Level 2 Playworker Apprentice

Summary

The Playworker apprentice will work in a range of play and care settings, creating stimulating and adventurous spaces for children to learn and explore whilst ensuring their safety, supporting their development and promoting their engagement. They might support wraparound care, breakfast clubs, after-school clubs or holiday activity programmes.

Wage

£13,741 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

National minimum wage from 12 months onwards

Training course

Playworker (level 2)

Hours

35 hours per week, Monday – Friday. Hours to suit timetabled sessions.

35 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

1 year 3 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

Do you love working with children to make a difference and impact on their learning and wellbeing? Can you be a positive role model to inspire and motivate children? Would you relish the opportunity to work alongside a friendly, supportive and hard-working team? Our Playworker apprentice will work in a range of play and care settings, creating stimulating and adventurous spaces for children to learn and explore whilst ensuring their safety, supporting their development and promoting their engagement. They might support wraparound care, breakfast clubs, after-school clubs or holiday activity programmes. As an apprentice, you’ll work in an assistant role, contributing to the organisation and facilitation of playwork opportunities.

Key aspects of the role include:

Working directly with pupils across all key stages in playwork related activities
Support the delivery of Ofsted registered wraparound care provision in schools, understanding the legislation that governs this type of work
Deliver breakfast club, after-school clubs and lunchtime activities
Facilitate a range of engaging play, crafts and sports activities for children
Delivery of a range of interventions to support targeted pupil learning
Supporting holiday camp programmes and activities (where necessary)

You will need to:

Offer support to children in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
Be familiar with the club's policies and explain how they align with daily practices
Arrange and set-up equipment and resources to create effective learning environments
Conduct risk assessments to ensure a healthy, safe, and secure environment
Plan and deliver high-quality play activities in a safe and caring setting
Ensure the environment is inclusive and caters to all children’s needs, including SEN
Seek children’s views and involve them in planning activities, respecting their preferences
Facilitate child-centered play, allowing safe risks and challenges
Help prepare nutritious snacks, promoting independence and self-choice
Safeguard Children: Understand and apply safeguarding procedures, reporting concerns immediately
Provide care for children, including safe collection from classes and delivery to parents/carers
EYFS Responsibilities: Meet the needs of EYFS children, understanding your additional roles
Support intimate care situations respectfully and safely
Maintain confidential records such as accident forms and safeguarding disclosures

Where you'll work

Rothwell Victoria Infants School
School Lane
Rothwell
NN14 6HZ

Training

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

College or training organisation

ASPIRE TRAINING SOLUTIONS (UK) LIMITED

Your training course

Playworker (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

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.

Your training plan

Our apprentices will receive weekly off-the-job training hours in order to engage with masterclasses, skills festival days, assignments and tasks related to the apprenticeship, online CPD courses and development sessions with their allocated skills coach.

Level 2 Playworker Apprenticeship Standard.

Sector-specific CPD, such as:

Working in a school environment
Behaviour Management
Physically active games and playground games - practical training
PE curriculum CPD
Gymnastics
Dance
Outdoor adventurous activities
SEND in play
Adaptive practice
Thematic planning
Creative use of storytelling
Relaxation and wellbeing
Supporting classroom learning and providing interventions
Paediatric first aid
Safeguarding / Prevent
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Digital skills

Functional skills in maths and English (where required)

More training information

Level 2 Award in Multi-skills Coaching/Development in Sport (optional).

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths & English (grade 4 or above (C equivalent))

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Presentation skills
Administrative skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience
Physical fitness

Other requirements

Applicants must be confident and happy to travel to and from various school locations each day. Please only apply for this apprenticeship if the location(s) suits your mode of transport and travel times etc. The successful applicant will receive: • Allocated workplace mentor • Access to employer training • Access to apprenticeship training delivered by Aspire Training Solutions • Allocated learning hours within the working week 20% off the job learning We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and anyone applying to work across our school settings is expected to share this commitment. Therefore, this position is subject to receipt of an enhanced DBS disclosure and relevant references.

About this company

We are a sports coaching and education company based in the East Midlands. Wraparound Care Before and after-school clubs that provide a supportive space for children to learn, play, and socialise. Holiday Camps Action-packed school holiday programs filled with exciting sports, teamwork, and skill-building activities. Our experienced coaches use the latest teaching methods and training insights to help young children grow — whether in the classroom, pool, or on the field.

http://www.fiestasportscoaching.co.uk (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

We will support you in your personal development by providing you with the underpinning knowledge, skills and experience for the following:

Careers within the childcare, sports coaching and education sector
Potential further employment with the employer
Opportunity for further education and progression

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