Quality assurance

Chwarae o Safon is Play Wales’ new playwork quality mark. The meaning of the Welsh title ‘Chwarae o Safon’ in English is ‘Play of Quality’.

Chwarae o Safon is intended to be used in unregulated playwork settings, as well as settings regulated by Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW). It also applies to those involved in playwork in non-dedicated playwork settings.

There are two different playwork quality mark awards, one focused on practice and the other on policy. Playwork settings can work towards one or both of these awards:

1. Chwarae o Safon – playwork practice quality mark

This assesses:

• children’s play experiences
• the playwork environment.

This is suitable for settings using a playwork approach or whose staff have completed playwork training or qualifications and want to show good playwork practice. As well as dedicated playwork settings, this can also include youth work, childcare, education, sports and health provision.

2. Chwarae o Safon – playwork policy quality mark

This assesses:

• playwork policy and practice
• the playwork organisation.

This is suitable for settings whose main purpose is supporting children’s play using a playwork approach. This includes both regulated and unregulated settings that define themselves as either peripatetic or play ranger provision, adventure playgrounds, out of school childcare, open access playwork or street play. It focuses on the policies, procedures and organisational ethos that support playwork practice. To achieve this quality mark, settings will already have received the playwork practice quality mark.

Chwarae o Safon builds on and replaces two Play Wales resources:

• The First Claim … a framework for playwork quality assessment (2001)
• The First Claim – desirable processes (2002).

Find out more

Please get in touch with us to find out more about how you can apply for the Chwarae o Safon quality mark, and for current costs.

Getting started 

Chwarae o Safon involves both self-assessment and external assessment. The guidance features more detailed information about the playwork quality mark and the different stages of the process. The Self-assessment and evidence framework is a fillable form to gather evidence in readiness for external assessment.

Playwork quality assurance

Playwork quality assurance is the process of looking deeply at our playwork practice to improve the quality of children’s play experiences in the wide range of settings where playwork takes place. It builds on playworkers’ qualifications, training, experience and knowledge of the Playwork Principles. It helps us to look critically at specific elements of our work (quality indicators) and how we ensure these elements are realised in principle and in practice.

Chwarae o Safon formalises this process so that we can evidence to ourselves and others that our practice fits with the quality expectations of our sector. It is beneficial in its own right for our staff, setting and of course for children but also demonstrates to parents, funders, and legal and regulatory bodies that our setting is of quality.

Background

Play Wales worked with the playwork sector to develop Chwarae o Safon. An expert reference group supported the quality mark’s development. This group’s members included:

• Care Inspectorate Wales
• Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs
• Children’s Commisioner for Wales’ Office
• Early Years Wales
• Play specialists
• Playwork employers from early years, open access playwork and out of school childcare settings
• Playwork trainers
• Social Care Wales
• The Welsh Government.