Arts & Crafts Instructor - Summer - Harlow, Essex

Arts & Crafts Instructor contracts are seasonal roles based on a 5-day working week. Arts & Crafts Instructors create a fun, inspiring and creative environment where children aged 4-14 can explore new skills and express themselves. By planning and delivering engaging craft sessions, maintaining a safe and inviting workspace, and supporting children of all abilities, they help every child feel confident, included, and excited to take part.

Responsibilities

• Set up and maintain the arts & crafts area, ensuring it is tidy, well-organised, inviting and fully stocked with appropriate resources.
• Plan and deliver a wide range of creative, age-appropriate activities, using available resources and adapting ideas to suit different groups.
• Provide clear safety instructions and demonstrations, ensuring children understand how to use tools and materials safely.
• Work collaboratively with supporting staff, guiding them during sessions and ensuring smooth delivery of activities.
• Ensure active supervision throughout the day, including during transitions, breaks and lunch periods.
• Support children's individual needs, making reasonable adjustments for additional needs, dietary requirements, or medical conditions.
• Encourage participation and creativity, offering praise, reassurance and support to help children feel confident and engaged.
• Create prototypes and displays to inspire children and showcase their work.
• Deliver and oversee the Discovery Squad Skills Builder, ensuring resources are used correctly and sessions follow the programme manual.
• Liaise with other Arts & Crafts Instructors (where applicable) to coordinate planning, resources and shared responsibilities.
• Uphold safeguarding responsibilities, reporting concerns immediately to the Senior Team or Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Follow all Health & Safety procedures, including equipment checks, hygiene expectations and wider camp protocols.
• Carry out additional duties as required, in line with the needs of the camp and the organisation's objectives.
• Support additional camp activities, including Skills Builder sessions (where required) and swimming sessions; bring swimwear, and a spare t-shirt will be available at camp.
• All staff must complete mandatory training, including online modules, an in-person Induction Training Day and any additional role-specific briefings delivered by Central Office.

Essential Qualifications

• Experience delivering arts and crafts or creative activities.
• Ability to plan and adapt engaging creative sessions for children.
• Strong communication skills and a warm, supportive approach.
• Confident supervising groups and responding to unexpected challenges.
• Able to build positive relationships and encourage children of varied ages.
• Organised, proactive and able to use initiative when preparing and delivering activities.
• A proactive approach to safeguarding, inclusion and wellbeing.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience working with children in schools, clubs or holiday camps.
• Experience supporting children with additional needs.
• Training or qualifications in art, design, craft, childcare or creative facilitation.
• Paediatric First Aid qualification.
• Safeguarding training or certificate.

Employment in this role is subject to completing all pre-employment requirements, including being aged 18 or over by the start date, providing proof of eligibility to work in the UK, supplying satisfactory references and holding or obtaining an Enhanced DBS check.

Salary: £516.78 – £663.48 per week (dependent on age, experience and qualifications).