Training & CPD

High quality Training and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for the Early Years, Childcare and Playwork workforce are essential in helping to ensure that all children in Wales have a bright future.

The Welsh Government is committed to a 10-year workforce plan that covers issues such as minimum qualification levels, graduate leadership, CPD and career pathways, with an implementation plan due to be published shortly.

Cwlwm partners provide opportunities and information for you and your colleagues to access qualifications, workshops and courses as well as networking events that will help you to build upon and update you knowledge.

There are two key documents that you can use when recruiting or choosing qualifications for your staff.

1. Social Care Wales’s List of Required Qualifications to work within the Early Years and Childcare sector in Wales provides guidance for early years and childcare employers, practitioners, learning providers, and other organisations about the required occupational qualifications for those working in early years and childcare

2. If you employ or are working as a Playworker, you should use SkillsActive’s List of Required qualifications for Wales (Playwork) 

3. Playwork Qualifications flowchart

Take a look at our partner pages where you can find out more about training and CPD opportunities being offered by each organisation.

DARPL Childcare, Play and Early Years Leaders Series Coming in 2025!

This series of sessions is aimed at leaders (managers, setting leaders, childminders, voluntary management committees, nursery owners etc.) in Childcare, Playwork and Early Years settings. Creating an anti-racist culture in your setting starts with leadership, whilst a series of sessions for practitioners sits alongside the leaders’ series to support professional learning for all staff in settings.

By attending ALL sessions (2 or 3 depending on length of session), leaders will have an opportunity to reflect upon and discuss:

  • how to recognise systemic and structural racism within our society
  • how to create an anti-racist culture within your setting
  • how to challenge racism and implement best practice as far as policy and procedure are concerned
  • how to deepen your understanding and knowledge of anti-racist practice

The number of participants in each session is limited to 20. To book a place, click on one of the links below:


DARPL Childcare, Play and Early Years Practitioners Series Coming in 2025!

This series of sessions is aimed at Childcare, Playwork and Early Years Practitioners.  A series of sessions for leaders sits alongside the practitioners’ series to support professional learning for all staff in settings.

By attending ALL sessions (2 or 3 depending on length of session), you will have an opportunity to reflect upon and discuss:

  • the impact of racism on the lives of people from Global Majority backgrounds and Gypsy, Roma, Romani and Traveller communities and issues that may adversely affect young children and their families
  • anti-racism
  • actions that can be adopted in childcare, playwork, childminding and early years education settings

The number of participants in each session is limited to 20. To book a place, click on one of the links below: