Playworkers work with school-aged children in their out-of-school hours. All playwork settings aim to give children and young people access to a range of opportunities to engage in play.

Playworkers help children establish an environment for play and provide children with a safe, exciting and fun space in which to:

• play
• socialise
• try out new things
• spend quiet time.

Play helps children develop in many ways, and a playworker might find themselves involved in creative activities, sporty games, drama, den building, cooking and talking to a child about their worries all in the same day.

No two days are the same, and the work is never likely to be boring!

Playworkers work directly with children in:

• after-school clubs
• play centres
• mobile schemes
• parks and open spaces
• hospitals
• holiday playschemes
• adventure playgrounds.

A playworker needs to be:

• a good team worker, and to get on well with children, their parents/carers and with other staff
• able to plan activities with children and young people
• flexible – if children want to change their plans or don't want to take part, it's their choice
• good at listening to children .

The children who attend playwork settings come from all walks of life and will all have different abilities and personalities.

Case Studies available to download
(PDF Format):

Sam Perrie - Senior Playworker
Kurt Ross - Centre Manager / Senior Playworker