Award in Transition to Playwork (4974)

Last Updated: 28 Jun 2022

Our suite of Playwork qualifications is designed to give you the skills, knowledge and competence required for a career in playwork. The suite consists of qualifications at levels 2, 3 and 5. More information on the suite can be found on the 4964 qualifications web page. You'll gain the skills to communicate effectively with children and young people and to support their development through play. This suite of qualifications has been designed by both industry and educational experts.

The Level 3 Award in Transition to Playwork replaces the 4964-30 Level 3 Award in Transition to Playwork (From Early Years) at Level 3, is ideal if you are exploring a career in Playwork or wish to extend the use of Play within your current work setting.

The qualification is aimed at learners who have already achieved a level 3 qualification in working with children in a number of different contexts.

Available to deliver in the following:
  • England
  • Wales – please check QiW website for available funding
  • Northern Ireland

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form. 

General Information

What Is Involved In Studying This Course?

The aim of the Level 3 Award in Transition to Playwork is to provide learners, who have experience, and who are qualified at level 3 in working with children, with an understanding of the Playwork Principles and theories that underpin playwork practice.

The qualification also aims to cover how applying the Playwork Principles and theories provide a framework that enables and supports children’s play and their overall development.  It also offers an opportunity for reflection on the learner’s own practice and supports progression to competence based playwork qualifications. 

 To complete the Level 3 Award, you must achieve 8 credits from 3 mandatory units.

  • A Playworker’s understanding of play
  • Playwork in Practice
  • Playwork in the wider context.
What Careers Can This Lead To?

Completing the qualification supports progression to a role in a playwork setting or supports the learner to develop in play practice in a range of settings.

What Is Involved With Delivering This Course?

To deliver these qualifications you will need staff who are occupationally competent in Playwork who are current and have maintained relevant continuing professional development. 

Centre Approval
City & Guilds centres already approved for 4964-30 Level 3 Award in Transition to Playwork (From Early Years), the 4964-03 Level 3 Diploma in Playwork and the 4964-05 Level 5

Diploma in Playwork, will be given automatic approval for the 4974-30 Award in Transition to Playwork.

Centres who do not currently offer Level 3 of above qualifications in Playwork will need to apply for Qualification approval.

To find all the resource requirements, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

Level 3

The level 3 Award in Transition to Playwork (from early years) has been designed for candidates who have successfully completed a level 3 early years qualification based on either the early years, care and education standards or the children's care, learning and development standards.
What Careers Can This Lead To?
Learners could progress to the 4964-03 Level 3 Diploma in Playwork
Level 3 Award in Transition to Playwork (4974-30)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026 Supportive services: Learning Assistant

Level 3 Award in Transition to Playwork

  • Accreditation No: 603/7742/2 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: VRQ This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: Data unavailable This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: Data unavailable The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £69.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Additional information for centres

Learning Assistant

LEARNING ASSISTANT IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS QUALIFICATION

Learning Assistant is an innovative and cost effective e-portfolio solution that allows colleges and training providers to dramatically improve the delivery of their vocational qualifications.

Learn more about Learning Assistant >

Here you can find all documents related to this suite of qualifications.

By clicking on the section headings below, you can access a variety of documents such as the qualification handbooks and assessment materials, Statements of Purpose, and recognition letters from industry and employers.

Some documents may be password protected. Passwords can be retrieved by logging in to Walled Garden and visiting the Administration section of the relevant qualification catalogue page.

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form. 

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For Learners

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> (4964) Playwork