Playworker (Early Years)
The Redstart Primary School, Chard, Somerset, TA20 1SDThis job expired on 9 August 2026 – see similar jobs
Job start date
23 July 2026
Closing date
9 August 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
23 July 2026
Job details
Job role
- Learning support or cover supervisor
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Part time, full time
Contract type
- Fixed term
Full time equivalent salary
- £2,345 - £2,385
Playworker (Early Years) job summary
Job Title: Playworker (Early Years)
Actual Annual Salary: £2,345 - £2,385 Based on working hours and weeks.
Full Time Equivalent Salary: £25,949 - £26,392 (CLF Grade Aii) Based on 37 hours per week, all year round.
Contract: Fixed Term Contract until 31st August 2027
Hours: 4 hours per week (Monday - Thursday)
Provisional Start Date: September 2026
We are looking for an enthusiastic Playworker to join our nursery team, supporting young children through play, learning and exploration in a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment.
We are looking for a caring and enthusiastic Playworker to support our Nursery Wraparound (Tea) Club. This role involves providing a safe, welcoming and engaging environment for nursery-aged children at the end of the school day. The successful candidate will enjoy working with young children, helping them to feel secure, happy and settled during the tea club session while encouraging positive social interaction and play.
This position is for 1 hour per day, Monday to Thursday, up to 4:00pm, supporting children attending the nursery tea club.
Duties
- Supervise and support nursery-aged children attending the wraparound tea club.
- Ensure a safe, caring and inclusive environment where children feel happy and secure.
- Encourage children to participate in age-appropriate play and social activities.
- Support children during snack/tea time, promoting good manners and independence.
- Monitor children's wellbeing and respond appropriately to their individual needs.
- Foster positive relationships with children, parents and colleagues.
- Promote positive behaviour and help children develop confidence and social skills.
- Ensure the play space is tidy, organised and all equipment is safe and suitable for use.
- Follow nursery safeguarding, health and safety, and welfare procedures at all times.
- Work collaboratively with nursery staff to ensure a smooth transition from the nursery day into the wraparound provision.
About You
You will:
- Have an understanding of child development and the varied needs of young children and families.
- Have an appropriate First Aid qualification or be willing to undertake training.
- Have strong interpersonal skills, demonstrating empathy, patience and active listening.
- Be able to manage challenging behaviour in a calm and non-judgemental manner, following academy policies and procedures.
- Be patient, caring and able to work effectively under pressure.
- Have a genuine passion for supporting young children's learning, development and wellbeing.
Applicants are advised to refer to the full requirements of the role in the attached job description and person specification, prior to submitting an application.
About The Redstart Primary School:
Redstart Primary School is a two-form entry primary academy, located in Chard, Somerset, taking children from Nursery to Year 6.
We aim to develop a love of learning in our children to last through their lives. We believe passionately in our children having the highest aspirations and are committed to providing a broad and balanced curriculum with exciting opportunities including access to a rich programme of after school activities. We want to enable all our children to realise their full potential, their talents and their interests in all areas.
Why work at CLF?
We are a diverse and inclusive community of 36 academies across five cluster regions in the South West that is committed to excellence and making a positive impact. Our people bring unique perspectives, but we’re all driven by a shared moral purpose and a passion for making a positive impact, whether in a teaching, leadership or support role. We’re proud to foster a culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and make a meaningful difference to the lives of others.
We are an equal opportunity employer and proud to serve a diverse student population and our communities. We strongly believe that representation matters and so encourage applications from underrepresented and global majority groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.
We aim to remove any barriers to employment, ensuring everyone can compete on equal terms. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.
What we can offer you:
- Access to a generous pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
- Generous annual leave.
- A comprehensive induction and ongoing commitment to wellbeing and career progression, through a range of training, apprenticeships and in-role/wider-trust development opportunities.
- Well-being support through an Employee Assistance Programme.
- Health benefits, including wellness sessions, gym discounts, and flu jabs.
- A range of generous family leave options, including above industry average occupational maternity pay.
- Additional benefits like cycle to work scheme, on-site parking plus many more!
Recruitment timeline:
Closing Date: 09 August 2026 @11.59pm
Shortlisting Date: 10 August 2026
Interviews: To be confirmed
We welcome visits from potential candidates. If you would like to arrange a school visit prior to the closing date, please contact the academy directly to arrange a suitable appointment.
As part of our commitment to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), we do not accept CVs, a full education and employment history must be provided through our application form.
Please note we are not able to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, should we receive a high level of interest in the role. Therefore, candidates are advised to apply at their earliest convenience to avoid missing out.
As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, we are dedicated to equity and inclusion and commit to interviewing applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria. We aim to provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment process, and support employees throughout their employment. If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, or require any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process please let us know how we can assist.
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.
About The Redstart Primary School
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 2 to 11
- Education phase
- Primary school
- Size
- 444 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
School location
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