Casual Lead Playworker for Afterschool Club in Trafford

Employer: Trafford, WA14 5AP

Pay: Competitive

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: Full time

Disability Confident: No

Closing Date: 28/02/2026

About this job:

Initially Fixed-Term until July 2026 with view to move to permanent.

Rate of pay: £13.47 per hour

Hours required: 2:45pm - 6:00pm (3.25 hours per day)

Days Required: Monday - Friday, Term-time only (38 weeks per year)

Part-Time: 16.25 hours per week

Reports to: Club Manager and SLT

Responsible for: Leading, Planning, Care and Safety of children during After-school Club

Essential:

• Applicants must be 18
• Hold a relevant level 3 childcare qualification
• Experience working with children aged 3-11 years

The Trustees and Governing Body are seeking to appoint a Casual Playworker to join our dedicated, supportive and friendly staff, committed to achieving the highest standards.

Park Road Academy Primary School is a medium-sized school, set in pleasant surroundings.

The successful candidate will:

• Have a passion for working with children
• Hold a Level 3 or above childcare qualification
• Experience of working with children aged 3 to 11 years
• Be at least 18 years of age
• Have high standards
• Be a strong team player
• Have excellent communication skills and be able to work positively with children, staff and parents
• Have energy and enthusiasm
• Have a sense of humour

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• To lead the day-to-day running of the Afterschool Club, ensuring a safe, inclusive, stimulating and nurturing environment for all children.
• The Lead Playworker has responsibility for safeguarding, planning high-quality play opportunities, leading and supporting staff and maintaining effective communication with parents, school staff and external agencies.

Safeguarding and Welfare:

• To act as a designated safeguarding lead for the Afterschool Club, in line with school and local authority procedures.
• To ensure that all safeguarding, child protection, health and safety, and behaviour management policies are implemented consistently.
• To monitor children’s wellbeing and respond appropriately to any concerns, following correct reporting and recording procedures.
• To administer first aid when required and ensure accident, incident and medication records are completed accurately.
• To ensure ratios, registers and collection procedures are adhered to at all times.

Planning and Play Provision:

• To lead on the planning, preparation and delivery of high-quality play opportunities that reflect children’s interests, ages and developmental needs.
• To ensure activities promote social interaction, communication, language development, creativity and independence.
• To consult with children and actively involve them in planning and evaluating activities.
• To oversee the provision of refreshments, ensuring hygiene, nutrition, oral health and food safety standards are met.
• To ensure the play environment is welcoming, stimulating, safe and inclusive.

Leadership and Team Management:

• To lead, support and motivate a team of playworkers, ensuring clear expectations and positive working relationships.
• To provide day-to-day guidance, mentoring and support to staff, including new or less experienced playworkers.
• To assist with staff rotas, deployment and supervision to ensure effective running of the club.
• To attend and contribute to staff meetings, briefings and reviews as required.
• To identify training needs within the team and support staff to undertake appropriate professional development.

Communication and Partnership Working:

• To act as a point of contact for parents and carers, building positive and professional relationships.
• To communicate effectively with parents regarding children’s needs, activities, behaviour or wellbeing, while maintaining confidentiality.
• To liaise with school staff, senior leaders and relevant childcare and play-related agencies as appropriate.
• To encourage parental involvement and engagement with the Afterschool Club.

Administration and Organisation:

• To oversee a level club administration, including registers, record keeping, accident/incident logs and safeguarding documentation.
• To manage or contribute to ordering, purchasing and stock control of resources, equipment and consumables.
• To take responsibility for the care, maintenance and security of equipment, toys and resources.
• To ensure all documentation is completed accurately and stored securely.

Care and Inclusion:

• To support children in acquiring self-help skills, including dressing, feeding, toileting and personal hygiene.
• To follow the school’s intimate care policy where required.
• To promote equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring all children feel valued and supported.
• To carry out all responsibilities within an equal opportunities framework.

Professional Responsibilities:

• To work within agreed club, school and local authority policies and procedures at all times.
• To maintain confidentiality and deal with sensitive matters with tact and discretion.
• To undertake relevant training and keep professional knowledge up to date.
• To ensure the work environment remains healthy, safe and secure.
• To undertake any other duties reasonably required within the grading of the post.

Additional Responsibilities:

• To support the Club Lead/School (where applicable) in the wider life of the school.
• To work with children individually and in groups, including those aged 3-5 years.
• To support and model good practice for other staff within the school setting when required.

This job description sets out the duties of the post at the time it was drawn up. The post holder may be required from time to time to undertake other duties within the school as may be reasonably expected, without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibility entailed.

This is a common occurrence and would not justify a reconsideration of the grading of the post.

Application packs including application forms are available from and returnable to: vacanciesparkroadacademy.co.uk Quoting the code ASC/LPW/25-26. References will be sought prior to interview. Appointment will be made subject to an enhanced DBS clearance, satisfactory references and successful probationary period.

Application Closing Date: Friday 6 February 2026

Short Listing: Tuesday 10 February 2026

Interview Date: To be confirmed.