Opal Play Leader
St Bernard's Catholic Primary School, Birmingham, West Midlands, B13 9QE14 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
10 October 2025 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
26 September 2025
Job details
Job role
- Other support roles
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Part time: Monday to Friday - 11am to 2.15pm - Term-time only
Contract type
- Fixed term - Until 31st August 2026
Full-time equivalent salary
- £24,027 FTE Pro Rata Salary
What skills and experience we're looking for
We are looking for practitioners who:
* Can develop and work alongside the School OPAL (Open Play and Learning) team; organising and supervising staff working during the playtimes and lunchtimes, so as to ensure the safety, general welfare and proper conducts of pupils during these periods.
* Can organise and supervise a range of appropriate play activities for pupils to ensure that these times are an enjoyable experience for all children.
* Can organise and set up equipment on a daily basis for lunchtime outdoor play.
* Can organise communication between playgrounds and the dining hall to ensure all children eat their lunch and that queuing is minimised.
* Can promote the safety and welfare of children in accordance with school child protection and behaviour management policies. Ensuring that the play team record and report incidents that occur during lunchtime eg. Site issues, behaviour, first aid in accordance with these policies.
* Can support and uphold the school’s values and ethos.
* Can offer care, support and advice for children during lunchtimes.
* Can identify and recommend solutions to issues of an operational or organisational nature to the Deputy Headteacher or Headteacher as appropriate.
* Can develop the play team to ensure all children have access to exciting play opportunities every break and lunchtime.
* Can facilitate play opportunities and act as ambassador for play working to the play work principles as derived from the Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) Primary Programme.
* Can work with the Site Assistant and Health and Safety Co-ordinators to ensure that all children have a safe site to play eg. Writing risk assessments and periodic site inspections.
* Can assess play areas for risks daily and communicate/implement any changes required including the checking and disposal of loose parts.
* Can plan and organise putting out and packing away of play equipment/kit at lunchtimes.
* Can participate in the OPAL team meetings and help develop and implement the OPAL action plan.
School visits are encouraged, and can be arranged by contacting the school office.
To apply, please visit our school website, or contact the school office for an application pack at enquiry@st-bernards.bham.sch.uk or on 0121 464 3795.
What the school offers its staff
You will join our friendly and dedicated team, where you will:
* Be welcomed into our School Family
* Receive support from our dedicated Senior Leadership Team
* Have access to our Employee Assistance Programme, including benefits such as 24-hour GP helpline, counselling and financial support
* Have access to high quality personal development and training opportunities
* Receive a generous employer pension contribution
* Have access to a well-resourced school
Further information about the job
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
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)Upload additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About St Bernard's Catholic Primary School
- School type
- Local authority maintained school, Roman Catholic, ages 5 to 11
- Education phase
- Primary
- School size
- 404 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 5 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- St Bernard's Catholic Primary School website
- Email address
- enquiry@st-bernards.bham.sch.uk
- Phone number
- 0121 464 3795
Arranging a visit to St Bernard's Catholic Primary School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email enquiry@st-bernards.bham.sch.uk.
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