Holiday Camp Activity Instructor in Abingdon

Under the direction of the Camp Manager and/or Lead Instructor, you will be assigned to support groups of 8-10 children through a range of different science experiments and crafts activities. You will be required to adapt your skills and experiences to work with children of a variety of ages, backgrounds and abilities whilst catering to their individual needs. As part of a motivated team, you will be expected to help children settle in at the start of their day and organise them and their belongings at the end. This can involve direct interactions with parents or guardians to discuss individual requirements in a professional and friendly manner.

The role involves ensuring a respectable and safe environment is maintained throughout the day, including cleaning and maintenance of activity equipment and cleaning of tables and floor areas as required. Adaptability is essential as Bright Sparks Events relies on a small team of dedicated individuals working closely together to support the Camp Manager in the camp organisation, so occasional additional support duties will be required.

Bright Sparks Events is committed to safeguarding the children in our care. We carry out safer recruitment checks to ensure we hire candidates that share our ethos and values. Staff are required to complete safeguarding training as part of their employment.

Areas of Responsibility:

• Adhere to policies and procedures to ensure the children in your care have a fun and stimulating time in a safe environment.
• Deliver a variety of activities with structure and passion whilst encouraging the maximum participation of the children.
• Contribute positively and effectively to the team, co-operating with other staff.
• Maintain safe standards of behaviour from children in accordance with the procedures and encouraging good practice with regards to sharing and caring for one another.
• Ensure that the pastoral needs of the children in your care are met through active supervision and care throughout the day including breaks and lunchtimes.
• Demonstrate continuous respect for the host venue and Bright Sparks Events' resources through ad hoc duties such as cleaning and kit maintenance.
• Manage the exchange of relevant information regarding the children to their parents or guardian.

Duties and Key Tasks to include:

• Be an instructor to an assigned group of children, providing clear instructions and setting tasks that ensure high levels of interest and maintain students' motivation.
• Be aware of and make provisions for children who have SEND or who have other particular individual needs.
• Challenge more able children with effective questioning and extension tasks to keep them motivated.
• Listen carefully to children and give attention to those who aren’t fully participating by providing them with support and encouragement.
• Alert appropriate staff to problems experienced by children.
• Communicate with other members of staff to ensure sharing and effective usage of resources.
• Assist with the movement and transportation of activity kits and equipment from Head Office to host venues and from venue to venue, whenever possible.

Personal Specification

It is essential that candidates:

• Are responsible individuals, who will demonstrate a mature and professional attitude to their employment.
• Have relevant experience working with children or a motivated approach to the role.
• Have excellent communication skills and are capable of leading a group of children.
• Have an adaptable and hardworking attitude.
• Pay attention to detail and have the ability to see points of view from a child's perspective.
• Have the ability to use their own initiative.
• Have a commitment to safeguarding children.
• Have the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Have a good understanding of and an interest in science.
• Are able to adapt to effectively deal with the unpredictable challenges that working with children can sometimes bring.

It is desirable that candidates:

• Are qualified or are studying towards a relevant teaching, coaching, childcare or science qualification.
• Hold a previous DBS check which is registered on the DBS Update Service.
• Have knowledge on safeguarding and child protection.
• Have experience working within a camp environment or similar.
• Live in the Oxfordshire/Berkshire area as staff are reimbursed for travel if living within this area. Conditions apply.

Salary And Benefit Overview

Casual / zero hours Contract. Bright Sparks Events science camps are open Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays, outside of term time. This year’s holiday dates when our camps are running are: February Half Term: 17th – 21st Feb 2025. Easter Holidays: 7th – 17th April 2025. May Half Term: 27th- 30th May 2025. Summer Holidays: 28th July – 29th Aug 2025. October Half Term: 27th – 31st October 2025.

Our Holiday camps in Oxfordshire are open to accepting children from 9.00 am – 3.30 pm. Therefore, the normal working day for Activity Instructors will be 8.25 am to 4.15 pm to allow time for setting up and packing down. All staff receives a 20-minute unpaid lunch break which will be timetabled by the Camp Manager. If you are able to give us your availability in advance then we can allocate work around your schedule. A calendar of available shifts is circulated in advance of the holiday camps and individuals can choose which shifts to accept. Bright Sparks Events hourly rates of pay for casual workers are £ yr), £12.30 (age 21+ yr), for 7.5 hours per camp day. Development and progression opportunities are available for the right candidate as we continue to grow.

Travel Expenses:

Due to the nature of the job and the daily or weekly change in your place of work, Bright Sparks Events will pay a mileage allowance or reimburse the cost of travel expenses to camp venues. Mileage Allowance Payments are paid to workers who use their own vehicle for travel and the rates include the general running costs of your car, such as maintenance and insurance. Mileage rates are increased to reflect longer journeys for large distances. As part of your duties, you may be asked to travel to Head Office during your working day in which travel time would also be paid. For those using public transport, Bright Sparks Events will reimburse the cost of travel i.e. bus or train fares.

About Bright Sparks Science:

Bright Sparks Science and Events were formed in 2011. We are a growing organisation, working in over 65 primary schools across Oxfordshire and Berkshire. We are passionate about giving children the opportunities that they deserve, and we focus on developing bright futures through additional science tuition. During the week, our instructors present and deliver 1 hour fun science club sessions for approximately 15-20 pupils, aged 5-11 years, after school in local primary schools in the Oxfordshire or Berkshire area. On the weekends, our children’s party entertainers perform our exciting Science Party Packages that include inspiring scientific demonstrations, science based games and hands-on activities that captivate both parents and children alike. In the school holidays, our activity instructors provide fun-packed science camps, where we have a reputation for delivering high quality, exciting science activity days that children love. Our staff don’t just present any old science; they entertain children with their understanding of weird and wonderful science and have them gasping with delight throughout their performance. In fact we like to call it Edu-tainment.