Hi

Normally colleges want candidates to have 2 to 3 years experience
working with children before applying to do the hospital play
specialist qualification. So i would finish your course in Playwork
and then get as much experience as you can with children of different
ages and with a variety of special needs before going on to do the
course.

Spending a day working a long side a qualified hospital play
specialist is a very good idea, especially as some colleges are now
asking students at interview to write a short essay explaining why
they want to be a hospital play specialist.

I would also recomend joining the National Association of Hospital
Play Staff (NAHPS). You can join as an Associate Member (£20 per
year) and recieve our professional Journals and Newsletters which
have lots of articles about real hospital play specialists doing the
job, and will give you a better idea about the profession.
www.nahps.org.uk

Please give me a shout if i can be of any help, i have been a
qualified hospital play specialist for 7 years.