What is playwork, and why is it one of the fastest-growing jobs in the UK?
Playworkers are integral to the delivery of our holiday clubs and wraparound care provision in primary schools. As a playworker, you’ll have a key role in supervising children’s play experiences in a variety of play environments. It’s a varied and creative role, and no two days are the same!
You might be a school leaver looking for job opportunities, or completing a college course and on the hunt for a relevant role, or you might be looking for a career change. Regardless of your background, if you enjoy working with children and you have bags of enthusiasm and a good imagination, read on to find out more about playwork principles and what this unique career path might have in store for you.
What is a playworker’s role?
At Premier Education, our skilled playworkers are responsible for planning and running holiday clubs and wraparound care sessions before and after school for primary age children. Playworkers plan sessions that are packed full of fun activities and games, set up a play space, and run sessions, providing food and caring for children in a safe environment that promotes their growth through play.
Play carers encourage children to take charge of their own play, guiding them where needed to ensure they get the most out of each session. Play is a key part of healthy development, and playworkers are responsible for creating play opportunities that provide children with both the physical benefits of activity and the emotional benefits of building confidence and social skills.
High-quality holiday clubs and wraparound care provision exist to help children learn life skills and grow in confidence, and to help parents by providing the childcare required for them to do a full day’s work. Play assistants are integral to playwork settings in which young people’s play is prioritised, and where they can feel safe and secure.
What makes playwork a good career choice?
Following the UK government’s aims for all primary-age children to have access to wraparound care by 2026, there’s a significant need for playworkers to run this extended school provision. Premier Education is the UK’s biggest provider of wraparound care; we work with over 200 schools to deliver breakfast clubs and after-school clubs, helping to meet the government’s target.
As a result, skilled playworkers are in high demand, and as more schools begin setting up their wraparound care provision, more jobs are likely to become available as time goes on. Playworkers have a crucial role to play in the care of children and in meeting the social necessity of wraparound care.
At Premier Education, you’d be working with one of the UK’s top providers of wraparound care for primary schools. We work with people who have previous playwork qualifications and experience, as well as school leavers and people who are changing careers.
Our prime focus is on providing top-quality sessions for children and young people, and we can offer courses, trainee programmes and apprenticeships to help you grow into a playworker role. We know the value of continued professional development, and we’ll offer you the support you need to progress your career with us and to achieve your goals.
How playwork benefits children
In our wraparound care sessions, the play process takes precedence. Our values focus on the positive development of the children in our care. In our sessions, children and young people determine how to engage with activities in their own way.
We know that engaging in play that’s freely chosen is of significant developmental benefit to children. Playworkers turn physical spaces into places where children can explore creative and physical activity, practise problem solving and develop essential emotional skills.
As a playworker, your carefully designed, engaging play activities will encourage children to practise social skills with their peers. This includes sharing, teamwork, imaginative play and co-creation, and learning how to navigate tricky social situations.
In outdoor play settings, you’ll encourage children to listen to their instincts and balance risk. And, you’ll design creative indoor activities for them to enjoy alongside their friends without the pressure of class-based learning.
Playworkers are important figures in the lives of the children and young people we work with. You’ll become a trusted adult, with whom children will feel safe and secure enough to voice their worries or concerns.
A play environment can be varied, and activities tailored to suit different age groups and needs. Wraparound care provision gives children opportunities to develop their language and fine motor skills through play, and can be flexible to accommodate any SEND aspects or disabilities. Over time, you will get to know the children in your care, and you’ll become highly skilled at creating sessions that are fun and beneficial for everyone.
How playwork benefits you
A career as a playworker will benefit you as much as the young people you work with. Playwork is a highly active, engaging role; there’s no time to be bored! Each day will present new challenges and new opportunities to try out ideas, develop relationships and build on your knowledge of children’s development.
Playworkers often enjoy a high level of job satisfaction. You’ll be filling an important role in the lives of the children in your care, and your work will have a real impact on their lives. You’ll be a valued member of the community, communicating with staff and parents to ensure the smooth running of sessions and to pass on any concerns or ideas about a child’s care.
On a practical level, playwork has a high level of flexibility and is ideal for the parents of primary school-age children as well as people who are studying at school or college. You’re able to work around school or college commitments while keeping your weekends free.
Working with us
As a top-quality provider of wraparound care, Premier Education has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with you. Our playworkers are fully supported, both in terms of professional qualifications and development opportunities, and in terms of their wellbeing. We encourage reflective practice and are always here to discuss any challenges you may be facing or ideas that you have for how to change or improve your delivery.
We also offer trainee programmes and apprenticeships. We’ve built a best-in-class professional and ethical framework through which to deliver our creative, active and supportive childcare provision. A key part of this is making sure that you’re happy coming into work each day, and we’re here to support your professional growth in this varied and rewarding role.
What are my next steps?
If you are an imaginative, energetic individual with a positive attitude and you’re interested in a dynamic, fun and meaningful career working in one of our wraparound childcare teams, contact us or search our job vacancies today.
To work with us, you need a minimum of 2 GCSEs, ideally Maths and English, and an education or childcare-related college qualification is desirable. A paediatric first aid certificate is useful and shows your commitment to the role, but is not essential at the application stage.
Relevant experience is another good asset; you can build up your experience by volunteering at a holiday or after-school club near you, on a regular basis or during the holidays if you are still in education yourself.
If you have any questions or want to discuss playwork in further detail, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you!
