PlayWorker apprentice

Summary

Are you interested in a career working with children? We are seeking highly motivated and dedicated play workers or childcare workers who want to educate and inspire children in a primary school setting. Positions are available for working in before and after-school clubs.

Wage

£12,480 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Training course

Playworker (level 2)

Hours

Before school, lunchtime, after-school clubs and curricular activities as well as holiday camps when out of school term. Days and times to be confirmed.

30 hours a week

Start date

Monday 23 November 2026

Duration

1 year 2 months

Positions available

2

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 successful candidate will need to:

• Have good Literacy and Numeracy skills, able to support children in reading, writing and maths as they will be allocated time to continue with their learning during the session
• Will be able to prepare healthy snacks for the children
• Participate in a range of activities with the children during sessions both inside and outside
• Be able to assist with the planning of activities, supporting and engaging with children during the sessions
• Will have a general understanding of play work principals and seven characteristics of learning

Desirable:

• Appropriate Level 2 (or above) qualification (Child Care related)
• Experience of working within a play-based setting
• Ability to work on your own initiative
• Appropriate child protection training
• Current 12-hour Paediatric First Aid Certificate
• Food Hygiene Certificate

All training in the above will be available if successful within the interview process.

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:

• Ely, CB7 4RB
• School Road, Ely, CB6 2FG
• Mayfield Road, Huntingdon, PE29 1UL
• London Road, King's Lynn, PE30 5PY
• Barkers Close, School Lane, Thriplow, Royston, SG8 7RH
• Burns Road, Royston, SG8 5EQ
• High Barns, Ely, UK, CB7 4RB
• London Road, Kings Lynn, UK, PE30 5PY

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

Playworker Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard:

• The apprenticeship training will take place within our selected schools, where you will gain hands-on experience in sports coaching
• Additionally, you will have bi-weekly sessions with your tutor from Educationwise to support your learning and development

More training information

• Training provider: Educationwise
• More information regarding the course can be found at their website

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

Childcare (grade Level 2)

English in:

GCSE/Functional Skills (grade *A-C/9-4)

Maths in:

GCSE/Functional Skills (grade *A-C/9-4)

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

Skills

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Problem solving skills
• Creative
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Patience

Other requirements

Driving licence required.