Course Details

This 10 hour course is suitable for anyone working with children who want to develop their own creativity and gain some new ideas to put into practice. The course explores several practical ideas and creative games, whilst based on relevant theory around children's play. It also develops a personal creative journey for each individual participant.

Children are naturally creative and use many forms to express themselves which aids their overall development and encourages learning. You don't need to be a great artist or painter to encourage creativity in children, but maybe a few different ideas would support you in your setting in helping make it a creative place for the children you work with.

It is linked to the Playwork National Occupational Standards (NOS) at level 3 and will provide learners with information, inspiration and ideas to support their development as creative practitioners and increase further understanding of the relationships between play and creativity.

Course content

This course is designed to be delivered over four sessions of 2½ hours plus personal reflective practice of five hours making a total of 15 hours of study. You are required to attend 80% of the sessions in order for you to be considered for a full certificate. More details on the certification process are given later.

To get the most from this course you are asked to participate in all learning exercises, engage in all discussions and challenge yourself and others in a positive and constructive way. You may be required to undertake some of your learning outdoors.

• Session 1: Playing Creatively - what is play, what is creativity? 
• Session 2: Playing Creatively - transforming spaces
• Session 3: Playing Creatively - understanding intervention
• Session 4: Playing Creatively - the creative practitioner

Target group

This course is designed to meet the needs of Playworkers, Childcare Professionals, Extended Services Providers, Early Years Practitioners and Teachers. The course will support learners to gain confidence and competence in facilitating playing creatively and focuses on participative learning, practical group work and individual reflective practice.

Entry requirements

Learners must demonstrate current experience of working with children and young people in a play context, which may include holiday play schemes, extended school services, play times, public park & spaces as well as established play centres and adventure playgrounds. It is desirable that learners have undertaken training in playwork at Level 3 and be familiar with the Playwork Principles, but introduction to some playwork theory will be included in the course.