Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning & Development: Core

Who is the qualification for?

The Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Core qualification has been designed for post-16 learners in Wales, working or seeking to work, in:

• Regulated childcare settings with families and children under the age of 8
• NHS children’s services for those working with families and children 0-19. This includes child health settings

This qualification is suitable for learners who have achieved a Level 1 qualification or who have no previous knowledge of the children’s care, play, learning and development sectors.

What does the qualification cover?

The qualification covers the fundamental knowledge and understanding of the new All Wales Induction Framework for Early Years and Childcare and reflects a range of different roles and ages.

Completing this qualification enables learners to:

• Develop their knowledge and understanding of the core principles and values which underpin children’s care, play, learning and development practice
• Develop their knowledge and understanding of ways of working in the children’s care, play, learning and development sectors
• Develop knowledge and understanding which informs effective practice within children’s care, play, learning and development
• Have the core knowledge and understanding to support progression on to further study or employment within children’s care, play, learning and development

Qualification structure

The Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Core qualification is a linear qualification. To achieve the qualification, learners must achieve the following five mandatory units:

Assessment

The Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory qualification is assessed through a combination of internal and external assessment. Candidates must successfully complete:

• Three externally set, internal scenario-based assessments and
• One externally set, externally marked multiple-choice test

What could the qualification lead to?

This qualification supports learners to progress to further qualifications including the following qualifications within the suite of Health and Social Care, and Childcare qualifications for Wales:

• Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice
• Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory
• Level 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice
• Level 3 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Practice and Theory
  

The qualification also supports opportunities into employment. However, it should be noted:

It is a requirement that Social Care Wales host a list of required qualifications that an individual working within the children’s care, learning and development sector will need. It will be a requirement of this list that those working within children’s care, learning and development sector will require both the Level 2 Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development: Core qualification and a practice qualification relevant to the role.

For more information on requirements to work within the Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development sector, please refer to Social Care Wales’ qualification framework for social care and regulated childcare in Wales https://socialcare.wales/qualification-framework 

Those working in regulated childcare settings with children aged 8-12 years will also need to complete an additional play work qualification identified by Skills Active to meet regulatory requirements.