Higher Education
Higher Education

The University of Gloucestershire offers a variety of accessible Higher Education qualifications for people working in the playwork field. All are offered part time via distance learning. Qualifications include:

  • Certificate of Higher Education in Playwork
  • Diploma of Higher Education in Playwork
  • BA Hons Degree in Playwork
  • Graduate Diploma in Playwork
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Play and Playwork
  • MA in Play and Playwork

 

PGCert, PGDip and MA Professional Studies in Children's Play - give us your views.

The University of Gloucestershire is exploring the development of a revised postgraduate Award provisionally entitled 'Professional Studies in Children's Play'. It would build on the considerable experience and high profile gained within the University Play and Playwork Team in both the content and delivery of the programme. The proposed start date for this new programme would be September 2012.

The programme is intended to support professional practitioners in the design and management of children's play spaces. It is aimed at a diverse range of roles including playworkers, landscape designers, early years care and education practitioners, environmental educators and the growing movement to encourage and support children's access to natural spaces. The programme would encompass and extend much of the existing University postgraduate programme in Play and Playwork which is currently designed specifically for those professionals who have a direct role in the development of adult-staffed play provision. For detail of the existing programme see: http://resources.glos.ac.uk/subjectsandcourses/postgraduatetaught/plp/current.cfm

The distinctive feature of the programme is that it places an understanding of the nature and benefits of play for its own sake at the centre of study rather than seeing play as an instrument to achieve other purposes. We feel that such a programme is very timely given the increasing concerns in the minority world about the 'state of childhood' and the current focus within the UNCRC on Article 31 and children's right to play.

We consider this cross-professional distance-learning programme has the potential for international application. At this stage of development we are seeking feedback on the relevance, structure and content of the outline programme from organisations/groups involved in the development and support of children's play and play spaces.

We would greatly appreciate your comments on this draft proposal by completing and returning the brief online questionnaire at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CZXJWQH

To find out more about the programme click on the file below.

 

For further information or for an informal discussion about the course or careers in the playwork field please contact:

Playwork Course Leader

Faculty of Applied Sciences
University of Gloucestershire
Oxstalls Campus
Oxstalls Lane
Gloucester
GL2 9HW

Tel: 01242 71 5132

Fax: 01242 71 5222

E-mail: hsmith@glos.ac.uk

Playwork Resources

Playwork Partnerships has developed a variety of playwork training products that have been developed over a number of years. Here you can access useful materials to help you promote quality play and playwork opportunities.

 

Want to get involved?

Please contact us if you are interested in finding out about our work in more detail or would like to discuss working together on a development project or commission some research. For information on past project work please click here or for details of past research work click here.