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Health Play Specialism

  • FD
  • 2 Years
  • Part-time
  • September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Mabgate
Awarded by:
Luminate Education Group
More about University Centre Leeds, Leeds City College

Course options

2026-20272027-2028
Apply directly to the university/college

Course summary

Ready for a rewarding career using play specialism to support sick children? This course will provide you with all of the knowledge needed to use play to aid with children’s cognitive understanding and to minimise trauma. Healthcare play specialists can gain progressional registration with Hospital Play Staff Education Trust (HPSET).

Blending theoretical knowledge, practical experience and reflective practice, our foundation degree will teach you to effectively use play as a therapeutic tool in hospitals, the community and home-based settings. Our extensive support and specialist mentoring will prepare you for a challenging yet rewarding career. You will gain a broad understanding of play and recreation as well as relevant policies. In addition, you will explore child development while learning how to enhance resilience in children and young people among other important topics relevant to this field of study.

This Higher Technical Qualification is approved against occupational standards decided by employers.

Learn more about Higher Technical Qualifications

Modules

Modules may include:

Level 4:

  • SEARCH for Health
  • Using evidence in Health & Social Care
  • Children and Young People: Policy and Practice
  • Play and Recreation
  • Child Development
  • Reflective Skills & Practice Assessment

Level 5:

  • Children and Young People: Leadership and Management
  • Health in Children and Young People
  • The Child, Family and Society
  • Enhancing Resilience in Children and Young People
  • Investigating Resources and Practice Assessment

Assessment method

Assessment will be through a combination of work based tasks to assess competencies, presentations and assignments.

During the first year students will sit a multiple choice exam and during the second year they will sit a written exam answering questions related to a set case study.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Mabgate

Study options

  • FD • Part-time • 2 Years

Start dates

  • September 2026

University Centre Leeds, Leeds City College has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff
48 points

Typical offer: 48 UCAS tariff points from two A-levels (or equivalent qualifications), one of which must be in a relevant subject.

A typical offer would consist of:

BTEC/CACHE Level 3 Diploma: A full and relevant Level 3 qualification in childcare or health and social care. MP, MPP grade.

GCSE English: Minimum Grade C or equivalent

GCSE Maths: Minimum Grade C or equivalent

Work experience: Minimum of two years employment working with children, after gaining the level 3 qualification.

HPS registered mentor: Mentor must have HPS registration and have undertaken mentor training

Work placement: A work placement in a clinical setting must be arranged prior to commencing the course. This requirement will be discussed during the admissions process. Support and guidance are available from the course team and HPSET should it be required. HPSET has a directory of all registered health play specialists and will support pre-entry students to contact them to arrange potential placements.

DBS: Students will also be required to complete the Disclosure and Barring Service process (DBS) prior to commencement on placement. The department will cover the cost.

References: An appropriate reference required.

IELTS: IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any component.

International qualifications: International qualifications will be assessed against these criteria

Mature applicants: A full and relevant Level 3 qualification in childcare or health and social care, GCSE English or equivalent minimum grade C. Alongside the additional entry requirements stated below.

RPL claims: The course structure actively supports claims for Accreditation of Recognition of Prior Certified Learning (RPL).

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

This course may have Historical entry grades data available, please select a course option to view.

Course options

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Fees are charged per academic year.

A fee will be required to register as a Health Play Specialist with HPSET on successful completion of the course. New registrants do not have to pay a re-registration fee in the year following graduation because their first fee payment is covered by the £100 indexation fee which is paid at the start of the course. Thereafter, all registrants need to renew their registration annually by submitting the online renewal form and paying a fee of £30.00.

Please note students will need to hold a live enhanced DBS which may incur costs.

Related courses

At University Centre Leeds, Leeds City College

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