- Location
- Distance/Online Learning
- Start Date
- 1 Aug 2024
- Qualification Type
- PDA
- Course Type
- Evening
- Duration
- 1 Year (August to June)
PDA Pedagogy of Play recognises the importance of play and playwork in the lives of children and young people, and aims to develop and enhance the play knowledge and skills of those working with children and young people. It will enhance play knowledge and skills to support children and young people to create engaging play spaces, support and facilitate play, and choose intervention styles which balance risk and benefits, whilst allowing children and young people to make control and determine their own play.
What will I learn?
This PDA Pedagogy of Play course at SCQF 8 contains two mandatory units:
Play Pedagogy: Review theoretical perspectives of play pedagogy (2 HN credits) (16 SCQF credits)
This unit is designed to allow you to explore diverse theoretical perspectives on play pedagogy for children and young people. The unit will give you opportunities to investigate key concepts through literature review, critically assess current influential ideas and theories, and reflect upon their impact on practice and the wellbeing of children and young people.
Play Pedagogy: Research play pedagogy in practice (3 HN credits) (24 SCQF credits)
This unit has been designed to allow you to develop practitioner research into play pedagogy underpinning practice for working with children and young people. You will have the opportunity to develop your understanding of research methodology and methods, and follow the stages of research, starting with the research problem/ question through to the presentation of findings. It also provides support in understanding research ethics
Entry requirements (minimum)
For entry to the course you would benefit from having attained the skills, knowledge and understanding required by one or more of the following, or equivalent, qualifications and/or experiences:
If you hold a practitioner qualification, as required by the Scottish Social Services Council, for example:
- HNC Childhood Practice
- SVQ Social Services (Children and Young People) at SCQF level 7
- SVQ Playwork at SCQF 7
or any other practitioner award recognised by the SSSC.
Or you may hold, or have qualifications and experience from education settings, such as teaching, pupil support staff or inclusion professionals; youth services; open-access play provision, etc.
Entry requirement equivalency table
If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
Employer and industry links
The purpose of this qualification is to provide a smooth professional learning journey for those within the childcare and playwork sector, building on qualifications at SCQF 7 and enhancing their professional knowledge by developing a deeper understanding of the principles, theories, and practices that underpin effective play pedagogy.
There is also an opportunity for those working within education settings to undertake this qualification to support them to embed a play ethos within their classrooms, whether as teachers, pupil support staff or inclusion professionals.
Jobs and further study
The PDA Pedagogy of Play at SCQF level 8 allows learners to achieve 40 SCQF level 8 credits. This may be used towards the 120 SCQF level 8 credits necessary to progress to the PDA Childhood Practice: Leadership and management at SCQF level 9.
The PDA Pedagogy of Play at SCQF level 8 may also support progression to universities who offer BA Childhood Practice. This is at the discretion of individual universities.
Take a look at the course progression map for early years courses.
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
I've applied — what happens next?
When you apply
You will receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will either be:
- Made a direct offer (unconditional or conditional)
- Invited to book an interview session
- Advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
- We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
If you are invited to interview, you will be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you will not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you will be sent out instructions about student funding, joining instructions and induction date. This will normally be sent out in June/July.