Childcare & Early Years

Assessment and planning with children and young people

This element focuses on child-centred assessment and planning, ensuring practitioners actively involve children and young people in decisions about their care, learning, and development. It emphasises collaborative working to set achievable goals, implement interventions, and regularly review progress, promoting positive outcomes such as wellbeing, achievement, and independence. Effective practice requires adapting communication, respecting the child’s voice, and using observation and reflection to inform responsive planning.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Administer playwork provision

This subtopic covers the administrative procedures essential for safely operating a playwork setting, including managing access for children and visitors through secure registration and sign-in/out systems. It also addresses the accurate recording of attendance, incidents, accidents, and daily observations to comply with legal and regulatory requirements such as the EYFS and statutory guidance. Proficiency in these tasks supports safeguarding, effective communication with parents/carers, and continuous improvement of the play environment.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Carry Out Playwork in a School Setting

This subtopic explores how to implement playwork effectively within a school context, covering the design of safe, inclusive play spaces, the facilitation of self-directed play, and the alignment of playwork practice with school policies and safeguarding duties. Learners gain practical skills in adapting environments to support diverse play types while balancing the structured school day and promoting children's holistic development.

Focus Awards Level 2 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

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Accident prevention and fire safety when babysitting

This element focuses on the babysitter's responsibility to identify potential hazards, evaluate risks, and implement effective control measures to prevent accidents and fires. It equips learners with practical skills to conduct dynamic risk assessments in domestic settings, ensuring child safety through proactive hazard management.

Focus Awards Level 2 Award In Babysitting (RQF)

Assessment and observation in early years settings

This subtopic explores the integral role of observation and assessment within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, focusing on how practitioners use systematic techniques to track children's development and inform planning. It emphasises accurate record-keeping as a legal and professional requirement, while guiding learners to carry out ethical, valid observations in their setting and collaborate with parents/carers to design responsive next steps for each child's learning journey. Mastery of this area ensures practitioners can evidence each child's progress and tailor their practice to meet individual needs effectively.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children's Workforce (Early Years Educator) (RQF)

Child and young person development

This unit introduces the key stages of physical, cognitive, emotional, social and communication development from birth to young adulthood, alongside the complex interplay of genetic, environmental and cultural influences. It explores how both predictable and unexpected transitions—such as moving setting, family breakdown or bereavement—can impact a child’s well-being and progress, emphasising the practitioner’s role in providing stability and support.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Manage a budget

This subtopic equips learners with the skills to effectively manage financial resources within a playwork setting, ensuring that budgetary decisions support the provision of high-quality play opportunities. It covers the entire budget cycle—from preparation and monitoring to revision—while emphasising the importance of aligning financial planning with the specific needs and rhythms of a play environment, such as seasonal attendance fluctuations and the prioritisation of play value over profit.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Develop professional supervision practice in health and social care or children and young people’s work settings

This subtopic focuses on developing the knowledge and skills required to effectively conduct professional supervision within health, social care, or children and young people's settings. It explores the purpose and principles of supervision, including its role in performance management, accountability, and professional development. Learners will gain practical competence in preparing for and delivering supervision sessions, managing any arising conflicts, and critically evaluating their own supervisory practice to ensure continuous improvement and better outcomes for service users.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Introduction to communication in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings

This unit introduces the fundamental role of effective communication in health, social care, and early years settings. It equips learners to recognise individual communication needs and adapt their approach accordingly, reducing barriers through inclusive practice. The unit also ensures learners understand the legal and ethical boundaries of confidentiality, essential for maintaining trust and safety in care environments.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Support children through transitions

This subtopic focuses on equipping early years practitioners with the skills to identify and manage various transitions (such as moving rooms, starting school, family changes) and significant events (like bereavement or illness) that affect children. It explores the emotional and developmental impacts of these experiences and provides strategies to prepare and support children, ensuring their wellbeing and continuity of care in line with the EYFS framework and children's rights.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children's Workforce (Early Years Educator) (RQF)

Playwork Principles

This subtopic delves into the foundational Playwork Principles, emphasizing the intrinsic value of play for children's development and the unique role of the playworker in facilitating but not directing play. It explores how playworkers create environments that support self-directed play, risk-taking, and creativity, in line with the Playwork Principles established by the Playwork Principles Scrutiny Group. Understanding these principles is essential for anyone working in play settings to ensure that play remains freely chosen, personally directed, and intrinsically motivated.

Focus Awards Level 2 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Introduction to duty of care in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings

In health, social care, and children’s and young people’s settings, duty of care is a fundamental legal and professional requirement to protect service users from harm and promote their rights. Learners will explore the implications of breaching this duty, understand how to resolve conflicts between duty of care and individual autonomy, and learn effective complaint-handling procedures to maintain high-quality care standards.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Enable parents to develop ways of handling relationships and behaviour that contribute to everyday life with children

This element focuses on equipping learners with the skills to support parents in fostering positive relationships and managing children's behaviour in daily life. It covers understanding children's emotions, promoting constructive interactions, facilitating play and learning, and meeting physical needs while reflecting on one's own practice. The emphasis is on empowering parents through collaborative, strengths-based approaches to enhance child development and family well-being.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Organise and supervise travel

This element focuses on the practical and theoretical aspects of arranging and overseeing travel for children and young people in a playwork setting. It covers the planning, risk assessment, legal compliance, and active supervision required to ensure safe, enjoyable, and developmentally appropriate journeys. Learners gain the competence to coordinate transport logistics, manage group dynamics en route, and respond effectively to incidents, aligning with the Playwork Principles and relevant legislation.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Reflective Playwork Practice

This subtopic focuses on developing the ability to critically reflect on playwork practice to enhance the quality of play opportunities for children and young people. It involves systematically evaluating how play spaces are created and maintained, ensuring inclusivity, and responding to children's expressed and observed play needs, then using these insights to adapt practice. Effective reflection is integral to professional growth, enabling playworkers to make informed decisions that uphold the principles of playwork.

Focus Awards Level 2 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Support children with additional support needs

This subtopic equips learners with the skills to identify, plan for, and evaluate support for children with additional needs. It emphasizes early intervention strategies, inclusive practice, and collaborative working to promote positive outcomes. Learners will apply theoretical understanding to practical settings, ensuring they can meet the requirements of the EYFS and SEND Code of Practice.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children's Workforce (Early Years Educator) (RQF)

Relationships in the Play Environment

This subtopic explores the critical role of playworkers in fostering positive relationships within play settings. It examines effective communication techniques, strategies to support children's interactions with peers and adults, and the ways transitions affect these relationships. Learners will understand how to create inclusive, supportive environments that promote social and emotional development through play.

Focus Awards Level 2 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Introduction to equality and inclusion in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings

This element introduces the core principles of equality, diversity and inclusion within health, social care and children's settings. It emphasises the legal and ethical responsibility to provide non-discriminatory, person-centred support, promoting dignity and respect for all individuals regardless of their characteristics or circumstances.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Engage fathers in their children’s early learning

This element explores the critical role of fathers in early childhood development, grounded in policy frameworks such as the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and research highlighting the unique contributions of paternal involvement. It equips practitioners with strategies to build effective partnerships with fathers, addressing common barriers like work commitments and cultural perceptions, while using reflective practice to enhance inclusive engagement and improve children's learning outcomes. Practical application involves adapting communication, planning father-inclusive activities, and evaluating practice to foster a supportive environment for all family structures.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Support positive behaviour in children

This subtopic explores the proactive strategies and responsive techniques early years practitioners use to foster positive behaviour in young children, emphasising the importance of consistency, positive reinforcement, and partnership with parents/carers. It equips learners to model expected behaviour, implement clear boundaries, and support children in developing self-regulation and social skills, underpinned by key theoretical perspectives such as those of Bandura and Skinner. Practical application involves daily routines, planned activities, and individualised support to help children understand and manage their own behaviour.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children's Workforce (Early Years Educator) (RQF)

Plan for and support children and young people’s self-directed play

This element focuses on the playworker's role in systematically collecting and analysing information about children’s play needs and preferences to inform the design of dynamic, inclusive play spaces that foster self-directed play. It emphasises the practical skills of preparing and adapting environments with loose parts and flexible resources, while actively supporting children to lead their own play and manage inherent risks in line with the Playwork Principles. Effective practice requires balancing non-interventionist support with enabling children to assess and navigate challenges, thereby promoting autonomy, creativity, and resilience.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Support the development of reading, literacy and mathematical skills in early years settings

This element equips learners with the skills to foster early reading, literacy and mathematical development in young children. It emphasises the use of systematic synthetic phonics as a key approach to teaching reading, alongside a range of strategies for promoting early literacy and mathematics. Learners will plan, implement and critically reflect on activities designed to support children's progress in these fundamental areas, ensuring practice is informed by current educational frameworks and developmental theories.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children's Workforce (Early Years Educator) (RQF)

Engage in personal development in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings

This subtopic focuses on the practitioner's ability to critically reflect on their own practice within health, social care, or children's and young people's settings. Learners must demonstrate how they evaluate their performance against occupational standards, identify development needs, and create a structured personal development plan. The ultimate goal is to continuously improve competence and deliver high-quality, safe, and effective care or support.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF), Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Introduction to personal development in health, social care or children's and young people’s settings

Personal development in health and social care requires understanding competence and reflecting on practice. Agreeing a personal development plan helps identify learning needs. Developing knowledge and skills improves quality of care.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Promote own organisation in the community

This element focuses on equipping playworkers with the skills to strategically promote their playwork organisation within the community, ensuring visibility, building collaborative partnerships with other agencies, and adapting communication and work practices to engage diverse stakeholders effectively. It covers identification of promotional opportunities, developing sustainable links with relevant organisations and individuals, and applying flexible approaches to meet varied community needs while advocating for the value of play.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Support Relationships in the Play Environment

This element addresses the playworker's role in establishing and sustaining meaningful relationships with children and young people in a play setting, underpinned by playwork principles of empowerment and respect. It covers practical techniques for building trust, promoting social inclusion, and scaffolding children's interactions with peers and other adults. Learners will explore how effective communication and reflective practice contribute to a supportive play environment that fosters emotional well-being and social development.

Focus Awards Level 2 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Provide learning opportunities for colleagues

This element focuses on the skills and knowledge required to facilitate the continuous professional development of colleagues within a playwork setting. It covers the processes of identifying individual learning needs and preferences, co-creating and implementing effective development plans, and evaluating outcomes to ensure ongoing improvement. Practical application involves mentoring, coaching, and providing resources to support colleagues in enhancing their practice for the benefit of children and young people.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Engage parents in their children’s early learning

This element focuses on the critical role of parental engagement in early learning, underpinned by robust policy frameworks such as the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and research demonstrating its impact on child outcomes. It equips practitioners to build effective partnerships with parents, identify and overcome barriers to involvement, and use reflective practice to continuously improve engagement strategies in early years settings.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Support the Development of Playwork Opportunities in the Community

This subtopic explores the essential skills and knowledge required to effectively communicate the value of playwork to community members and forge sustainable partnerships with local organisations. Learners will develop practical strategies to advocate for playwork, identify collaborative opportunities, and build networks that enhance children's play experiences in community settings. Mastery of these skills is vital for promoting inclusive playwork opportunities and securing community support.

Focus Awards Level 2 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Maintain and support relationships with children and young people

This element focuses on the practitioner's ability to intentionally use verbal and non-verbal communication techniques to build trusting, respectful relationships with children and young people. Learners must evidence how they adapt their approach to meet individual needs and development stages, while also proactively supporting positive peer interactions and relationships with other adults in the setting. Practical demonstration through everyday routines and planned activities is central to meeting assessment criteria.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Support the health, wellbeing and physical care needs of children in early years settings

This subtopic covers the fundamental role of early years practitioners in promoting and safeguarding children's health, wellbeing, and physical care. It includes understanding the significance of health and wellbeing for development, recognising and managing common childhood illnesses, implementing effective physical care routines, and fostering healthy lifestyles through planned activities. Learners will also gain competence in infection control practices to maintain a safe and hygienic environment.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children's Workforce (Early Years Educator) (RQF)

Engage young parents in supporting their children’s development

This element explores the multifaceted circumstances of young parents, including the transitional challenges from adolescence to parenthood, the effects of stress on parent-child bonding, and effective strategies for engaging young parents, particularly young fathers, in services that support their children's development. Practitioners learn to apply a non-judgmental, strengths-based approach to create inclusive support networks that foster positive outcomes for both parent and child.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Support the holistic development of children

This element focuses on the integrated approach to nurturing a child's physical, cognitive, linguistic, emotional, and social development within early years settings. Practitioners must demonstrate the ability to plan and deliver balanced opportunities that address all developmental areas, while reflecting on their practice to ensure children's individual needs are met. Holistic development is crucial for laying the foundation for lifelong learning and well-being.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children's Workforce (Early Years Educator) (RQF)

Recruit, select and keep colleagues

This element covers the entire employee lifecycle within a playwork setting, from identifying staffing needs aligned with playwork principles to planning fair, inclusive recruitment processes and implementing retention strategies that foster a motivated team. Learners must demonstrate practical ability to contribute to hiring and keeping staff who can support children's freely chosen play in a safe, engaging environment.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Support the Travel of Children and Young People Outside the Play Environment

This element focuses on the essential playwork role in facilitating safe and structured travel for children and young people outside the play setting. It covers planning, risk management, and active support during journeys, ensuring children’s welfare and engagement. Mastery involves applying legal, ethical, and practical frameworks to real-world escort scenarios, from local outings to longer excursions.

Focus Awards Level 2 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Promote Child and Young Person Development.

This element focuses on the holistic development of children and young people, covering assessment, planning, and the implementation of strategies to promote physical, cognitive, emotional, and social growth. Practitioners learn to create supportive environments, model positive behaviour, and manage transitions effectively, ensuring that working practices align with developmental theories and statutory frameworks to meet individual needs.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF), Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Understand Children and Young People’s Self-Directed Play

This element delves into the essence of play that is freely chosen and personally directed by children and young people, exploring its key characteristics and underlying concepts such as autonomy, intrinsic motivation, and the play cycle. It emphasizes the critical role of the playworker in facilitating an environment that balances safety with the inherent benefits of risk and challenge, fostering holistic development through reflective practice.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Support Work with Parents and Carers in the Play Environment

This subtopic explores the essential skills and knowledge required to build effective, respectful working relationships with parents and carers within a playwork setting. It covers the principles of partnership, communication strategies, and practical methods to actively involve families in the play environment, ensuring that children’s play experiences are enriched through collaborative support. Learners will understand how to contribute to a welcoming atmosphere and how to support parents and carers in engaging with play activities and decision-making processes.

Focus Awards Level 2 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Facilitate learning and development activities to meet individual needs and preferences

This element focuses on the practitioner's critical role in designing, delivering, and assessing learning experiences that are precisely tailored to each child's unique developmental stage, interests, and learning style. It requires a deep understanding of observation and assessment cycles to identify needs, collaborative planning with the child and other professionals, and skilled facilitation to scaffold learning appropriately. Ultimately, it underpins personalised, inclusive practice in early years settings, ensuring every child makes progress from their starting point.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people

This subtopic equips practitioners with the essential knowledge to identify safeguarding concerns, understand legal frameworks such as the Children Act 1989 and Working Together to Safeguard Children, and respond appropriately to illness, injury, or signs of abuse. It emphasizes the importance of policies, procedures, and e-safety measures in protecting children’s welfare in a children and young people's workforce setting.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Understand child development

This subtopic provides a comprehensive understanding of child development, integrating key theories and philosophical approaches with the expected patterns of physical, cognitive, and social-emotional growth. It equips practitioners to recognize how developmental stages and individual circumstances influence learning, enabling effective assessment of children’s needs and interests. Mastery of this area ensures the ability to support and promote speech, language, and communication, foundational for holistic early years practice.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children's Workforce (Early Years Educator) (RQF)

Facilitate the development of effective group practice in health and social care or children and young people’s settings

This element develops the learner’s ability to facilitate effective group practice within health and social care or children’s and young people’s settings. It covers understanding group dynamics, establishing a supportive climate, guiding group interactions, and constructively using power and influence to enhance outcomes. Learners will also monitor and review group work to promote continuous improvement.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Supporting Children and Young People’s Play

This element explores the core playwork principle that play is a process that is freely chosen, personally directed, and intrinsically motivated. It equips learners to support children and young people's play by creating rich environments and adopting facilitative, non-directive roles, while continuously improving their own practice through systematic reflection on interactions and outcomes.

Focus Awards Level 2 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Working in partnership with colleagues, professionals and key individuals in early years settings

This element focuses on establishing and sustaining effective collaborative relationships with colleagues, external professionals, and families to enhance outcomes for children. It emphasises integrating statutory frameworks like the EYFS, understanding professional boundaries, and applying communication strategies to foster holistic development. Practitioners must demonstrate how shared goals, consistent approaches, and mutual respect underpin successful multi-agency and parent partnerships in early years practice.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children's Workforce (Early Years Educator) (RQF)

Support children and young people at meal or snack times

This element focuses on equipping practitioners with the knowledge and skills to promote healthy eating habits among children and young people. It covers the nutritional principles underpinning a balanced diet, the immediate and long-term benefits of healthy eating, and practical strategies to encourage healthier choices. Additionally, it addresses essential hygiene practices and adherence to workplace policies, ensuring that meal and snack times are safe, inclusive, and supportive of positive eating behaviours.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Understand Health, Safety and Security in the Play Environment

This subtopic equips learners with the essential knowledge and skills to maintain a safe, secure, and hygienic play environment in line with statutory requirements and best practice. It focuses on the practical application of health and safety procedures, risk assessment tailored to playwork settings, and appropriate responses to accidents, emergencies, and hygiene practices to protect children and staff.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Facilitate the learning and development of children and young people through mentoring

This element explores how practitioners can use mentoring to support the holistic development of children and young people, focusing on individual needs, wellbeing, and resilience. It emphasizes practical strategies for facilitating learning and development, promoting achievement, and critically evaluating the mentoring process to enhance outcomes for young individuals in childcare settings.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Understand How to Plan for and Support Children and Young People’s Self-Directed Play

This subtopic equips playworkers with the knowledge to plan effectively for self-directed play, design inclusive and stimulating play spaces, and provide appropriate support that respects children's autonomy. It also covers the critical skill of enabling children to assess and manage risks independently, ensuring play remains challenging yet safe. Practical application includes observing children's play cues, adapting environments, and empowering children to take ownership of their play experiences.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

The Safeguarding and Welfare of Children and Young People in the Play Environment

This unit element equips playworkers with essential knowledge of statutory safeguarding frameworks and their application within play settings. It covers identifying and understanding categories of abuse, responding appropriately to welfare concerns, and implementing proactive strategies to create a safe, inclusive play environment for children and young people.

Focus Awards Level 2 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Support children and young people with disabilities and special educational needs

This subtopic equips practitioners with the skills to uphold the rights of disabled children and young people and those with SEN, as enshrined in legislation like the Equality Act 2010 and UNCRC. It focuses on understanding individual needs, fostering inclusive environments, and actively removing barriers to ensure full participation in all activities, promoting dignity and equality.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Support Children and Young People's Health and Safety.

This subtopic centres on the essential safeguarding duty of ensuring children and young people's physical well-being in early years and youth settings. Learners develop the practical competence to identify hazards, implement control measures, and respond effectively to incidents, both within the setting and during off-site activities, while fostering children's own risk-awareness.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF), Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Understand How to Safeguard the Wellbeing of Children and Young People.

This subtopic explores the critical role of playworkers in safeguarding children and young people within play settings, ensuring their wellbeing, safety, and protection. It covers the legislative framework including the Children Act and Working Together to Safeguard Children, partnership working with agencies like Local Safeguarding Children Boards, and practical strategies for responding to abuse, bullying, and e-safety concerns. The focus is on embedding safeguarding into playwork practice while supporting children's rights to play and participation in decisions affecting their safety.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF), Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Work with Children and Young People to Create Play Spaces and Support Freely Chosen Self-Directed Play

This subtopic equips learners with the practical skills to collaborate with children and young people in designing, creating, and adapting play spaces that are inclusive, stimulating, and responsive to their developmental needs. It emphasises the playworker's role in facilitating freely chosen, self-directed play by observing without directing, providing loose parts and adaptable resources, and managing risk-benefit to support children’s holistic development and innate drive to play.

Focus Awards Level 2 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Identify and act upon immediate risk of danger to substance misusers

This element focuses on equipping learners with the ability to recognise and respond to immediate dangers associated with substance misuse, particularly within settings involving children and young people. It covers the identification of physical and psychological crisis indicators, such as overdose or severe intoxication, and the appropriate emergency actions, including first aid, contacting specialist services, and safeguarding protocols. Practical application involves ensuring the safety of the individual and others, while adhering to legal and organisational policies.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Care for the physical and nutritional needs of babies and young children.

This unit develops the knowledge and skills needed to meet the physical and nutritional requirements of babies from birth to 36 months. Practitioners must learn to deliver respectful, individualized care routines that promote health and development, including safe sleeping, nappy changing, and bathing. They also need to understand how to plan nutritious meals and snacks, adapt to allergies and cultural preferences, and create enriching environments that encourage physical activity and safe exploration.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Allocate and monitor the progress and quality of work in own area of responsibility

This subtopic focuses on the skills and knowledge required to effectively allocate tasks, monitor work, and support colleagues within a playwork setting. Learners will understand how to plan work in line with sector and organisational requirements, brief colleagues clearly, and use monitoring methods to ensure quality and development. Practical application involves creating rotas, providing feedback, and fostering a supportive environment that upholds children's play rights.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Continuing professional development in early years education

This subtopic explores the essential role of continuing professional development (CPD) in early years education, focusing on how practitioners understand their work role, engage in reflective practice, and systematically plan and evaluate their own learning to enhance practice. Learners must demonstrate the ability to assess their development needs, create a personal CPD plan, and critically evaluate the impact of CPD activities on their work with children and families, aligning with professional standards and the EYFS framework.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children's Workforce (Early Years Educator) (RQF)

Contribute to Children and Young People's Health and Safety

This subtopic covers the essential health and safety responsibilities of practitioners working with children and young people, including risk assessment, incident response, and procedural adherence. It emphasises the practical application of policies to maintain a safe environment both on-site and during off-site visits, ensuring the well-being of children through effective infection control, medication management, and accurate reporting.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Contribute to Providing Food and Drink in the Play Environment

This element equips playworkers with the skills to safely and inclusively provide food and drink in a play environment, ensuring children's nutritional needs are met while fostering independence and social development. It covers practical food handling, hygiene standards, and the importance of creating positive mealtime experiences that align with playwork principles and relevant legislation.

Focus Awards Level 2 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Caring for young children in a babysitting environment

This subtopic equips learners with essential knowledge for safe and effective babysitting, covering legal and ethical responsibilities, selection of developmentally appropriate toys and activities for children from birth to five years eleven months, and the implementation of safe sleep practices. It focuses on practical application in real-world babysitting settings, ensuring child welfare, promoting developmental progress, and maintaining professional standards through informed decision-making and adherence to current guidance.

Focus Awards Level 2 Award In Babysitting (RQF)

Understand How to Support Positive Outcomes for Children and Young People.

This subtopic equips playwork practitioners with the understanding of how diverse social, economic, and cultural factors shape children's life chances and outcomes. It emphasises the vital role of the practitioner in actively countering disadvantage through inclusive play provision, adapting environments for those with additional needs, and championing equality and diversity to ensure every child can achieve positive outcomes. The focus is on translating awareness into intentional, supportive practice within play settings.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF), Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Implement therapeutic group activities

This subtopic addresses the practical implementation of therapeutic group activities for children and young people, integrating theory and practice to promote emotional and social wellbeing. It requires understanding group dynamics, therapeutic principles, and safeguarding, and applying these through careful planning, facilitation, and evaluation. The ultimate goal is to create safe, inclusive environments where participants can explore experiences, develop skills, and achieve positive outcomes.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Support children and young people’s play and leisure

This element equips learners with the knowledge and skills to understand the fundamental role of play and leisure in children's development, provide appropriate support and resources, manage risk and challenge effectively, and continuously evaluate and enhance their own professional practice in childcare settings. Practical application involves planning inclusive activities, fostering exploratory play, and reflecting on interventions to promote holistic growth.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Working within a play environment with children and young people

This subtopic underpins the core role of the playworker, focusing on building professional, child-centred relationships while facilitating freely chosen, personally directed play. It explores the dual responsibility of creating environments that are both safe enough and challenging enough to support children's development, risk-taking, and resilience, all within a robust safeguarding framework. Learners will apply inclusive practice to ensure every child and young person can access stimulating play opportunities.

Focus Awards Level 2 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Understand Playwork Principles

This subtopic explores the fundamental principles underpinning playwork, emphasizing the critical role of self-directed play in children's holistic development, the legal and ethical framework of children's rights to play as outlined in Article 31 of the UNCRC, and the distinctive, reflective practice of the playwork team in creating rich play environments while intervening minimally to support rather than direct play.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Improving the attendance of children and young people in statutory education

This element focuses on the critical role of attendance in a child's educational achievement and well-being. Learners will explore the multifaceted reasons for non-attendance, from family and school factors to personal and societal influences. They will learn to collaborate with families, schools, and external agencies, using data-driven strategies to promote consistent attendance, in line with their job role.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Support children and young people’s positive behaviour

This element focuses on the practical application of behaviour management theories within early years and childcare settings. Learners must demonstrate an understanding of the setting's policies and procedures, actively promote positive behaviour through consistent role-modelling, praise, and boundary-setting, and effectively respond to inappropriate behaviour using agreed strategies while maintaining the child's dignity and safety.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Increase awareness about drugs, alcohol or other substances with individuals and groups

This element equips early years and childcare practitioners with the essential knowledge to raise awareness about substance misuse among children, young people, and their families. It explores relevant legislation such as the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Children Act 2004, the physical and psychological effects of substances, available treatments, and techniques to challenge misconceptions and promote healthy choices. Emphasis is on tailoring communication to individuals and groups to effectively increase understanding, identify personal values, and support positive behaviour change within a safeguarding framework.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Understand Relationships in the Play Environment

This element explores the essential skills needed to foster positive relationships in a playwork setting. Learners examine techniques for building trust with children, supporting their communication and social interaction, and effectively collaborating with colleagues and families. Emphasis is placed on child-centred practice, inclusive communication, and the role of the playworker in modelling and facilitating healthy relationships.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Support the creativity of children and young people

This element explores the integral role of creativity in fostering emotional, social, and cognitive wellbeing in children and young people. Practitioners learn to facilitate environments where individuals can express themselves freely, appreciate diverse creative outputs, and engage in daily imaginative activities. The focus is on embedding creative opportunities into routine practice to support holistic development.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Understand the Organisational Framework for Play

This subtopic focuses on embedding children's rights, as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), into the organisational framework of a playwork setting. It explores how playworkers must understand and uphold the right to play (Article 31) and the right to participation (Article 12), ensuring that strategies, policies and procedures actively reflect and promote these rights. Practical application involves critically evaluating and improving the setting's documentation and practice to create a rights-respecting play environment.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Understand Child and Young Person Development.

This subtopic provides foundational knowledge on child and young person development from birth to 19 years, covering physical, cognitive, emotional, and social domains. It explores influences on development, monitoring methods, and the importance of early intervention, particularly for speech, language, and communication needs. Learners apply this understanding to support children and young people effectively, recognising how transitions impact developmental progress.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Lead and manage a community based early years setting.

This unit covers leading and managing a community-based early years setting, including understanding its purpose, leading the team, engaging parents, and managing resources and finances.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Work with colleagues in a playwork team

Working effectively within a playwork team is essential for creating and maintaining high-quality play environments. This element focuses on developing the skills to contribute proactively, offer constructive support, and resolve conflicts professionally, all underpinned by the playwork principles of trusting children and facilitating their play. Success in this area ensures a cohesive team that can collectively safeguard and enrich children's play experiences.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Manage induction in health and social care or children and young people’s settings

This topic covers managing induction processes in health, social care, and children's settings. Learners will understand the purpose of induction, manage the process, support implementation, evaluate effectiveness, and implement improvements.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Practise as a Foster Carer

This subtopic explores the multifaceted role of a foster carer, emphasising the practical skills and knowledge required to prepare a welcoming home, support a child's transition, and maintain a safe, nurturing environment. It covers the carer's responsibilities in collaborating with birth families, professionals, and the community to promote the child's well-being and development. Effective foster caring demands an understanding of attachment, trauma-informed practice, and statutory requirements to deliver high-quality care.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Understand Partnership Working in Services for Children and Young People

This element explores the multi-agency and collaborative approaches essential in children's services, emphasizing that no single professional can meet all a child's needs. Learners examine how effective partnership working with colleagues, external agencies, parents, and young people leads to improved outcomes through coordinated support, early intervention, and shared responsibility. Practical application includes safeguarding practice, care planning, and integrated service delivery, where strong relationships and clear communication protocols directly impact child welfare and development.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Principles for implementing duty of care in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings

This subtopic explores the legal and ethical obligation to safeguard children and young people, detailing how duty of care underpins risk assessment, confidentiality, and professional boundaries. It examines the tension between respecting an individual's rights and ensuring their welfare, and provides clear procedures for managing complaints in line with regulatory standards.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Understand the needs of children and young people who are vulnerable and experiencing poverty and disadvantage.

This subtopic explores the multifaceted impact of poverty, disadvantage, and vulnerability on children and young people's development, life chances, and well-being. It emphasises the critical role of early intervention, holistic support, and collaborative partnerships in mitigating negative outcomes. Practitioners must understand how to identify needs, implement supportive strategies, and work effectively with other agencies to improve long-term outcomes for this group.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Professional practice in children and young people’s social care

This unit focuses on the professional standards, legal frameworks, and reflective practices essential for effective social care with children and young people. It equips learners to navigate legislation such as the Children Act, apply anti-discriminatory practice, and build collaborative relationships with colleagues to safeguard and promote welfare.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Professional practice in early years settings.

This element focuses on the essential professional practice within early years settings, covering the sector's scope, purposes, and the legislative and policy frameworks that shape it. It equips learners to champion diversity, inclusion, and participation, and to critically reflect on their own practice to enhance outcomes for all children and families.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Understand the speech, language and communication needs of children and young people with behavioural, social and emotional difficulties.

This subtopic explores the complex interplay between speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) and behavioural, social and emotional difficulties in children and young people. It equips practitioners with essential strategies to identify and support these interconnected challenges, promoting inclusive practice and positive outcomes through tailored interventions and collaborative working.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Use Signing to Advance Speech, Language and Communication

This element equips practitioners with the skills to integrate Sign Supported English (SSE) into early years settings, using signing alongside spoken language to enhance comprehension, support speech development, and foster inclusive communication. It explores how signing and fingerspelling can bridge language gaps, bolster early literacy by linking visual symbols to sounds, and create a positive, pro-social environment where all children feel valued and understood. Effective use of SSE promotes holistic learning and development, particularly for children with speech, language, and communication needs (SLCN) or those learning English as an additional language.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Professional Practice in learning, development and support services

This subtopic delves into the core professional responsibilities of practitioners within learning, development, and support services (LDSS) for children and young people. It emphasises the integration of current legislation, policies, and ethical principles into daily practice, while fostering continuous improvement through reflective practice, supervision, and the active incorporation of service user views. The practical application involves demonstrating how these elements combine to deliver high-quality, child-centred services that meet regulatory standards and promote positive outcomes.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Contribute to Supporting Disabled Children and Young People in the Play Environment

This element develops the playworker's competence in facilitating inclusive play for disabled children and young people, focusing on preparing accessible environments, adapting activities, and applying playwork principles to meet individual needs. It emphasizes collaborative approaches with families and professionals to remove barriers, promote choice, and ensure that disabled children can freely engage in self-directed play experiences.

Focus Awards Level 2 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Contribute to an organisational framework that reflects the needs and protects the rights of children and young people

This unit focuses on developing and maintaining an organisational framework within a playwork setting that actively reflects the needs and protects the rights of children and young people. Learners will explore how to research these needs using playwork principles, consult effectively with children to capture their voice, and contribute to procedures that embed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and promote inclusive play. The practical application involves creating environments where all children can exercise their right to play freely, safely, and without discrimination.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Caseload management

This subtopic equips learners with the skills to manage a personal caseload in a children and young people's setting, ensuring that each case is prioritised according to need and risk. It focuses on the organizational and reflective practices required to maintain high-quality support while adhering to professional standards and safeguarding requirements.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Craft activities with young children

This element explores how craft activities support young children's holistic development, including fine motor skills, creativity, and problem-solving, while under the temporary care of a babysitter. It emphasizes the babysitter's responsibility to select age-appropriate, safe materials, supervise closely, and adapt activities to each child's stage, ensuring the home environment remains hazard-free during creative play.

Focus Awards Level 2 Award In Babysitting (RQF)

Equality, diversity and inclusion in early years settings

This element explores the fundamental principles of equality, diversity and inclusion within early years settings. Practitioners must understand children's rights under the UNCRC and the legal framework, including the Equality Act 2010, and apply inclusive practices that value each child's unique background, abilities and needs. The focus is on embedding anti-discriminatory practice into daily routines, activities and interactions to foster a sense of belonging and promote positive outcomes for all children.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children's Workforce (Early Years Educator) (RQF)

Contribute to promoting nutrition and hydration in early years and childcare settings

This subtopic covers the essential knowledge and skills for supporting optimal nutrition and hydration in babies and children within early years settings. Learners will understand how to plan balanced meals, promote adequate fluid intake, prevent malnutrition, and accommodate special dietary needs, while working in partnership with families and professionals to monitor and safeguard children's health and well-being.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Working as part of a team in health and social care or children and young people’s settings

This element focuses on the critical role of team collaboration in health, social care, and children's services, where integrated working directly enhances the safety, development, and well-being of children and young people. Learners explore the foundational principles of effective teamwork, including shared goals, clear communication, and mutual accountability, and understand how conflict can be managed to prevent negative impacts on care delivery. The element culminates in practical application, requiring learners to demonstrate their ability to actively contribute, support colleagues, and reflect on their own teamwork skills within real workplace settings.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Promote children’s welfare and well being in the early years.

This subtopic focuses on embedding the statutory welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) into daily practice to safeguard children and promote their physical and emotional well-being. It involves understanding and implementing policies and procedures for safety, health, hygiene, nutrition, and physical care, ensuring that every child's individual needs are met in a nurturing environment. Practitioners must demonstrate competence in risk assessment, infection control, healthy eating promotion, and responsive care routines to support children's holistic development.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Working in partnership with parents and carers

This subtopic explores the essential collaborative relationship between early years practitioners and parents/carers, emphasizing how effective partnership enhances children's development and well-being. It covers the principles of information sharing, relationship building, and supporting parenting roles, while promoting reflective practice to continuously improve engagement.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Promote communication in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings

This subtopic focuses on the critical role of communication in early years and childcare settings, exploring how effective verbal and non-verbal interactions underpin relationship building, information sharing, and care consistency. Learners will examine strategies to adapt communication to meet individual needs, including those of children with speech, language, and communication difficulties, and apply confidentiality practices in line with data protection legislation and setting policies.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Working Together for the Benefit of Children and Young People.

This subtopic focuses on how practitioners across different services collaborate to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. It covers the principles of integrated working, effective professional communication, and maintaining secure information systems in line with legal and organisational requirements.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Promote equality and inclusion in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings

This element focuses on embedding and promoting equality and inclusion within health, social care, or children’s and young people’s settings. Learners must demonstrate a thorough understanding of legislation, codes of practice, and the impact of discrimination, while actively working in ways that value diversity and challenge exclusive practices. Application in real work contexts is essential to ensuring every individual's rights and needs are met.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Promote learning and development in the early years.

This element focuses on developing effective strategies to promote learning and development in early years settings, aligning practice with national frameworks such as the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Practitioners are expected to plan purposeful activities, engage children in meaningful experiences, and continuously reflect on their own role to enhance children's progress across all areas of learning. The integration of theory into daily practice is essential for meeting statutory requirements and fostering each child's unique potential.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Promote nutrition and hydration in early years and childcare settings

This element focuses on the essential knowledge and skills required to promote optimal nutrition and hydration in early years settings. It covers balanced diets, infant feeding, special dietary needs, and the prevention of malnutrition, ensuring practitioners can support children's healthy development and comply with regulatory frameworks such as the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Promote nutrition and hydration in health and social care settings

This element equips learners with the knowledge and skills to promote optimal nutrition and hydration within health and social care environments, focusing on understanding balanced diets, nutritional guidelines, and the practicalities of screening, monitoring, and addressing individual dietary needs to prevent malnutrition.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Promote positive behaviour

This element focuses on equipping practitioners with the knowledge and skills to foster positive behaviour in children and young people, underpinned by key legislation such as the Children Act 1989 and the SEND Code of Practice. It emphasises the use of proactive strategies to anticipate and reduce challenges, alongside reactive strategies that de-escalate incidents safely. Practical competence involves applying these approaches consistently, supporting recovery after incidents, and critically reviewing behaviour plans to ensure continuous improvement in line with Ofsted requirements and setting policies.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Promote Signing to Advance Speech, Language and Communication

This subtopic explores how sign supported English (SSE) serves as a multifaceted tool to enhance speech, language, and communication development in children and young people. It examines the practical application of SSE to support early literacy, positive behavior, and inclusive practice, while fostering strong parental partnerships. Practitioners will learn to integrate signing into everyday interactions to create a communication-rich environment that values every child's mode of expression.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Promote the well being and resilience of children and young people

This element focuses on the practitioner's role in fostering emotional health and resilience in children and young people, ensuring they develop a strong sense of self and the ability to cope with challenges. It covers practical strategies to support social and emotional development, build self-esteem, encourage a positive life outlook, and address their holistic health needs, all crucial for their overall well-being.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Contribute to evaluating, developing and promoting services

This subtopic equips playwork practitioners with the skills to systematically evaluate service provision, using tools such as observations, feedback, and data analysis to inform improvements. It also covers strategies for developing action plans, implementing changes, and effectively promoting playwork services to stakeholders, ensuring that children's play opportunities are continuously enhanced and aligned with playwork principles.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Contribute to the support of child and young person development

This element equips learners with the practical skills and knowledge required to actively contribute to the support of child and young person development within early years and youth settings. It covers conducting developmental assessments, implementing supportive strategies, managing transitions, promoting positive behaviour, and engaging in reflective practice to continuously enhance professional effectiveness. Mastery of these areas ensures practitioners can foster holistic development and well-being in line with current frameworks.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Context and principles for early years provision.

This subtopic explores the foundational philosophies, legislative frameworks, and key principles shaping early years provision in the UK, with a focus on how practitioners can design and adapt environments to optimise children's learning and development. It emphasises the necessity of genuine partnership with carers to ensure continuity between home and setting, promoting holistic, individualised care that respects diverse family contexts.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Treating Children as Individuals

This subtopic explores the essential babysitting principle of treating each child as a unique individual, recognizing their distinct personalities, preferences, backgrounds, and developmental stages. It equips babysitters with practical strategies to respect children's rights, promote their self-esteem, and provide personalized care that meets their physical and emotional needs. Understanding this fosters a safe, nurturing environment and ensures compliance with childcare regulations and ethical standards.

Focus Awards Level 2 Award In Babysitting (RQF)

Contribute to the Administration of the Play Environment

This element focuses on the essential administrative skills required to support the smooth running of a play environment. Learners will develop the ability to process financial transactions, handle sensitive information in line with data protection regulations, and maintain accurate records to ensure compliance with organisational policies and legal requirements.

Focus Awards Level 2 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Extending children’s learning and thinking in early years settings

This subtopic focuses on equipping early years practitioners with the skills to critically assess and intentionally extend children's learning and thinking. It covers evidence-based strategies such as sustained shared thinking, scaffolding, and open-ended questioning, applied through planning, implementation, and reflective practice. Learners will develop the ability to create enriching environments that challenge and support children's cognitive development, aligning with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children's Workforce (Early Years Educator) (RQF)

Promote young children’s physical activity and movement skills.

This element focuses on the pivotal role of physical activity in fostering young children's holistic development, health, and well-being. Practitioners learn to design safe, stimulating environments and embed movement into daily routines, ensuring inclusive and progressive skill acquisition. Mastery involves not only planning and implementing effective physical activities but also critically evaluating their impact to refine practice continually.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Provide information and advice to children and young people

This subtopic focuses on the practitioner's duty to offer accurate, age-appropriate, and unbiased information and advice to children and young people, empowering them to make informed decisions about their lives, health, education, and relationships. It covers methods to assess individual needs, communication strategies, and the ethical boundaries of sharing information, ensuring that the child's best interests and rights are paramount in line with legislation and professional standards.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Provide support to children or young people who have experienced harm or abuse

This subtopic equips learners with the essential knowledge and skills required to support children and young people who have disclosed or experienced harm or abuse, in line with safeguarding legislation and policies. It focuses on understanding professional roles and responsibilities, responding appropriately to disclosures, providing empathetic and non-judgmental support, and collaborating effectively with key people and agencies to promote the child's safety and well-being. Practical application involves applying child-centred approaches, maintaining confidentiality boundaries, and contributing to multi-agency planning and review processes.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Provide support to continue recommended therapies

This element focuses on the practitioner's role in enabling children and young people to adhere to prescribed therapeutic interventions. It covers understanding the importance of consistency, using motivational strategies, providing practical support, making accurate observations, and contributing to evaluations within a multi-agency framework.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Recognise indications of substance misuse and refer individuals to specialists

This element equips learners to identify physical, behavioural, and psychological indicators of substance misuse in children, young people, and their families, ensuring timely safeguarding. It emphasises comprehensive risk assessment, accurate record-keeping, and effective multi-agency referral to protect welfare. Practical application is central, enabling learners to respond appropriately within legal and ethical frameworks.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Support Care within fostering services for vulnerable children and young people.

Support care in fostering involves assisting vulnerable children and young people, and supporting their carers. It requires understanding of trauma-informed practice and safeguarding.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Support children and young people to achieve their education potential

This unit focuses on enabling practitioners to effectively support children and young people in realising their educational potential by understanding key principles, values, and legislation, and applying person-centred approaches to identify learning needs, set meaningful goals, plan actions, and review progress. It emphasises the practitioner's role in fostering independence, motivation, and self-reflection, ensuring that support is tailored to individual circumstances while adhering to current legal frameworks such as the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Support children and young people to achieve their learning potential

This subtopic focuses on the key responsibilities of practitioners in enabling children and young people to realise their educational potential. It covers the legislative and policy frameworks that shape learning provision, the skills needed to help learners articulate their aspirations, strategies for optimising formal and informal learning opportunities, and effective partnership working to ensure holistic support and positive outcomes.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Support children and young people to have positive relationships

This element focuses on the role of positive relationships in shaping children's social, emotional, and cognitive development, and equips practitioners with strategies to foster and maintain these connections. It explores how attachments influence well-being, and provides skills for supporting children through peer interactions, conflict resolution, and transitions, ensuring inclusive practice.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Support children and young people to make positive changes in their lives

This element focuses on empowering practitioners to facilitate positive life changes for children and young people through collaborative, person-centred strategies. It covers methods to identify aspirations, set measurable goals, and implement supportive interventions while respecting individual rights and autonomy. Learners will develop skills to monitor progress, overcome barriers, and critically evaluate their own practice to ensure continuous improvement in fostering resilience and well-being.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Contribute to the support of children's communication, language and literacy

This unit focuses on the critical role communication, language, and literacy play in children's overall learning and development, including cognitive, social, and emotional growth. Learners will develop the practical skills to support children's emerging communication skills through play-based activities, storytelling, and everyday interactions, while also learning to evaluate and refine their own contributions to ensure they meet individual children's needs effectively.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Plan, lead and evaluate purposeful play activities to support children’s learning and development

This subtopic explores how early years practitioners plan, lead, and evaluate purposeful play activities to foster children's holistic development, as outlined in the statutory framework for the early years foundation stage (EYFS). It emphasises the integral role of play in supporting learning across prime and specific areas, and the practitioner's responsibility to differentiate experiences to meet individual needs, interests, and stages of development. Practical competency is demonstrated through the implementation of play-based opportunities and critical reflection on their impact, ensuring continuous improvement in professional practice and outcomes for children.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children's Workforce (Early Years Educator) (RQF)

Contribute to effective team working in health and social care or children and young people’s settings

This element explores the theoretical foundations of team dynamics, including models such as Tuckman's stages of group development and Belbin's team roles, and their application in health, social care, and children's settings. It emphasises the principles of effective teamwork, such as clear communication, mutual respect, and shared goals, and develops the practical skills needed to collaborate effectively, support colleagues, and critically evaluate team performance to ensure high-quality outcomes for service users.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Develop and maintain a healthy, safe and secure play environment for children and young people

This subtopic focuses on the practical skills and underpinning knowledge required to create and sustain a play environment that is both stimulating and safe for children and young people. Learners will explore how to balance risk and challenge within playwork principles, ensuring legal compliance and best practice in health and safety. The unit also covers emergency procedures, enabling competent responses to accidents, injuries, and illnesses.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Contribute to the Health, Safety, Security and Welfare of Children and Young People using the Play Environment

This subtopic equips playworkers with the essential knowledge and skills to create and maintain safe, secure, and healthy play environments while actively safeguarding the welfare of children and young people. It covers proactive risk assessment, effective emergency response procedures, and the implementation of safeguarding policies tailored to play settings, ensuring that children can engage in self-directed play with appropriate supervision and protection.

Focus Awards Level 2 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Coordinate special educational needs provision.

This element focuses on the pivotal role of the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) in early years settings, encompassing the coordination of observation, assessment, and planning cycles to meet individual children's needs. It requires practitioners to actively engage with children and their carers, and to effectively support colleagues through advice, resources, and collaborative practice, ensuring compliance with statutory frameworks.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Develop and promote positive relationships in a play environment

This unit element covers the essential skills needed to build trusting relationships with children and young people in a play setting, using effective communication techniques tailored to their developmental stages. It also addresses strategies for supporting peer interactions and conflict resolution, and for maintaining professional communication with adults such as colleagues, parents, and other agencies, to ensure a cohesive and inclusive play environment.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Contribute to the support of children’s creative development

This subtopic delves into the vital role of creative development in fostering children's imagination, problem-solving, and self-expression. Learners will explore methods to plan and facilitate engaging creative activities, such as art, music, role-play, and storytelling, while adapting to individual needs. The practical focus lies in assessing the effectiveness of these contributions to enhance future practice.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Developing Own Playwork and Team Practice

This element focuses on the continuous development of personal playwork practice and the collaborative skills needed to work effectively within a playwork team. Learners explore reflective strategies to evaluate and enhance individual and team contributions, ensuring that play opportunities are inclusive, engaging, and developmentally appropriate for children and young people. The integration of self-assessment and collective reflection underpins the delivery of high-quality, child-centred play experiences in line with professional standards.

Focus Awards Level 2 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Promote the health, safety and welfare of young children

This subtopic focuses on the legal and procedural aspects of safeguarding young children's physical and emotional wellbeing in early years settings. It involves implementing robust health and safety policies, conducting risk assessments, responding effectively to accidents and emergencies, and maintaining compliant records, all underpinned by statutory requirements such as the EYFS framework and relevant legislation.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children's Workforce (Early Years Educator) (RQF)

Develop and sustain effective working relationships with staff in other agencies

This subtopic focuses on the collaborative nature of childcare provision, requiring practitioners to work effectively with external agencies such as health visitors, social workers, and speech therapists to ensure holistic support for children and families. It explores the legal and ethical frameworks underpinning partnership work, the development of professional communication channels, and strategies for overcoming barriers to sustain productive relationships over time. Learners will gain practical skills in initiating referrals, sharing information appropriately, and engaging in joint planning to meet children's individual needs.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Contribute to the support of children’s physical development through activities

This subtopic equips learners with the knowledge and skills to actively support children's physical development through planned activities. It emphasises the critical link between physical competence and broader learning outcomes, including cognitive growth and social skills. Practitioners learn to design, implement, and evaluate activities that promote fine and gross motor skills, while reflecting on their own practice to enhance future contributions.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Recording, storing, reporting and sharing information in early years settings

This subtopic covers the essential knowledge and skills required for early years practitioners to create, manage, and share records about children's development, safeguarding, and daily care in compliance with legal frameworks such as GDPR, the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework, and setting-specific policies. It emphasizes maintaining confidentiality, ensuring data security, and promoting effective multidisciplinary communication to support child outcomes.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children's Workforce (Early Years Educator) (RQF)

Facilitate a Specific Play Opportunity at Children or Young People’s Request

This subtopic focuses on the playwork approach to honouring children’s and young people’s self-directed play requests. It covers the cycle of listening to and recording the specific play idea, collaboratively planning resources and environment, undertaking play-based risk–benefit assessments, and implementing the opportunity with minimal adult interference. The emphasis is on enabling play that is led by the child, ensuring inclusive and reflective practice throughout.

Focus Awards Level 2 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Develop interviewing skills for work with children and young people

This element focuses on the essential skills and knowledge required to prepare, conduct, and follow up on interviews with children and young people in a professional care setting. It equips learners to gather accurate and relevant information while prioritising the child's welfare, ensuring a sensitive and appropriate approach that respects their rights and developmental needs.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Contribute to the Support of Positive Environments for Children and Young People

This element focuses on the practitioner's role in creating and maintaining environments that promote the well-being, safety, and development of children and young people. It covers understanding and applying regulatory frameworks such as the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and health and safety legislation, while tailoring support to individual needs, including personal care routines and dietary requirements. Learners must demonstrate competence in fostering inclusive, stimulating spaces that encourage positive outcomes.

Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Health and safety in the Play Environment

This subtopic focuses on the playworker's role in creating a safe yet stimulating play environment that allows children to experience managed risks. It covers the principles of risk-benefit assessment, supporting children's own risk management skills, and responding effectively to accidents, injuries, and emergencies. Practitioners must demonstrate competence in balancing legal safety requirements with the developmental need for challenge and adventure.

Focus Awards Level 2 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Safeguarding and child protection in early years

This subtopic covers the essential safeguarding framework required for early years practitioners, including legislation such as the Children Act and Working Together to Safeguard Children, the role of the designated safeguarding lead, and procedures for recognizing and reporting concerns. It emphasizes the practitioner's duty to protect children from abuse and harm, ensuring that all actions are documented accurately to support multi-agency working and legal processes.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children's Workforce (Early Years Educator) (RQF)

Engage with parents, carers and families in a play environment

This element focuses on the playworker's role in building positive, collaborative relationships with parents, carers and families to enhance children's play experiences and support their development. It covers effective communication strategies, understanding family dynamics, and employing a non-judgemental approach to parenting support within the playwork principles. The aim is to foster an inclusive, trusting environment that respects families' diverse needs and empowers parents in their role while maintaining professional boundaries.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Develop Positive Relationship with Children, Young People and Others Involved in Their Care

This element focuses on the practical skills and underpinning knowledge required to establish and maintain positive, professional relationships with children, young people, and the key adults involved in their care. Learners will explore effective communication strategies, the importance of trust and respect, and how to adapt interactions to meet individual needs and contexts. The unit emphasises collaborative working with parents, carers, and multi-disciplinary teams to promote holistic development and safeguarding.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF), Focus Awards Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People's Workforce (RQF)

Help to Improve Own Practice and the Work of the Playwork Team

This subtopic focuses on the continuous improvement cycle within playwork, emphasising self-reflection, action planning, and collaborative teamwork. Learners develop skills to evaluate their own practice, identify areas for development, and implement strategies that enhance the quality of play provision, while also contributing to team effectiveness and shared professional growth.

Focus Awards Level 2 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Inclusive play, working with disabled children and young people

This element explores the principles and practices of inclusive playwork, emphasising the need to remove barriers and actively include disabled children and young people in play settings. It covers legal frameworks like the Equality Act 2010, theoretical models such as the social model of disability, and practical strategies for creating accessible environments and managing inclusive play. Playworkers will learn to reflect on personal attitudes, differentiate effective from ineffective practice, and advocate for the rights of all children to play.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)

Support attachment when working with children in early years settings

This subtopic explores the foundational attachment theories of Bowlby and Ainsworth, emphasizing how early relationships shape children's internal working models and lifelong development. Learners will examine the profound significance of secure attachment for emotional well-being, cognitive growth, and social competence, and will apply this knowledge to plan key person approaches, sensitive transitions, and responsive caregiving strategies that actively promote attachment within early years environments.

Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma for the Children's Workforce (Early Years Educator) (RQF)