Playworker – No Childcare Experience Needed
Looking for a job that’s fun, active and actually fits around your life?
You don’t need to have worked in childcare before to be a brilliant Playworker.
Some of our best staff have come to us from retail, hospitality, care, university or after taking time out to raise a family. What matters to us is who you are: warm, reliable, energetic, sensible and genuinely interested in helping children thrive.
If you’re used to dealing with people, working as part of a busy team, thinking on your feet and keeping your sense of humour when things get hectic, you may already have most of the skills we’re looking for.
We’ll provide the childcare training.
What is a Playworker?
Our Playworkers help make the before and after school clubs somewhere children want to be.
One afternoon you might be helping a group build an enormous den, the next running football, getting covered in paint during an art project, refereeing a very serious game of Uno or simply sitting and chatting with a child who needs a bit of company.
This isn't a classroom and you won't be expected to teach. Your job is to help children aged 4–12 play, explore, make friends, try new things and have fun – while keeping them safe and supported.
This could suit you if…
- You work in retail or hospitality and love the people side of your job but would like more sociable hours.
- You work in care or support work and want to use those people skills in a fun, positive environment.
- You’re returning to work after raising children or taking a career break and want a role that can fit around family life.
- You’re at university or college and want regular paid work that fits around your studies.
- You’ve always thought you’d be good working with children but don't have a childcare qualification or think you lack the confidence.
- You want a job where you can be yourself, bring your own interests and ideas, and make a genuine difference to someone's day.
What you'll be doing:
You'll work as part of a friendly team to:
- Play, talk and interact positively with children.
- Come up with activities they'll genuinely enjoy.
- Lead games, sports, crafts and other activities.
- Encourage children to try things, make friends and become more independent.
- Support children with different personalities and needs.
- Encourage positive behaviour and calmly deal with the occasional disagreement or difficult moment.
- Help with school pick-ups where required.
- Prepare and clear away snacks.
- Help set up, tidy and keep the club clean, welcoming and organised.
- Build positive relationships with parents and families.
- Follow our safeguarding, e-safety and Early Years procedures.
- Take part in our training and weekly team meetings.
And, importantly, have fun with the children.
What we're looking for
Experience is welcome, but personality matters more.
You don't need a childcare qualification or previous Playworker experience.
We’re looking for someone who:
- Is warm, friendly and approachable.
- Is reliable and turns up when they say they will.
- Enjoys being around children.
- Can be playful and enthusiastic without losing sight of safety or Safeguarding standards.
- Is patient and able to stay calm when things get noisy or busy.
- Can confidently and kindly challenge poor behaviour.
- Works well as part of a team.
- Is comfortable talking to parents.
- Is willing to learn and put training into practice.
- Can use their initiative rather than waiting to be told what to do.
- Treats children, families and colleagues with respect.
- Has a good sense of humour.
If you have an interest you could share with children – sport, art, crafts, music, drama, gaming, cooking, nature or something completely different – we'd love to hear about it.
Hours that can fit around your life
Our clubs operate during the following times:
Breakfast Club: 7:45am–9:00am
After School Club: 2:45pm–6:00pm
Holiday Club: between 8:00am–6:00pm during school holidays (excluding Christmas and Bank Holidays)
You don't have to work all of these.
We match your contracted hours and sites as far as possible to how much or how little you'd like to work and where is practical for you to travel to.
That can make the role particularly suitable for students, parents returning to work, people wanting to combine two jobs, or anyone looking for regular part-time hours without working late evenings.
Holiday Club hours are arranged by rota and discussed with you.
Pay
£12.71–£13.12 per hour.
Your agreed annual hours are divided across 12 months to give you a regular monthly salary.
Paid time includes weekly staff meetings and training.
We also recognise staff development and performance, with pay progression through our appraisal process.
What we offer
- No childcare qualification required to get started
- Paid induction and in-house training
- Paid training and qualifications
- Regular support from experienced managers
- Free childcare for your own children
- 24/7 confidential support, advice and counselling helpline for you and your immediate family
- Christmas bonus
- Long-service holiday benefits
- Regular staff socials
- Opportunities to develop and progress within St Claire's
If you've been thinking “I'd love to do something different, but I don't have childcare experience”, please don't let that stop you applying.
We can teach you policies, procedures, safeguarding and playwork practice.
What we're really looking for is someone who's kind, dependable, enthusiastic and great with people.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding children is central to everything we do. Successful applicants will be required to complete the appropriate safer-recruitment and safeguarding checks and to follow St Claire's safeguarding procedures at all times.
CLEAR DBS AND EXCELLENT REFERENCES ARE ESSENTIAL
Pay: £12.71-£13.12 per hour
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Language:
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (preferred)
Work Location: In person
