Playwork NOS consultation now open

The UK Playwork NOS Consortium is consulting on the draft National Occupational Standards for playwork. The consortium is seeking your views on the draft standards for the roles of support playworker, playworker and playwork manager – as well as on the functional map and glossary.

The draft NOS, functional map and glossary can be accessed on a range of platforms:

• SharePoint

• Dropbox

• WeTransfer

For more information about the consultation and the process read information sheet #4.

To provide feedback please complete the online consultation response form. The consultation closing date is 1 May 2026.

Consultation webinars

The NOS Consortium is also running a series of webinars across the four nations where you can find out more about the process and provide initial feedback. A number of times and dates are available. If you can’t attend your home nation event, you are welcome to book onto an alternative date that suits you.

If you wish to attend a webinar, please register by clicking on the event of your choice:

• Scotland – 18 March (10:00am – 12:00pm)

• Wales – 18 March (1:00pm – 3:00pm)

• England – 24 March (6:30pm – 8:30pm)

• Northern Ireland – 27 March (10:00 – 12:00pm)

If you have any questions about the webinars please contact us.

Background

The UK Playwork NOS Consortium comprises Play Wales, Play Scotland, PlayBoard NI, Play England and The Playwork Foundation. The consortium was established to plan strategically across the four nations for the future of workforce development and sector skills initiatives, including a review of the NOS.

For more information on the purpose of NOS, approval process and the UK Playwork NOS Consortium please contact us and/or review our previous updates:

• Update: Playwork NOS Review (August 2025)

• Update: Playwork NOS Review (December 2024)

• Recruitment: UK Playwork NOS review (July 2024)

• 2024/25 Review of the National Occupational Standards for Playwork (NOS) (June 2024)