29.06.2026 |
Vote for the winner of Learner of the Year award 2026
A learner who has worked hard to achieve or make progress towards a qualification with Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs. This may have involved supporting peers, participating well in sessions, making the most of the learning experience, or overcoming challenges with passion and determination.
Below are anonymised nominations for the shortlisted Out of School Childcare Clubs / Playworkers. Please read the descriptions below and cast your vote for the winner here.
She is an extremely deserving nominee for Learner of the Year due to her outstanding commitment, professionalism, and dedication within her Welsh setting. Since returning to work, she has shown exceptional work ethic and determination, particularly in developing both her Welsh language skills and her confidence in using Welsh within the workplace. Her progress has been clear to see and has had a positive impact on both colleagues and children.
Throughout her Level 3 qualification, her commitment has been outstanding. She has attended all taught sessions consistently and has contributed meaningfully during discussions and activities. The quality of her written work is consistently excellent, demonstrating a strong understanding of playwork principles and reflective practice, she also responds exceptionally well to feedback, always taking opportunities to improve and develop further.
A positive role model to younger and fellow staff members alike. She is approachable, supportive, and always willing to help others when needed. She embraces new ideas and consistently values and encourages children’s voice within her practice, ensuring children feel listened to and included in decisions affecting their play experiences.
I strongly believe she deserves this award in recognition of her dedication, growth, and the positive influence she has within her setting and wider team.
I am delighted to nominate this person for Learner of the Year in recognition of her outstanding commitment, personal growth and achievements throughout her learning journey on the Level 2 Award in Playwork Practice (L2APP) with Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs.
She was put forward for the course, following her volunteering experience at holiday clubs supporting children with Additional Learning Needs (ALN). From the very beginning, she showed genuine passion, dedication and a natural ability to support children in an inclusive and meaningful way.
As an autistic young person herself, she brought a unique perspective, empathy and understanding to the course. She consistently demonstrated strong knowledge of inclusive practice and showed real compassion and patience when discussing how to support children with differing needs and preferences. Her lived experience allowed her to contribute thoughtful insights during discussions, helping to enrich the learning experience for others within the group.
Throughout the course, she approached every activity with enthusiasm and determination. She particularly thrived during the practical and play-based elements, including outdoor sessions and fire pit activities, where she showed growing confidence, teamwork and creativity. She actively engaged with her peers, contributed positively to group tasks and always displayed a willingness to learn and develop her skills further.
One of the most significant outcomes of her completing this course is the impact it has had on her personal development and future opportunities. Successfully achieving the qualification enabled her to gain employment with the club, allowing her to begin earning her own money and take an important step towards independence. This qualification also represents her very first certificate and formal achievement, making this accomplishment especially meaningful and deserving of recognition.
They have been an absolute pleasure to teach and support. Her positivity, resilience, commitment to learning and passion for inclusive playwork make her an incredibly deserving candidate for Learner of the Year. She is a wonderful example of how education and opportunity can empower young people to grow in confidence, achieve their goals and make a valuable contribution to their community.
This learner works at a Montessori setting, so had a prior understanding of the benefits of children learning independently…in their own time.
They came to Session 1 with a keen interest; and quickly developed an appreciation of the theories; and the values + ethics of the Playwork Principles; her eyes were opened to the SPED benefits and the importance of children independently engaging in the Play Process.
She made the most of the session research links and resources; her further reading hugely supporting her Playwork knowledge and thinking; and informing her wonderful workbooks, observations + reflections on practice.
Her playwork journey has been quite remarkable, she has effected positive changes to her practice and the Play environment…encouraging team members, building on Loose Parts, extending opportunities + developing space for engagement with the Curriculum; advocating for unadulterated Play + Children’s Rights …and taking Playwork forward at the setting.
She has been an amazing learner; a valued and supportive, fun and engaged + engaging group member. It has been a pleasure accompanying her impressive Playwork Journey…really proud of how quickly she took everything in, mulled over, digested, reflected…and is now SLLRRRP’ing + wearing her WELLIES with pride; implementing Playwork with knowledge, self-belief, sensitivity and a ‘genuine’ Playworker approach and attitude!
We wish you all the very best and would like to say a huge thank you for being such a refreshing and inspirational learner / member of the ‘gang’.
BOOM…! (inside joke)
