The consultation on the draft National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Playwork is now open – and with the deadline approaching, The Playwork Foundation will be hosting a final “catch‑all” webinar on 1st May, 10am – 12pm, to support a final surge of responses from across the sector.
Whether you’ve already skimmed the documents, haven’t yet had time to engage, or simply want clarity before submitting your response, this webinar is your opportunity to get up to speed before the consultation closes.
👉 Register for the Playwork Foundation webinar now: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/playwork-nos-consultation-webinar-tickets-1986631800193
The consultation is seeking feedback on:
Three Key Role drafts:
- Support Playworker
- Playworker
- Playwork Manager
The Functional Map
A draft Functional Map has been developed to outline:
- the key purpose of playwork;
- the main and next-level functions; and,
- the relationship between standards and job roles.
This map is a core requirement of any NOS proposal and provides a structural overview of the entire framework.
A Glossary
The draft Glossary aims to:
- clarify terminology
- acknowledge variations across the four nations
- ensure consistency where possible
As the information sheet notes, the Glossary “provides clarity on the language and highlights where other terminology is also in use.”
Accessing the Draft NOS Materials
You can download all the NOS materials via the following platforms:
How to Respond
To submit feedback, complete the online consultation response form.
If you would like to submit feedback in some other way (e.g., audio, video) contact nosreview@play.wales let us know and we’ll do what we can to help.
The Consortium is encouraging responses from across the sector, including practitioners, managers, trainers, employers, awarding bodies, local authorities and community organisations.
What Happens Next…
After the consultation closes:
- The UK Playwork NOS Consortium and Writing Group will review all feedback
- A consultation report will be drafted and published
- The final NOS will be released around June 2026, in both Welsh and English
- Awarding Bodies and Awarding Organisations will begin re‑mapping or re‑developing their playwork qualifications
This marks the beginning of a new phase for the playwork workforce, with updated standards that reflect contemporary practice, international alignment and the core principles of a playwork approach.
The Playwork Foundation 