DescriptionEmployerLocation
PLAY WORKER – Outdoor play and learning (OPAL) leader, 2 days per week
Pay scale: Level 4 TA salary band F (£31,586-£34,314 FTE)
2 days per week or 15 hours flexible. Temporary 1 year.
Walter Halls Primary School is a busy and diverse two-form Primary and Nursery school serving the communities of St Anns and Mapperley. We are currently seeking a talented and enthusiastic playworker to help us to continue on our OPAL journey. In February of this year we were awarded Platinum status by OPAL for our fantastic developments made in our lunchtime play provision. Our extensive school grounds have a concrete yard, 2 fields, woodland, fixed play equipment, a wildlife garden, loose parts and ample opportunity for enriching play and developmentally appropriate risk taking. We now have an opportunity for someone to join our team and help us to take us even further with the play opportunities we provide for our children. This role is initially a temporary 1-year contract, with the potential to be made permanent. This role would suit someone who is a qualified play worker, an existing teaching assistant or teacher with a depth of knowledge about effective play provision, a forest school or youth worker. The job description falls in-line with that of a Level 4 Teaching Assistant within a school setting.
You will be someone who:
•Is a qualified Playworker at Level 3 or above. You may also be an existing teaching assistant or teacher with a specialism in effective play provision or a Forest School or Youth Worker
•Wants to work 15 hours per week. These can be flexible but must include at least 2 lunchtimes leading ranging supervision (11.30-1.30pm)
•Has innovative ideas for enhancing our large play spaces and keeping them new and exciting
•Takes on an advisory role to school leaders in helping them implement the play work approach throughout school
•Able to lead a small play team with reflective practice and informal training sessions
•Able to lead small group outdoor sessions with children at different times other than lunchtime
•Hosting OPAL ambassadors (approximately 15 children) for play-related activities – for example loose parts collections, moving equipment, litter picking etc
•Works on own initiative to source loose parts, donations and outdoor clothing
•Writes and shares appropriate Risk-Benefit statements in-line with OPAL approaches
•Initiates and leads on seasonal jobs for outdoor development, for example hosting gardening clubs, building weatherproof shelters and hosting volunteers
What we can offer you:
•Beautiful outdoor grounds with exceptional potential for varied play experiences
•A warm and welcoming staff and leadership team who want to help and support you
•Flexible working and an opportunity to have a voice and influence our play approaches
•Excellent links to Nottingham Schools Trust training links and to accredited OPAL training
•Amazing children who show positive behaviour, curiosity and resilience – and who make us smile every day!
Walter Halls Primary and Early Years School is committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Any offer of employment will be subject to receipt of a satisfactory DBS Enhanced level disclosure and satisfactory references.
For more information about the role and about the selection process call the school office and ask to speak with Mrs Emma Beardah, Headteacher or email to arrange a chat.
We welcome visits to our site on: TUESDAY 17th JUNE at 12 noon – please call our office team to book this visit.
Closing date: MONDAY 23RD JUNE
Interviews on: TUESDAY 1ST JULY
Start date: September 2025
Safeguarding Statement
Walter Halls Primary School is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts are subject to pre-employment checks, references will be sought and successful candidates will need to undertake an enhanced DBS check.