Completing a Playwork qualification opens up a wide range of career paths, both directly working with children and young people, and in broader community or education roles. Here are some different directions you could go:

Direct Playwork Roles

• Playworker – in after-school clubs, holiday clubs, adventure playgrounds, or community play settings.
• Senior Playworker / Play Coordinator – leading sessions, managing a team, and organising play provision.
• Play Development Officer – designing and promoting play opportunities within a local authority or organisation.
• Play Therapist (with further training) – using play as a therapeutic tool to support children’s emotional wellbeing.

Childcare & Education

• Teaching Assistant (TA) – supporting children in schools, especially with play-based learning.
• Early Years Practitioner – working in nurseries or preschool settings, using play to support development.
• Forest School Leader (with extra training) – leading outdoor play and learning sessions.

Youth & Community Work

• Youth Worker – supporting young people through play, social activities, and personal development.
• Community Development Worker – helping create safe and engaging play and leisure opportunities in local communities.
• Family Support Worker – using play as a tool to engage with children and families in need of support.

Health & Wellbeing

• Hospital Play Specialist (with additional training) – supporting children in hospitals through play to reduce stress and anxiety.
• Support Worker for children with ALN/SEN – using play to meet individual learning and developmental needs.
• Residential Care Worker – supporting children and young people in care settings through structured and unstructured play.

Leadership & Further Opportunities

• Setting Manager – running an after-school club, holiday club, or play provision service.
• Trainer / Assessor in Playwork – teaching and mentoring future playworkers.
• Policy or Advocacy Role – influencing how play is valued and supported at national or local levels.

A Playwork qualification is very flexible because play underpins learning, development, and wellbeing. With further training, it can also act as a stepping stone into teaching, social care, or specialist therapy roles.

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