Job Category: Jobs in play

 Tulse Hill Adventure Playground, SW2 2EY

Hours: 21 hrs/week (worked on a rota system, current core hours are 3pm – 7:30pm Mon-Thu during term time and 11am – 5pm on Sats/school holidays).
Salary: £25,000 – £30,000 FTE (£15,000 – £18,000 pro rata)
Closing date: 11.59pm Monday 9 June 2025
To apply: for further information and to apply, please visit the High Trees website.  

Our Youth and Play Workers will play a pivotal role in the Children, Young People and Families team, working as a core team of practitioners to ensure the smooth running of our programmes and services.

In this role you will be part of a small and dynamic team which delivers a wide range of programmes and activities, both from Tulse Hill Adventure Playground and within local schools. The work of the Children, Young People and Families team is diverse and varied. Our current services include open access adventure play and youth activities at our Adventure Playground, school holiday programmes with off-site trips and activities, coaching in local schools, a Young Leaders programme offering paid work experience to young people, and working together with our youth partnerships Building Young Brixton and Lambeth Peer Action Collective.

We are experiencing an exciting time of development for the team and are currently looking to recruit four Youth and Play Workers. To support our range of children and young people, our team will be made up of specialist Youth Workers and Play Workers bringing in relevant skills and experience. Whilst you will work across all of our Children, Young People and Families services you will have a specific focus:

As a Youth Worker you will:
• Focus on supporting our secondary age cohort
• Plan and run appropriate activities
• Provide structured interventions to support vulnerable young people
• Work with referral partners to provide additional support and activities

As a Play Worker you will:
• Focus on our primary age cohort
• Use your knowledge of Playwork Principles to plan and run engaging activities
• Foster relationships with families and local primary schools

Both roles will include an element of mentoring, relevant training will be provided to give you the necessary skills to deliver this.

Please specify in your supporting statement which specialism you would like to be considered for and outline your experience in this area.

To be successful in this role, you will act as a trusted practitioner in all our service delivery, advocating for children’s right to play throughout our programmes. You will work as part of the team on the delivery and planning of all sessions, ensuring that the children’s and young people’s ideas are central to the construction of a varied and engaging play environment. You will understand the wide-ranging challenges facing young people and will be flexible in adjusting your practice to meet these needs.

Benefits

• 35 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays and 3 Christmas days) rising by 1 day each year after 2 years’ service (capped at an additional 8 days)
• Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption leave after 2 years’ service
• Save money off a new bike with the Cycle to Work scheme
• Up to 7% contribution to the staff pension scheme
• 24/7 Employee Support Line
• Clear pay structure with yearly increments (based on performance)
• Annual Staff away day
• Premium eye-care vouchers through Specsavers and season ticket loans

For further information and to apply, please visit our website.

Brilliant Play CiC – Marble Hill Park, Twickenham, Richmond upon Thames

Hours: 25 hrs/wk in term time, 35 hrs/wk during school holidays (with occasional weekend and evening meetings)
Salary: £35k (£25,740 pro rata)
Closing date: 7pm  Fri 23 May 2025
To apply: to request an application pack, please email: info@brilliantplay.co.uk
Start date: Early/mid June 2025 OR September 2025

Do you believe that all children deserve joyful, free, and adventurous play? Are you someone who thrives outdoors, leads with heart, and wants to make a real difference in children’s lives?

At Brilliant Play Community Interest Company, we’re looking for a temporary Adventure Playground Manager to join our vibrant team from June 2025. If you’re passionate about child-led play, creative exploration, and inclusive practice, this is your chance to help shape something truly special. This post has the scope to become permenant from September 2025 for the right candidate.

About Us

You’ll be joining Brilliant Play CiC—a passionate, child-centred organisation dedicated to creating inclusive, joyful spaces where children are free to play, explore, and be themselves. Brilliant Play is the employer for this role and works in close partnership with the Trustees of Marble Hill Playcentres, who have nurtured and championed this beloved community setting for over 50 years.

For over half a century, we’ve been creating spaces where children can be wild, muddy, imaginative—and entirely themselves. Our award-winning Adventure Playground is a much-loved local treasure, recognised nationally for its inclusive approach and joyful play experiences.

We’re now expanding our provision, thanks to a new funding stream that enables us to grow our afterschool and holiday offer. This role is an exciting opportunity to help shape that growth—making a real and lasting impact on the future of the playground and ensuring it remains a sustainable, inclusive space for children and families for the next 50 years.

What You’ll Be Doing

As our Playground Manager, you’ll be the heartbeat of the setting—leading a talented team of playworkers, holding the vision, and making every session safe, fun, and full of

possibilities. You’ll help children build friendships, take exciting risks, and grow in confidence through play.

This is a hands-on, people-focused role. Your days will involve:

– Leading and inspiring a small, committed team

– Planning and delivering exciting, inclusive play sessions

– Acting as the Designated Safeguarding Lead

-Ensuring that we are meeting all of our Ofsted registration reruirements

– Ensuring site safety, carrying out daily checks, and maintaining a safe, welcoming environment

– Feeding into the site development plan, helping shape improvements to play structures, spaces, and sustainability

– Reporting on successes, challenges, and impact to the Head of Play

– Working closely with families, schools, and the local community

– Creating a space where every child feels welcome, safe, and free to play

Who We’re Looking For

We’d love to hear from you if you:

– Have a Level 3 qualification in Playwork or Childcare

– Have experience as a Forest School Lead or hold a Bushcraft Qualification

– Are a qualified teacher who has left the classroom in search of something more child led.

– Know how to lead a team with warmth and clarity

– Are confident supporting children with a range of needs, including SEND

– Understand what great safeguarding looks like (you’ll be our DSL)

– Are calm, creative, flexible, and full of energy—even when it rains!

This role is perfect for someone who genuinely loves working with children and believes in the magic of outdoor, child-led play.

Why Join Our Team?

– Be part of a friendly, passionate team who care deeply about what they do

– Spend your working hours in a beautiful outdoor setting

– Help shape an expanding service that puts children’s needs first

– Enjoy ongoing support and training

– Access heavily subsidised childcare for your own children

– Benefit from Blue Light Card membership for nationwide discounts

Safeguarding Statement

Brilliant Play CiC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All roles are subject to enhanced DBS checks and references.

Come and be part of something brilliant. Let’s build a place where childhood thrives—together.

Benefits:

• Childcare
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted or free food
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Transport links

Application question(s):

• Are you on the DBS update service?
• Do you hold a Pediatric First Aid qualification?

Experience:

• Management: 2 years (preferred)
• play/childcare/outdoor learning: 3 years (preferred)

Tulse Hill Adventure Playground, SW2

Seeking a strong and inspiring manager to lead a team of play practitioners in delivering a range of dynamic, exciting, and meaningful services, ensuring the children who need them most are supported to play, develop, and thrive

Hours: full time, 35 hours per week
Salary: £35-42k
Closing date: Wednesday 14 May 2025 at 11.59pm
To apply: for further information and to apply, please visit the High Trees website.  

Our Adventure Playground Manager plays an integral role within our Children, Young People and Families team, supporting our Head of Service to create inspiring, high quality and child focused youth and play services. The work of the Children, Young People and Families team is diverse, and service includes after-school and weekend adventure play, school play sessions, mentoring, holiday activities and youth leadership programmes.

Tulse Hill Adventure Playground is at the centre of our Children, Young People and Families service, and you will have solid experience working in an Adventure Playground, or similar outdoor setting, as you will hold managerial responsibility of the site and resources ensuring that the environment meets the needs of all the children who use it and to enable children to obtain the full benefit of the playground and its facilities.

As a strong and inspiring manager you will lead a team of play practitioners to deliver a range of dynamic, exciting, and meaningful services, ensuring the children who need them most are supported to play, develop, and thrive. You will take both an ambitious, organised, yet hands on approach to your management of the service – we are a small but dynamic team and truly believe services are best when all are involved, from management to practitioners. You will bring enthusiasm and passion to ensure an exceptional service for the children and young people we work with.

You will champion the role that adventure play services play in supporting children and young people to thrive and be an advocate for partnership working, building relationships with parents, schools and other local organisations, to maximise use of the Adventure Playground and the range of services we provide. A strong understanding of how the service sits within the wider work of the organisation and building strong relationships internally and externally is essential to the role.

You will be joining the organisation at a very exciting time as we are just about to undertake a large scale rebuild of the outdoor adventure play structures which will be completed this summer – creating a new and exciting environment for children and young people to play. This will include a range of challenging play structures, a wildlife garden, growing area and outdoor kitchen, along with a small animal enclosure.

Benefits of working at High Trees:

• 35 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays and 3 Christmas days) rising by 1 day each year after 2 years of service (capped at an additional 8 days)
• Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption leave after 2 years’ service
• Save money off a new bike with the Cycle to Work scheme
• Up to 7% contribution to the staff pension scheme
• 24/7 Employee Support Line
• Clear pay structure with yearly increments (based on performance)
• Annual Staff away day
• Premium eye-care vouchers through Specsavers and season ticket loans

Visit the High Trees website for a job pack and further details about how to apply.

Markfield, Haringey N15

Join the team at Markfield’s inclusive community hub in Haringey promoting equal rights, participation and choice for disabled people and their families.

Hours: 23 to 26 hours per week – negotiable, with flexible working (more hours during school term times)
Salary: £28,962 per year pro rata
Closing date: Sunday 27 April 2025
Interviews: 1-2 May 2025
To apply: Download an application form and job description from www.markfield.org.uk  or contact enquiries@markfield.org.uk or 020 8800 4134.

This is an opportunity to be part of our experienced family support team providing the Haringey Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) to parents/carers and young people.

We are seeking someone who has:

• the skills to effectively support parents and young people with SEND to express their views
• excellent communication skills and the ability to build positive working relationships with families and professionals
• a good understanding of the Special Educational Needs system
• experience of providing information and advice services
• the ability to use computerised office systems
• a commitment to promoting equal rights and safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults

We can offer the opportunity for you to develop your skills within a dynamic organisation which plays a key role in influencing the local development of good practice and policy in relation to services for disabled people and their families.

This is a hybrid-working role with some work based at the Markfield community centre in south Tottenham, outreach work in schools, and some working from home (negotiable).

A satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required before appointment is confirmed.

Fortune Green Play Centre (NW6) and occasionally other off-site locations

Salary: £19.08 (base pay £17.03 + 12.07% annual leave allocation)
Hours: 8 overnights per year, 24.5 hours per overnight, 11am Saturday – 11.30 Sunday. Dates are fixed for the year in advance.
Closing date: 27 April 2025
How to apply: Download application form below. Send the completed form to iola@paceforall.com or mail to Iola McCarogher, PACE Head Office, Fairfield Play Centre, Mary Terrace, London NW1 7LR.

In this role, you will support young people aged 8 to 18 who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

PACE Overnights offer a service for small groups of children and young people with complex needs to stay overnight at our play centre in Fortune Green (possibly, occasionally off-site). Sessions provide parents with 24 hours of respite over the course of a weekend. We offer children the chance to engage in exciting and adventurous sensory and natural play activities with their peers whilst staying with us.

Your primary responsibilities will be working as part of a small team to ensure the happiness and wellbeing of the children and young people in our care as well as encouraging their engagement in any planned activities.

The person we are looking for:

To succeed in this role, you will be a patient, flexible person with a child-centred attitude. You will have experience working with children with complex learning, emotional, behavioural and communication difficulties and those with autistic spectrum disorder and providing services to people with challenging behaviours.  Additionally, you will have completed training related to supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities. 

Please note this post is subject to an Enhanced DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check and references satisfactory to PACE.

For more information or an informal discussion about the post call 020 7183 5120.  Please note this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service and satisfactory references.

About PACE

We are a local, grass-roots charity providing high-quality, inclusive play services in Camden to children aged 2 to 18 years. Our team is what makes our work possible, and we look for passionate, experienced team members to ensure we deliver exceptional services to our community. In return, we offer an extensive package of benefits including:

• free sessions for your children while on duty,
• the London Living Wage,
• 5% contribution to your pension,
• flexible leave arrangements,
• 6 days paid sick leave (pro rata),
• ongoing professional development and training,
• Cycle to Work Scheme,
• employee assistance programme.

We like to have our staff grow with us and promote from within. We are committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and recruit team members in line with our policy statement on Equal Opportunities and Human Rights

Caris Hackney and Camden

We are looking for a trainee playworker who is looking to build a career in the Children and Young People Sector to join our dedicated frontline play team.  

Hours: 12hrs per week (Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays) during term time; one day a week during school holidays.
Salary: £14/hr
Contract: 12 months initially, with a three month probation period, and the possibility of extension beyond 12 months subject to funding.
Closing date: applications being assessed on a rolling basis
To apply: please email office@carisfamilies.org to request an application form.

CARIS Families is a small charity that supports homeless families living in hostel accommodation in Camden and Hackney.  We run play and learning activities for children aged 0-16 from within 4 hostels in these boroughs, as well as a school holiday day trip programme.  Our services for children aim to reduce the stress on children and parents of living in overcrowded, insecure accommodation, and to put back some of the vital childhood experiences that homeless accommodation deprives children of.

We are currently looking for a trainee playworker who is looking to build a career in the Children and Young People Sector to join our dedicated frontline play team.  You do not need to have any formal experience of playwork, but you do need to be passionate about working with children and supporting them to achieve their potential, and to be able to demonstrate this through previous work or volunteering experience.  In exchange, we will provide you with plenty of on-the-job training and support you to obtain your Level 2 Diploma for the CYP workforce.

Download the document below for full details.

Seeking a playworker to join the Coram’s Fields Play Service team.

Hours: part time 20hrs/wk during term time, 35hrs/wk in school holidays
Salary: £25-26k pro rata depending on experience
Closing date:
Start date: May 2025
To apply: please email an up to date CV and cover letter to Kate.humphrey@coramsfields.org.uk

The Play Worker role is an integral part of Coram’s Fields Play Service team, providing high quality childcare within our established weekly Out of School Club (OSC) provision and Holiday Schemes.

Responsibilities include: 

• Program Delivery and Development: Plan, develop, and deliver inclusive activities for the after-school and holiday programs, ensuring that they meet the needs of young people aged 4-12 years. Lead specific program elements, research, deliver, and evaluate activities.
• Transport and Off-Site Trips: Assist in transporting children from local primary schools to Coram’s Fields for OSC and facilitate off-site trips during holiday schemes.
• Key Worker and Behaviour Management: Provide support as a key worker, including for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) children and Children in Need (CIN). Address negative behaviour independently and collaboratively, creating both short and long-term solutions.
• Parent and Guardian Communication: Liaise with parents/guardians to support their child’s personal, social, educational, and emotional needs, and gather feedback from both young people and parents.
• Supervision and Compliance: Ensure the safety and supervision of children, maintain room preparation and cleanliness, administer medication as needed (with training), and ensure compliance with Coram’s Fields’ policies and OFSTED guidelines.
• Training, Development, and Outreach: Attend regular supervision, training, and development sessions, and take part in outreach to actively promote the OSC service while contributing to the team’s success.

If you believe that you have the passion, ability, and commitment to positively impact on the lives of the young people that we serve, we would love to hear from you.

If you have any questions about the role, please feel free to contact Kate Humphrey (OSC Manager) for an informal discussion on 020 3384 2212. More information on our services can be found at www.coramsfields.org

Diversity and inclusion matter to us.

Coram’s Fields is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community, from a diverse range of backgrounds. We strive for our workforce to be representative of the communities that we serve, and we know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for the families and children we work with.

Coram’s Fields is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of all children and young people. All those applying for a role with the charity are subject to robust safeguarding checks and will need to demonstrate clearly their commitment to safeguarding. All appointments are subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check and all post holders are required to register with the DBS update service.

The Senior Play Worker role is an integral part of Coram’s Fields Play Service team.

Hours: part time 25hrs/wk during term time, 35hrs/wk in school holidays
Salary: £28,025 pro rata
Closing date:
Start date: May 2025
To apply: please email an up to date CV and cover letter to Kate.humphrey@coramsfields.org.uk

The Senior Play Worker role is an integral part of Coram’s Fields Play Service team. Acting as the principal link between the OSC Manager and the core team of Play Workers, they are responsible for overseeing the implementation of agreed service plans for both term time and holiday scheme periods.

Responsibilities include: 

Program Delivery and Development: Plan, develop, and deliver inclusive activities for the after-school and holiday programs, ensuring that they meet the needs of young people aged 4-12 years. Lead specific program elements, research, deliver, and evaluate activities.

Transport and Off-Site Trips: Assist in transporting children from local primary schools to Coram’s Fields for OSC and facilitate off-site trips during holiday schemes.

Key Worker and Behaviour Management: Provide support as a key worker, including for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) children and Children in Need (CIN). Address negative behaviour independently and collaboratively, creating both short and long-term solutions.

Parent and Guardian Communication: Liaise with parents/guardians to support their child’s personal, social, educational, and emotional needs, and gather feedback from both young people and parents.

Supervision and Compliance: Ensure the safety and supervision of children, maintain room preparation and cleanliness, administer medication as needed (with training), and ensure compliance with Coram’s Fields’ policies and OFSTED guidelines.

Training, Development, and Outreach: Attend regular supervision, training, and development sessions, and take part in outreach to actively promote the OSC service while contributing to the team’s success.

If you believe that you have the passion, ability, and commitment to positively impact on the lives of the young people that we serve, we would love to hear from you.

If you have any questions about the role, please feel free to contact Kate Humphrey (OSC Manager) for an informal discussion on 020 3384 2212. More information on our services can be found at www.coramsfields.org

Diversity and inclusion matter to us.

Coram’s Fields is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community, from a diverse range of backgrounds. We strive for our workforce to be representative of the communities that we serve, and we know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for the families and children we work with.

Coram’s Fields is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of all children and young people. All those applying for a role with the charity are subject to robust safeguarding checks and will need to demonstrate clearly their commitment to safeguarding. All appointments are subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check and all post holders are required to register with the DBS update service.

Gwyn Jones Primary School, London E11

This OPAL school in East London is looking for someone to lead, support and supervise the promotion of positive and creative play at lunchtime in line with OPAL practice and ethos.

Hours: 11am-1.30pm, Mon-Fri, in term time only (12.5hrs/wk)
Contract: one year, fixed term
Salary: Scale 5 (Points 12 – 16) or £9,527 per annum
Closing date: apply ASAP for May 2025 start
To apply: please download the application form below, fill this in and include a personal statement, which clearly demonstrates your suitability for this role. Please send your completed applications to HR@gwynjones.waltham.sch.uk

This exciting role will be fundamental in developing the school’s OPAL play provision at lunchtimes. In accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, article 31 the role of Play Leader enables every child to engage in stimulating, child-led play opportunities, building their own worlds and directing their own actions.

We are looking for someone who has good communication skills and is flexible in their approach when supporting children and working alongside other colleagues. We know it is important to be positive, inspirational and a real team player. The successful applicant will:

• Have a good understanding of the OPAL program.
• Lead, support and supervise the promotion of positive and creative play at lunchtime in line with OPAL practice and ethos (Outdoor Play and Learning).
• Lead on the setting up and organisation of equipment and resources for the children to use during playtime.
• Lead the play team (Midday Supervisors).
• Maintain, organise and carry out the replenishment of resources
• Purchase resources as required.
• Seek funding sources.
• Collect resources (e.g., by contacting supermarkets and businesses, visiting shops for offcut materials etc)
• Supervise pupils in designated areas of the school (including playground or external spaces) during the lunchtime break, including supervision of pupils indoors on wet lunchtimes.
• Attend relevant training as required.
• Support the school’s Behaviour Policy and ensure that it is implemented effectively.
• Support the ethos of play in school according to the school play policy and OPAL.
• Attend to the health, welfare and safety of the children during lunchtime adhering to the school Health and Safety policy and procedures at all times

Prospective candidates can arrange to visit the school if they wish to see the outdoor facilities or learn more about OPAL.

To arrange a visit please contact the school office on 02085567904 or email: HR@gwynjones.waltham.sch.uk

NB Safeguarding

Applicants called for interview are kindly requested to contact their referees so that references are received ahead of the interview dates.

Gwyn Jones Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The school follows safer recruitment practices and the successful applicants will be required to apply for an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. A copy of our Safeguarding Policy is available to view on our website