Playworker Apprentice
PLAY SPORTS LTD
Chesterfield, Sheffield
Closes in 9 days (Friday 25 September 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 16 September 2026
Contents
Summary
Gain hands-on experience working with children in a school and wraparound care setting. You’ll plan and deliver fun activities, support children’s development and wellbeing, and build valuable childcare and communication skills while working towards your apprenticeship qualification.
- Wage
-
£12,480 to £19,827.60, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Pay increase will take place after a year.
- Training course
- Playworker (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday
Hours will include; 07-15 - 09:00 & 15:15 - 18:00 (could be 17:30 depending on venue)
30 hours a week
- Start date
-
Friday 2 October 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 6 months
- Positions available
-
1
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 children during before and after-school sessions
- Plan and deliver fun, engaging activities and games
- Build positive relationships with children
- Support children’s wellbeing, development and inclusion
- Help maintain a safe, welcoming and positive environment
- Work as part of a team and communicate with parents and school staff
- Set up and tidy away equipment and activity areas
- Follow safeguarding, health and safety procedures
- Complete training and develop skills as part of the apprenticeship
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:
- New Road, Wingerworth, Chesterfield, S42 6TD
- 12 Main Road, Ridgeway, Sheffield, S12 3XR
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)
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.
Training schedule
The apprenticeship will be done online - with a teams call once a week with your tutor along with 6 off the job hours to complete your work.
Requirements
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Initiative
Other requirements
- Passing a DBS check
- 2 references being made
About this employer
Premier Education provides sports, physical activity, childcare, and enrichment programmes for primary school children across the UK, helping schools and families support children's health, wellbeing, and personal development.
https://www.premier-education.com/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- Company pension
- Work from home
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Following the playworker apprenticeship, we look to move into an assistant role before a venue lead role in relation to our wrap around care however other roles can be made within the business.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
PLAY SPORTS LTD
Luke Haxby
lhaxby@premier-education.com
07960168319
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000053701.
Apply now
Closes in 9 days (Friday 25 September 2026 at 11:59pm)