ApprenticeshipHealth Play Specialist Apprenticeship
Course overview
Gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours necessary to practice as a health play specialist, supporting infants, children and young people through their healthcare journey.
This Health Play Specialist apprenticeship offers the opportunity for those working in a healthcare setting with a background in childcare to gain the skills and experience required to practice as a Health Play Specialist.
Throughout the programme, you’ll be guided by an experienced and approachable course team, who draw on their professional experience within their teaching. You will explore areas such as the interdisciplinary study of the development of children and young people, including policies, practices and issues affecting them. The physical and mental welfare of human beings in their social and cultural context.
Upon successful completion, you’ll achieve a foundation degree in health care play specialism and be able to register with the Healthcare Play Specialist Education Trust.
Funded by:
Any questions?
Contact the apprenticeships team
Email: apprenticeships@solent.ac.uk
For employers
Apprenticeships can add value at all levels of your business:
- Upskill your staff with industry relevant qualifications.
- Drive an increase in productivity.
- Promote long-term loyalty and reduce staff turnover.
- Reduce the cost of qualifications and training.
- Develop staff with a minimum of interruption to day-to-day operations.
- Offer genuine opportunities for personal development.
For apprentices
Here's what a higher or degree apprenticeship can offer you:
- A combination of on-the-job and academic study which is relevant and applied.
- A continued wage and contract of employment which includes all the same benefits as any employee.
- A higher or degree qualification which is recognised, transferrable and the same level as if achieved through traditional study routes.
- A debt free future with zero tuition fees. (Please note, as apprenticeships are funded by employers, apprentices are not eligible to apply for Student Loans Company loans)
- An opportunity to develop new skills and progress within your industry.
What does this course lead to?
Many health play specialists work in hospitals, but others are employed in child development centres, hospices, or within community paediatric teams. With experience, you could progress to team leader or team manager. You could also train in other healthcare professions, such as nursing or occupational therapy.
Who is this course for?
This course is ideally suited to those with a background in level 3 childcare or a related field, looking to progress into health care play specialism roles in hospitals, child development centres, hospices, or within community paediatric teams.
Facilities
Our award-winning teaching building, The Spark is centred around students and offers a stimulating study environment with flexible learning spaces.
Away from studying, why not try out the gyms, fitness studios and sports halls in our £28 million Sports Complex, or watch a blockbuster film at our student-run cinema with Dolby Atmos audio.
Come to an open day
Fancy a sneak peek? Take a look around!
Meet the team
The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.
What you'll study
Core modules
Developing Reflective Practice
The syllabus for this module will reflect the developmental journey that underpins the world of direct practice within the Health Play Specialist environment. This module will directly draw upon your practice experiences through Work-Based Learning: subject to an agreed contract of learning. This contract will recognise, encourage, and embrace the true potential of your professional aspirations at this stage in your development.
Evidence-Based Practice In Healthcare
You will learn from this module skills in investigating therapeutic play and recreation in healthcare. This will include investigating the appropriateness of different activities and resources used in play and recreation. To enable this, you will develop study skills relating to Information gathering, locating sources of evidence, and critically evaluating evidence.
Play and Recreation for Healthcare
The module will provide you with a theoretical perspective on play and recreation. It will explore the historical development of play and recreation within hospitals and the valuable role of therapeutic play and recreation in healthcare settings. You will learn how therapeutic play can be used to help children understand their illness better and how you can help prepare them for treatment. You will also explore the right of the child to play for its own sake and how to provide an environment conducive to play.
Policy and Practice for Children and Young People
Students on this module will acquire theoretical knowledge of the relevant policy, guidelines, legislation and codes of conduct necessary for effective practice in the provision of therapeutic and recreational play as a healthcare play specialist.
The Developing Child
In this module you will get the opportunity to learn about the stages of child development with a focus on cognitive development, psycho-social and emotional theories, mental health, and the interaction between the environment and a child’s development.
Successful apprentices will graduate with a:FdSc Health Care Play Specialism
How you'll study
You will learn through a combination of directed learning, collaborative learning and guided learning. You will also make use of the University's online learning platform Solent Online Learning (SOL).You may be assessed by a combination of:
- Group presentations
- Individual presentations
- Essays
- Reports
- Case studies
- Portfolios
- End-point assessment
Students are assessed through a combination of academic assignments and occupational standards assessments. Coursework assignments can include presentations, essays, exams, case studies, practical assessments, and reflective accounts.
Apprentices area also expected to go through an end-point assessment within three months of completing the course.
Find out more
Fees and finance
Businesses with an annual payroll above £3million will be classed as a levy paying employer and will be able to use funds accrued in their digital apprenticeship service (DAS) account for payment of the training. Please contact us for guidance on fees if you are a non-levy employer which will cover at least 95% of the costs.
- The maximum funding drawdown for this course is: £13,000
Apprentices pay nothing towards their course fees
The course fees will be covered by your employer.
Optional Costs
While most course costs are covered by your tuition fees, some essential resources and optional extras may need to be paid for separately. For advice on budgeting and managing your money, please contact student.funding@solent.ac.uk.
The 2025/26 other costs are not yet available. For guidance, the 2024/25 other costs were:
Compulsory costs
- Students are required to pay a one-off indexation fee to the Healthcare Play Specialist Education Trust (HPSET).
Optional costs
- One uniform will be provided but you may wish to purchase additional uniforms which cost in the region of £30.
Earn while you learn
As an apprentice you'll earn while working and studying towards your degree.
Graduation costs
There is no charge to attend graduation, but you will be required to pay for the rental of your academic gown (approximately £45 per graduate, depending on your award). You may also wish to purchase official photography packages, which range in price from £15 to £200+. Graduation is not compulsory, so if you prefer to have your award sent to you, there is no cost. Extra guest tickets will go on sale after results publication and will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis. The cost per ticket is currently £15. Please note, we do not guarantee there will be any extra tickets available to purchase.
Entry Requirements
To study for an apprenticeship, you must be employed and have a contract that will cover the duration of your apprenticeship.
All apprentice applications need to go through apprenticeships@solent.ac.uk in the first instance. Applicants will be expected to provide the following documents during the onboarding process:
- CV
- Job description
- Maths and English certificates - GCSE/GCE/Functional Skills
- Completed skills assessment (template provided by Solent's apprenticeships team)
- Passport/visa (showing access to public funds if non UK passport), or birth certificate
- Share code to show immigration status if applicable
Please note: if any certificates are from outside of the UK, you will need to have a Naric Equivalency Statement alongside the certificates.
Ready to apply?
If you are an employer or a potential apprentice and would like to have an in-depth conversation with us about potential opportunities, please email apprenticeships@solent.ac.uk.
What is an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship offers a unique blend of work experience and academic study. Candidates on an apprenticeship will work a paid job while simultaneously working towards a relevant qualification in their chosen field.
Apprentices are employees with a contract of employment that must cover the duration of the programme being studied. Apprentices have guaranteed time from their employer to complete their studies, at a minimum of six hours a week, known as off-the-job training hours. The University will provide each apprentice with a tracker to ensure these off the job hours are logged to demonstrate compliance with this funding rule.
Higher apprenticeships
Solent offers a diverse range of higher and degree apprenticeships, some of which will include an additional qualification that will be studied within the Apprenticeship Standard, eg: HNC, BA or BSc.
Our apprenticeships give employees the opportunity to upskill in their chosen field or retrain for a new career while working.
Employers will see an increase in knowledge and skills, improved productivity, and a boost in the expertise of the workforce.
Find out moreThinking of applying?
Visit us on campus and explore Solent University by registering for one of our apprenticeship events.
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