Playworker apprentice

Summary

This is an exciting opportunity to begin a rewarding career in childcare and play work. As part of our Wraparound Care team at Premier Education, you’ll work hands-on with children in a school setting, delivering fun, engaging, and inclusive activities that support learning, development, and wellbeing.

Wage

£12,400 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course

Playworker (level 2)

Hours

Working hours: Monday to Friday, typically between 8:30am and 3:30pm, depending on school schedules. Apprentices may be required to work occasional early mornings, evenings, or weekends to support extracurricular or holiday club activities.

30 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

1 year 6 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

Support and lead play-based activities before and after school, encouraging creativity, movement, and teamwork.
Assist with structured learning time, helping children with literacy and numeracy tasks.
Prepare and serve healthy snacks, promoting good eating habits and hygiene.
Build positive relationships with children, parents, and school staff to ensure a safe and welcoming environment.
Help create inclusive, engaging play spaces both indoors and outdoors.
Observe and reflect on children's play and development, contributing to ongoing assessments.
Support with setting up and packing away equipment for activities.
Follow safeguarding, health & safety, and behaviour policies consistently.

Where you'll work

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

73 Elm Grove, Barnham, Bognor Regis, PO22 0HW
High Street, Lewes, BN7 1XS

Training

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

College or training organisation

THE EDUCATIONWISE ACADEMY LTD

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

The apprentice will complete the majority of their training in the workplace, gaining hands-on experience while being supported by experienced mentors and coaches.

In addition to on-the-job learning, the apprentice will attend structured training sessions delivered remotely and in person by our Ofsted Outstanding training provider, Educationwise Academy.

Training schedule

Weekly remote learning sessions
Ongoing workplace assessments and reviews

More training information

Educationwise Academy specialises in delivering high-quality training for the sport and physical education sector. The apprenticeship programme is structured to blend practical coaching experience with guided learning, reflective practice, and professional development opportunities.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

Other in:

Childcare (grade Any)

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

Patience
Follow Instructions
Lead Sessions
Punctual
Reliable
Driving licence

Other requirements

Applicants must be 18 or over due to insurance requirements. Applicants should be prepared to work flexible hours, including early mornings and late afternoons, to support before- and after-school care. You’ll also need to travel to local school sites, so access to reliable transport is beneficial. A genuine commitment to child safety and a willingness to complete necessary training (e.g. safeguarding, first aid, food hygiene) is essential.

About this company

At Premier Education, we believe that every child deserves a fun, active, and nurturing start and end to their school day. Since 1999, we’ve grown from a single football camp to the UK’s leading provider of school physical activity and childcare delivering over 18 million hours of activity each year. Our work is guided by our Culture Code, built on five core pillars that champion positivity, collaboration, and making a real impact. Our Wraparound Care programmes offer high-quality before- and after-school childcare, where children are safe, engaged, and excited to learn through play. It’s trusted by parents and loved by children and we’re looking for dedicated team members to help us make it even better.

http://www.premier-education.com (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Opportunities for career progression, including leadership roles.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: