The money is in addition to an initial three-year funding package beginning in April 2008 which has enabled 2,027 practitioners to enrol on Level 3 courses in playwork. In the Children's Plan, the Government set out a target of helping 4,000 practitioners to qualify to Level 3. The CWDC is working with the DCSF, SkillsActive and the Learning Skills Council to try to meet this target.
The two work-based qualifications, Playwork Level 3 NVQ and the Level 3 Award in Playwork for Early Years and Childcare Workers, can be gained without class attendance, exams or written tests.
Deirdre Quill, director of integrated workforce at the CWDC, said, 'Professional development is a cornerstone of creating better life chances for children and their families. So we are delighted to be able to invest an extra £600,000 to ensure more playworkers can take on Level 3 qualifications.'