Wondering what to do after university? Why not consider a career as a playworker?

Deciding on a career path can be confusing and stressful, so it’s always worth remembering what’s important to you and what you have a genuine interest in before making a decision.

If you’re at university or college and are unsure which direction to take, but know that you enjoy spending time with children and young people, then it may be worth considering a career in playworking.

What is a playworker?

A playworker is someone who works with children and young people to assist them in play and leisure activities. They are responsible for planning and setting up various play areas each day, providing opportunities for games and activities and supervising children in their care.

They may work within a school setting as part of the before and after school care facility (often referred to as wraparound care), holiday clubs that take place during school holidays or in other play based settings.

The role is far more than just playing! Playworkers are integral in making sure that children are safe, secure and happy, building positive relationships so that children feel they can talk to them about any problems or worries they may have.

They also ensure play activities available are age-appropriate and help to support children’s development, such as improving language and motor skills.

As a playworker, you would also need to be confident in working with parents and carers, feeding back what the child participated in, and supporting any needs they may have.

Why is playworking such a good career option?

Apart from being an enjoyable career that offers high levels of job satisfaction and a fun and varied working environment, the demand for playworkers has increased immensely.

What’s the reason for this? With all primary school children expected to have access to wraparound care by September 2026 and the government intending to provide free breakfast clubs, staffing these provisions has become an urgent priority.

With this in mind, playworker jobs are available all over the UK. As the UK’s largest provider of wraparound care within primary schools, we know only too well how crucial playworkers are in delivering the range of play activities within wraparound care provisions and how valuable play assistants are.

You can read more about the impact we have in schools by delivering high quality wraparound care, and it will also give you a feel for what goes on in the sessions.

So, apart from good job availability and security, what is being a playworker all about? In this article we’re going to take a closer look at what playworkers do and how to access the role.

The importance of play

Let’s start by taking a brief look at play itself. We know that children like to play – a lot! But it’s important to realise that play is a crucial part of their cognitive development. It’s how they learn key life skills, practice problem solving and build confidence, so facilitating play is a vital foundation in a child’s life.

How we as adults play with them is also important. Children should be allowed to lead games and play activities, with adults there to support but not direct. This way, children are encouraged to be curious, find out what works for themselves and learn from any mistakes.

The main benefits of being a playworker

Being a playworker brings a wealth of rewards. Witnessing the children in your care flourish and grow brings an immense feeling of pride, especially if your carefully-planned activities have directly helped their social, physical or emotional development.

The diverse nature of playworking means every day is different. Maybe one day will involve outdoor play, another will be centred around crafts and artwork, while another could include board games and Lego.

Being creative and coming up with different and exciting play areas or activities will be a key part of your job. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to be flexible with the games and activities on offer (within reason of course) so it’s a great chance to be imaginative.

The skills you need to become a playworker

• A good sense of fun! Playworking is all about creating opportunities for play and fun, so having a good imagination and being enthusiastic will be important to make sure children feel happy and confident.
• Good communication skills: You’ll need to be able to communicate well with both children and adults in this role. Clear, simple vocabulary for children and friendly, approachable communication for carers will mean you’re seen as a trusted and responsible member of staff.
• Flexibility: Although you will have planned out the day’s activities, you’ll still need to think on your feet. You’ll have to be able to react and respond to any incidents that turn plans on their head.
• Patience and understanding: Children are individuals and have their own personalities, and of course challenging behaviour will be something you’ll come across time and again. Knowing how to deal with behaviour is vital in diffusing the situation.

What formal qualifications are needed to become a playworker?

There are a variety of ways to access paid work as a playworker. Depending on the requirements of the employer, you may need to have the following formal qualifications.

• At least two GCSEs – ideally maths and English
• A college qualification such as Education and Childcare or Children’s Play, Learning and Development. There are different levels you can take (2-5), depending on how in-depth you want your knowledge to be and whether you have aspirations for a leadership role.

Although having a paediatric first aid certificate isn’t necessarily a formal requirement to become a qualified childcare worker, it’s good to have, and shows employers that you have taken the time to make sure you’re fully equipped for the role.

Getting into playwork in other ways

Other ways to get into playworking include gaining some relevant experience. By working with children within a play setting, you’ll obtain practical experience that employers will really value. Workplace learning can also take place alongside studying for a college course.

It’s always worth seeing if you can help out at camps or playschemes during school holidays as a starting point.

Fancy becoming a playworker? Why not join the experts?

Hopefully this article has helped to answer any queries about becoming a playworker, and if you’re ready to take the next step, then we’d certainly love to hear from you!

We are always looking for enthusiastic, committed people who love spending time with children to run our before and after school clubs (wraparound care). We pride ourselves on providing fun, active and varied environments, so if you love getting creative and active, look no further. Good luck!