Playwork FdA
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Overview
Developed in partnership with Playwork South East and SkillsActive, this course will enhance the professional development of play, out-of-school and childcare workers, supervisors and coordinators.
Working with children and young people in play and out-of-school settings provides the focus for the course via the placement (your current workplace) and there are also opportunities to visit other settings in year 2. Work-based learning and practice and university-based work are closely linked throughout the course.
University learning includes taught sessions, discussion groups and smaller reflective practice groups. In between these you will communicate with other students and the tutors via studentcentral - our online learning environment. A mentor will visit your workplace and discuss the practical ways you can apply the knowledge that you gain.
Course duration
Part-time: 2.5 years
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Course content
Course structure
The course is part-time and runs for two years and three months: one summer term April-June followed by two academic years September-June.
Each year of study includes a block of approximately three study days in April, and a Friday-Saturday session each month. There may be additional weekday sessions during the first stage of the course - full details will be given upon request and/or application to the course.
As well as attending university, you will undertake work-based activities, reflection and private study (one day per week in total).
Areas of study
The programme is modular and will develop your understanding in areas such as play theories, the play environment, staff recruitment and management, national and local play initiatives and provision, inclusion, safeguarding children, and how to manage risk. You will look at your own practice in a reflective way and become aware of how to improve these practices. Each module has an assignment attached to it as an assessment and these vary from presentations, wikis, handbooks and written essays.
Syllabus
Year 1 (April-July)
Studying in HE for Professional Development in Working with Children and Young People
Children and Young People's Learning and DevelopmentYear 2 (September-June)
Professional Reflective Practice in Learning and Development
Children and Playwork
The Professional Playworker
The Playing Environment
Safeguarding and Promoting Welfare and WellbeingYear 3 (September-June)
Social Policy, Equality and Inclusion
Further Professional Reflective Practice in Learning and Development
Playwork Culture and Communities
The Organisational Context of Playwork
Contributing to the Management and Development of Play Provision
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Entry requirements
Typical entry requirements
individual offers may varyFor non-native speakers of English:
IELTS 6.0 overall, 6.0 in writing.Other:
Applicants are normally expected to meet the following entry requirements: 12 months experience working with children in play and related settings; currently employed (or a volunteer) in a playwork or a related setting for a minimum of three hours per week; completion of Level 3 playwork training - please contact us if you have a different qualification; consent from employer to support mentoring, assessment and workplace course activities. -
Location
Location
Falmer -
Career opportunities
Successful students will be deemed to be professionally qualified as play and child-care development workers. This qualification is gaining national recognition by employers and is seen as greatly enhancing career development. The programme will develop your understanding in areas such as: staff recruitment and management; national and local play initiatives and provision, the history of play and how to manage risk. You will also look at your own practice and that of colleagues in a reflective way and be able to expand and improve it.
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Fees and costs
The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2012-13. Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study.
The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take. Different rules apply to research degrees - please contact the Doctoral College for advice.
To help you plan for your time here we will be providing further information about what is included in your tuition fee, and any optional costs you may need to budget for, later in the autumn.
Our website wwww.brighton.ac.uk/money provides advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee paying status.
FdA Playwork
Please contact us directly for exact tuition fees for this course.
