Playworker apprenticeship

Summary

Train as a Playworker, supporting children in before and after school clubs, holiday camps and play activities. Gain hands-on childcare experience, mentoring and a recognised qualification while helping children stay active, social and confident.

Wage

£10,400 to £16,523, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Training course

Playworker (level 2)

Hours

Term time hours may include: Breakfast Club: Monday to Friday, 7.30am- 9.00am After School Club: Monday- Friday, 2.45pm- 5.30pm. School holiday hours may include: Holiday Clubs: Monday to Friday, 7:30am- 5:30pm

25 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

1 year 2 months

Positions available

5

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

The Playworker apprenticeship with Premier Education is an exciting opportunity to earn while you learn, gaining valuable hands-on experience in childcare, play and activity delivery within a fun and rewarding environment.

Apprentices will support the delivery of before and after school clubs, holiday camps and engaging activities that help children stay active, social and confident. This apprenticeship offers real workplace experience alongside recognised qualifications, ongoing mentoring and clear career progression opportunities.

This role is ideal for someone passionate about working with children, developing practical skills and starting a long-term career in childcare, education or sport with a trusted and growing organisation.

The apprentice will provide quality childcare within the framework of the club’s policies and procedures.

Line manager: Middle Management Team

Working relationships:

• Children attending the club and their parents or carers
• Management, club staff and volunteers
• Schools, childcare and play organisations
• Registering authorities

Responsibilities of a Playworker Apprentice:

• Help the setting manager with planning, preparing and delivering quality play opportunities within a safe and caring environment
• Provide comprehensive care for children, including collecting them from school and delivering them safely to parents or carers
• Support and supervise playworkers and volunteers where required
• Set up the play space, including moving furniture and play equipment
• Provide refreshments and ensure hygiene, health and safety standards are met
• Administer first aid when necessary, if appropriately trained
• Consult with children and involve them in planning activities
• Encourage parental involvement in the club
• Promote a positive working relationship with the school
• Support good communication with colleagues, parents, schools and childcare or play-related agencies
• Undertake appropriate and relevant training
• Keep the work environment healthy, safe and secure
• Work within the framework of the club’s policies and procedures and the Early Years Foundation Stage
• Support with Ofsted inspections where required

Where you'll work

You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

• Churchfield Academy Cf E School, Cheshunt, EN8 0LU
• High Leigh Primary School, Hoddesdon, EN11 8GF
• Downfield Road, Cheshunt, Waltham Cross, EN8 8SS

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

THE EDUCATIONWISE ACADEMY LTD

Training course

Playworker (level 2)

What you'll learn

• Observe and reflect on play behaviours.
• Communicate sensitively using relevant language and behaviour.
• Promote diversity and inclusion in Playwork practice.
• Identify ways to remove barriers which can prevent some children and young people playing.
• Undertake reflective observations to improve own practice and the quality of the provision for children and young people.
• Contribute to play audits.
• Promote the value and benefits of play for all children and young people.
• Assist with planning, creating and identifying loose parts to encourage and inspire sustainable practices, including recycling, reusing, reducing and repairing.
• Recognise the benefits of risk taking in play and contribute to dynamic risk-benefit assessment.
• Recognise that children and young people communicate with a range of different types of behaviour and may need Playworker support.
• Support children and young people to understand and manage their emotions, feelings and actions.
• Manage interactions with parents/caregivers professionally.
• Recognise the importance of respecting professional boundaries when lone working or conducting intimate care with children and young people and using social media with children, young people and families.
• Contribute to health and safety checks.
• Follow emergency incidents or common illness/infections policies and procedures, administering first aid and completing records when required.
• Use active listening and communication techniques when interacting with children and young people playing, identifying any potential concerns if they occur.
• Contribute to recording and reporting procedures as required by the play setting.
• Contribute to administrative and financial record keeping.
• Promote healthy eating and an active lifestyle, ensuring specific dietary and cultural needs are met.
• Maintain a clean environment according to local and national policies and procedures.
• Contribute to ensuring security arrangements are followed, such as children’s arrival and departures from the setting.
• Work as part of a team to support and supervise children and young people on off-site trips, complying with formal risk assessment of venues visited.
• Apply Playwork approaches in own role, incorporating new and emerging themes.
• Reflect on own practice to create a personal development plan with supervisor.
• Recognise the boundaries of own self and other Playworkers’ interaction with children, and when it is necessary to report incidents to the appropriate safeguarding lead and Local Authority Designated Officer – LADO if appropriate when a Playworkers’ behaviour towards a child may pose a risk of harm.
• Apply the play work approach depending on the individual need.
• Observe and reflect on play behaviours.
• Communicate sensitively using relevant language and behaviour.
• Promote diversity and inclusion in Playwork practice.
• Identify ways to remove barriers which can prevent some children and young people playing.
• Undertake reflective observations to improve own practice and the quality of the provision for children and young people.
• Contribute to play audits.
• Promote the value and benefits of play for all children and young people.
• Assist with planning, creating and identifying loose parts to encourage and inspire sustainable practices, including recycling, reusing, reducing and repairing.
• Recognise the benefits of risk taking in play and contribute to dynamic risk-benefit assessment.
• Recognise that children and young people communicate with a range of different types of behaviour and may need Playworker support.
• Support children and young people to understand and manage their emotions, feelings and actions.
• Manage interactions with parents/caregivers professionally.
• Recognise the importance of respecting professional boundaries when lone working or conducting intimate care with children and young people and using social media with children, young people and families.
• Contribute to health and safety checks.
• Follow emergency incidents or common illness/infections policies and procedures, administering first aid and completing records when required.
• Use active listening and communication techniques when interacting with children and young people playing, identifying any potential concerns if they occur.
• Contribute to recording and reporting procedures as required by the play setting.
• Contribute to administrative and financial record keeping.
• Promote healthy eating and an active lifestyle, ensuring specific dietary and cultural needs are met.
• Maintain a clean environment according to local and national policies and procedures.
• Contribute to ensuring security arrangements are followed, such as children’s arrival and departures from the setting.
• Work as part of a team to support and supervise children and young people on off-site trips, complying with formal risk assessment of venues visited.
• Apply Playwork approaches in own role, incorporating new and emerging themes.
• Reflect on own practice to create a personal development plan with supervisor.
• Recognise the boundaries of own self and other Playworkers’ interaction with children, and when it is necessary to report incidents to the appropriate safeguarding lead and Local Authority Designated Officer – LADO if appropriate when a Playworkers’ behaviour towards a child may pose a risk of harm.
• Apply the play work approach depending on the individual need.

Training schedule

• The apprentice will complete training in the workplace, supported by regular sessions with The Educationwise Academy Ltd
• Training will take place alongside practical experience in before and after school clubs, holiday camps and childcare settings
• The apprentice will receive workplace mentoring, tutor support and regular progress reviews throughout the apprenticeship

More training information

Training will be delivered by The Educationwise Academy Ltd and will combine practical workplace experience with structured apprenticeship training, regular reviews and ongoing tutor support throughout the programme

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade A*-C/4-9)
• Maths (grade A*-C/4-9)

BTEC in:

Sport, Childcare, Health and Social Care (grade Any)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• Creative
• Initiative
• Patience

Other requirements

• Desired qualifications and candidate requirements
• The employer is looking for candidates who live within approximately a 20-minute travel radius of the vacancy location. Applications from candidates with a travel time above this may not be progressed
• Level 2 or Level 3 qualification in Sport, Childcare, Health and Social Care, or Performing Arts - desirable
• Experience of working within a play-based setting - desirable
• Experience of administration- desirable
• Appropriate child protection training- desirable
• Paediatric First Aid Certificate- desirable
• Food Hygiene Certificate- desirable
• Candidates must be aged 18+ due to Ofsted requirements
• Candidates must have a driving licence and access to transport
• Experience of working with children aged 3 to 11, an understanding of the varied needs of children and their families, and an understanding of the delivery of quality play care
• Candidates should understand equal opportunities, be able to provide and facilitate safe and creative play, communicate well, work as part of a team, use sound judgement and common sense, and have sufficient English to support the wellbeing of children