OPAL Play Co-Ordinator

Hereward Primary School, Loughton, Essex, IG10 2HR

10 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP

• Closing date

  23 January 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  12 January 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Pastoral, health and welfare
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time
• Contract type: Fixed term
• Full-time equivalent salary: £11,653.03 Annually (Actual) Term time only, salary will be annualised and paid equally over 12 months

OPAL Play Co-Ordinator job summary

We are looking to appoint a patient, caring and enthusiastic Play Team member to join our lunchtime team. As part of your role, you will have to manage the effective running of lunchtimes, providing compassion and kindness to all our pupils while facilitating play.

We are an OPAL school (Outdoor Play and Learning) where the focus is on creating a safe and stimulating play environment by facilitating play opportunities and acting as an ambassador for play. This is a great opportunity for an individual who is reliable, flexible and positive who enjoys interacting with children and who likes working as part of a team.

Working Pattern: Monday to Friday, 10 am to 2 pm (20 hrs per week).

The successful candidate will need to:

• Be able to communicate and interact effectively with both children and adults

• An enthusiasm for working with children outside

• The stamina and resourcefulness to initiate active games and demonstrate safe play

• The ability to manage risk safely and confidently

• The ability to work within specific routines and systems as directed (e.g. in the lunch hall)

• Able to support pupils to manage their behaviour in a supportive and calm manner.

In return we can offer:

• Friendly experienced team

• Training

• Access to the local government pension scheme

• A wellbeing package including an annual term-time wellbeing day and Employee Assistance Programme

• Cycle to work scheme

Epping Forest Schools Partnership Trust (EFSPT) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. The post is subject to a successful DBS check and pre-employment checks will be undertaken before an appointment is confirmed. Online searches are conducted on all shortlisted candidates. EFSPT is committed to equality, and to making fair and equitable treatment an integral part of everything we do.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Hereward Primary School

• School type: Academy, ages 3 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• School size: 449 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 3 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Hereward Primary School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/hereward-primary-school

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