Playworker Apprenticeship

Playworkers support the delivery of safe, engaging and inclusive play opportunities for children aged 4–11 during breakfast and after-school clubs. This role provides hands-on childcare experience while completing a Level 2 Playworker apprenticeship with Educationwise Academy.

Wage

• £12,480 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
• National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
• Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training Course

• Playworker (level 2)

Hours

• 30 hours per week, term-time only, consisting of approximately 24 hours of delivery and 6 hours of protected apprenticeship study time.
• Morning and after-school shifts.

Start Date

• Thursday 1 October 2026

Duration

• 1 year 2 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

• Assist with planning, preparing and delivering engaging play opportunities in a safe and welcoming environment for children aged 4–11.

Roles and responsibilities include:

• Assisting with planning and delivering safe, fun and inclusive play activities.
• Supporting the Site Lead with the daily running of breakfast and after-school clubs.
• Collecting children from school and ensuring they are safely handed over to parents/carers.
• Setting up play spaces, including moving furniture and play equipment.
• Providing refreshments while maintaining hygiene and health and safety standards.
• Administering first aid where required.
• Encouraging children to take part in activities and supporting their well-being.
• Building positive relationships with children, parents and school staff.
• Following safeguarding, health and safety and club policies, including EYFS where relevant.
• Undertaking training and development as part of the apprenticeship programme.
• Maintaining a safe, secure and welcoming environment for all children.

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:
  • Station Road, Stonegate, Wadhurst, TN5 7EN
  • 4 Warwick Way, Kings Hill, West Malling, ME19 4AL
  • Black Tiles Lane, Martlesham, Woodbridge, IP12 4SS

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.