Education secretary Charles Clarke presented SkillsActive with its full operating licence at a reception held at the House of Lords on 14 October.
In addition to playwork, SkillsActive is responsible for employees in sport and recreation, health and fitness, outdoor education and training, and the adventure and caravan industries.
Stephen Studd, SkillsActive chief executive, said, 'SSC status is a real recognition from the Government for the sector.'
However, a decision is yet to be made about whether there should be a stand-alone SSC for childcare and the early years. The Council for Awards in Children's Care and Education (CACHE) has continued to provide the core functions of the Early Years National Training Organisation since it was disbanded by the Government in April 2002.
CACHE chief executive Richard Dorrance said, 'There are lots of meetings going on to try to make it happen. Everybody is supportive, because the early years sector wants its own SSC.
'The key issues are that any SSC for the early years has to be UK-wide, and how to cope with four different regimes for childcare in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. But it ought to be possible to put together a UK-wide solution that can accommodate the different models and structures.'
Paul Bonel, director of the SkillsActive playwork unit, said, 'The door is still open for early years to join us. They would be coming into a sector skills council with an agenda for children and young people.'
This view was reiterated by SkillsActive chair, Douglas Forman, in a speech at the Skills Active Professionals in Play conference in London last week.