Playworker apprenticeship

Summary

Train as a Playworker, supporting children through play while gaining hands-on experience in wraparound care, breakfast clubs, after-school clubs and holiday provision. Ideal for someone who is enthusiastic, caring and passionate about helping children learn and develop through play.

Wage

£12,480 to £19,827.60, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Training course

Playworker (level 2)

Hours

Monday - Friday. Specific school placements may vary and will be confirmed with applicants.

30 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 December 2026

Duration

1 year 3 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

We are seeking a motivated, enthusiastic and caring individual to join our organisation as a Playworker Apprentice. This role sits within our childcare team and plays an important part in creating a safe, engaging and inclusive environment where children can learn, develop and enjoy play before school, after school and during holiday provision.

The successful candidate will work closely with the premier line manager, school staff and the wider childcare team to support children through a range of structured and child-led play activities.

The role combines practical workplace experience with structured apprenticeship training, enabling the apprentice to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to build a career in childcare and playwork.

Responsibilities of a Playworker Apprentice:

• Support the planning and delivery of fun, engaging and inclusive play activities for children
• Encourage children to participate in a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities
• Promote children's physical, social, emotional and creative development through play
• Help create a safe, welcoming and stimulating play environment
• Build positive relationships with children, parents, carers and colleagues
• Support children's well-being, independence and confidence
• Supervise children during activities, snack times and transitions
• Assist with preparing, setting up and tidying away play equipment and resources
• Follow safeguarding, health and safety and company policies at all times
• Maintain confidentiality and professional standards
• Engage fully with apprenticeship training, mentoring and professional development opportunities

Where you'll work

Studley Road
London
SW4 6RP

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.

Training schedule

This training schedule has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade A*-C/4-9)
• Maths (grade A*-C/4-9)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Team working
• Patience
• Empathy
• Reliability
• Punctuality
• Safeguarding awareness
• SEND awareness
• Behaviour support

Other requirements

Candidates must be aged 18+ due to Ofsted regulations.

The successful applicant must be willing to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Previous experience working with children in a school, childcare, sports coaching, holiday club or voluntary setting would be desirable but is not essential.

Applicants with a Level 2 qualification in Childcare, Health & Social Care, Sport or a related subject are welcomed but not required.

An understanding of safeguarding, health and safety and child development would be beneficial.

The successful candidate should be enthusiastic, reliable and passionate about creating positive play experiences for children.