storytelling and drama. Children process experiences, develop language, empathy, and understanding of the world around them.

Role PlayLanguageEmpathy
🌊

Sensory Play

Sand, water, messy play and tactile experiences. Stimulates all senses, builds neural connections, and supports children with sensory processing differences.

SensesNeural Dev.Inclusion
🧭

Heuristic Play

Exploration of everyday objects and natural materials — treasure baskets, loose parts. Children discover properties, cause-and-effect, and develop curiosity-led thinking.

ExplorationLoose PartsCuriosity
🤝

Inclusive Play

Adapting all play environments, resources and approaches to ensure every child — regardless of ability, need or background — can fully participate and thrive.

All ChildrenAdaptionAccess
Play Work in Practice

Learning Through Play

Children engaged in outdoor physical play activity Trainee facilitating a creative play session Sensory play — water and sand exploration

Specialise in Play

Join ELESL's Play programme and become a specialist in the most powerful vehicle for children's learning — play itself.

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