Summary
This is a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience while working towards a playworker qualification. You’ll help support our After School Club, creating a fun, safe and engaging environment for the children in our care. During school holidays there will be the opportunity to work additional (weekday) hours.
Wage
£14,040 a year
Training course
Playworker (level 2)
Hours
Monday to Friday, 3.00am - 6.00pm in term time, in addition to paid study time with additional (weekday) hours during school holidays.
30 hours a week
Start date
Monday 16 February 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
* Assisting in the daily running of the club before and after school
* Helping to set up and lead a variety of play activities
* Building positive, caring relationships with children
* Supporting healthy breakfast time
* Ensuring children’s safety and wellbeing at all times
* Learning from experienced practitioners while completing your apprenticeship training
Although you will be primarily based at Chiddingly Primary School, from time-to-time you will be expected to work at Park Mead Primary School in Hailsham, one of our other sites.
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:
* Michelham Priory Road, Upper Dicker, Hailsham, BN27 3QP
* Chiddingly Primary School, Muddles Green Chiddingly, Lewes, BN8 6HN
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
EAST SUSSEX COLLEGE GROUP
Training course
Playworker (level 2)
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
* East Sussex College will provide the apprenticeship framework which will include Knowledge, Skills, Behaviour, Diploma (if included), Functional Skills
* East Sussex College will ensure Health & Safety, and Equality & Diversity
* Ongoing mentoring as well as safeguarding, food hygiene and paediatric first aid
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
* English (grade C/4 or above (or equivalent))
* Maths (grade C/4 or above (or equivalent))
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
* Organisation skills
* Team working
* Creative
* Friendly
* Fun
* Reliable
Other requirements
We encourage the children to spend as much time as possible playing outdoors. This job will include outdoor play and encouraging the children to join team games.