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Current Positions:

The Play Patch – Mainstream Holiday Playscheme

The Play Patch is a child-led, creative holiday playscheme for children aged 5–11 years, delivered from Hargrave Hall Community Centre.

The mainstream provision operates separately from our SEND holiday provision and is led by a dedicated SEND Playscheme Manager.

Contract Type

Sessional / Fixed-Term Holiday Contract

The role will initially commence with the December 2026 holiday playscheme, with opportunities to continue across future Easter, Summer and Christmas holiday programmes.

Working Hours: 8:30am – 4:30pm

Programme delivery: 9am – 4pm

The Manager is expected to be on site for the full duration of the playscheme each day.

In addition, the role includes approximately 20 hours of preparation and planning in the two weeks leading up to each playscheme. These hours will be onsite and agreed in advance

Rate: £18.00 per hour

About The Play Patch

The Play Patch is a creative, child-led holiday playscheme based at Hargrave Hall Community Centre, providing high-quality mainstream holiday provision for children aged 5–11 years.

We believe children should have the opportunity to experience holidays as a time for play, creativity, exploration, friendship and choice.

Our approach is based around free and child-led play rather than a highly structured timetable of adult-led activities.

We create an exciting and varied play environment by setting up different activities, materials and opportunities for children to explore at their own pace and in their own way.

The programme includes provision for two broad age groups:

Play Patch Juniors: Ages 5–8 years

Play Patch Seniors: Ages 9-11 years

Children may have access to:

• Creative arts, crafts, making and construction
• Open-ended and imaginative play
• Physical play and team games
• Outdoor exploration
• Den building and nature-based play
• Loose parts and creative materials
• Quiet and wellbeing spaces
• Child-led activities and challenges
• Food and wellbeing activities
• Nutritious hot meals
• Opportunities to socialise, make friends and develop independence

The venue includes:

• Main hall
• Lower hall
• Secure outdoor garden
• Summer house
• Outdoor play spaces

The mainstream provision can accommodate up to approximately 30 children.

Job Purpose

The Mainstream Playscheme Manager will take responsibility for the day-to-day leadership and delivery of The Play Patch mainstream holiday playscheme, ensuring that children experience a safe, welcoming, creative and genuinely child-led environment.

The Manager will lead and support the playscheme team, oversee safeguarding and welfare, coordinate the daily programme and play environment, communicate with parents and carers, and ensure the provision operates safely and effectively.

This is a hands-on leadership role.

The successful candidate will spend time actively engaging with children and staff, participating in play and activities where appropriate, while maintaining an overview of the whole provision and making sure the day runs smoothly.

The role requires someone who is warm, creative, organised, confident and able to lead by example.

Key Responsibilities

Day-to-Day Operational Leadership

• Take overall responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the mainstream playscheme.
• Be present on site throughout the full delivery day of 9:00am–4:00pm.
• Ensure the provision is ready to welcome children at the beginning of each day.
• Oversee registration, arrivals, collections and attendance procedures.
• Ensure the playscheme runs safely, smoothly and positively throughout the day.
• Coordinate the use of the different indoor and outdoor spaces.
• Respond calmly and effectively to unexpected issues or changes during the day.
• Ensure the provision is appropriately prepared and safely cleared down at the end of each day.
• Make practical decisions during the session to ensure the smooth running of the provision.

Programme Planning & Play Environment

• Plan the overall programme and daily play opportunities in advance of each playscheme.
• Develop a varied and engaging environment that reflects the principles of free play and child-led activity.
• Decide what activities, materials, equipment and play opportunities should be available each day.
• Create opportunities for children to make choices about how they spend their time.
• Ensure activities are open-ended and adaptable rather than overly prescriptive.
• Respond to children’s interests and ideas and adapt the programme accordingly.
• Balance active, creative, social, outdoor and quieter opportunities throughout the day.
• Ensure activities and environments are appropriate for children aged 5–11 years.
• Work creatively with the equipment and resources already available within The Play Patch.
• Encourage staff to develop and facilitate play opportunities rather than unnecessarily directing children’s play.
• Participate in activities and play alongside children when appropriate.

Team Leadership & Staff Support

• Lead and support the team of seasonal playworkers and activity staff working within the mainstream provision.
• Provide a clear staff briefing at the beginning of each day.
• Ensure staff understand their responsibilities, the day’s plans and any relevant information about children.
• Allocate staff appropriately across the provision in response to the day’s needs.
• Support staff to create a positive, inclusive and child-centred environment.
• Lead by example in interactions with children, families and colleagues.

Safeguarding & Child Welfare

• Act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the mainstream playscheme during programme delivery.
• Follow the organisation’s safeguarding policies and procedures at all times.
• Ensure safeguarding concerns are responded to appropriately and promptly.
• Receive and respond appropriately to disclosures or concerns raised by children or staff.
• Ensure safeguarding concerns are recorded and escalated in accordance with organisational procedures.
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Ensure children are appropriately supervised throughout the day.
• Respond appropriately to behavioural, emotional or welfare concerns.
• Ensure children’s individual needs are understood and appropriately supported.
• Work closely with parents/carers where welfare or safeguarding issues require communication.

Health, Safety & Risk Management

• Take responsibility for maintaining a safe environment throughout each playscheme day.
• Complete appropriate daily checks of the premises and play areas.
• Identify and respond to hazards.
• Ensure activities are appropriately risk assessed.
• Ensure staff understand relevant safety procedures.
• Monitor safe use of indoor and outdoor spaces and equipment.
• Ensure accident, incident and medication records are completed appropriately.
• Respond appropriately to accidents, injuries and emergencies.
• Lead emergency procedures where required.
• Ensure children are supervised appropriately during transitions, outdoor play, activities and free play.

Children, Inclusion & Behaviour

• Create a warm, welcoming and inclusive environment for all children.
• Build positive relationships with children and model respectful communication.
• Promote children’s independence, confidence and choice.
• Support children to resolve disagreements and develop positive relationships with peers.
• Respond calmly and consistently to behaviour that presents challenges.
• Use positive, child-centred approaches to behaviour management.
• Ensure children are treated fairly, respectfully and with dignity.
• Recognise and respond to children’s individual needs.
• Work with staff to adapt activities or environments where children require additional support.
• Ensure the mainstream provision remains welcoming and accessible to children with a range of needs.

Parent & Carer Communication

• Act as the main day-to-day point of contact for parents and carers during the playscheme.
• Welcome families and establish positive relationships.
• Respond professionally and sensitively to questions or concerns.
• Communicate relevant information clearly to parents and carers.
• Deal appropriately with issues arising at drop-off and collection.
• Escalate significant complaints or concerns to senior management where required.
• Promote confidence in The Play Patch through professional, friendly and consistent communication.

Administration & Records

• Maintain accurate daily attendance and registration records.
• Ensure relevant consent, medical and emergency information is accessible and appropriately managed.
• Maintain accident, incident, medication and safeguarding records as required.
• Complete daily operational documentation.
• Provide information required for programme monitoring and evaluation.
• Communicate relevant information to the central management team.
• Contribute to end-of-programme evaluation and review.

Equipment, Resources & Environment

• Ensure equipment and resources are used safely and appropriately.
• Plan how existing equipment and materials will be used to create varied play opportunities.
• Identify when resources need replacing, repairing or replenishing and communicate this to the COO
• Ensure play spaces are organised, inviting and appropriately resourced.
• Oversee the safe storage and organisation of equipment.
• Ensure the environment is reset and left appropriately at the end of each day.

Preparation & Planning

Approximately 20 hours of preparation will be allocated in the two weeks leading up to each playscheme.

During this time, the Manager will:

• Become familiar with the expected cohort of children.
• Review relevant information and individual needs.
• Plan the overall programme and daily play opportunities.
• Consider how the available spaces will be used.
• Plan staff deployment requirements in conjunction with the central team.
• Prepare activity and play ideas using existing resources.
• Review relevant policies, risk assessments and procedures.
• Identify any practical requirements ahead of the programme.
• Prepare information and expectations for the staff team.
• Contribute to the overall preparation and readiness of the provision.

Leadership Style

The successful candidate will be expected to lead from within the play environment.

This means being willing to:

• Get involved in activities.
• Play alongside children.
• Help set up and clear away.
• Support staff when the team is busy.
• Step into activities or supervision where needed.
• Talk to children and families throughout the day.
• Make practical decisions quickly.
• Balance hands-on involvement with maintaining oversight of the whole provision.

This is not a purely administrative or office-based management role.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications

• Level 3 qualification or above in Playwork, Childcare, Youth Work, Education or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Current Paediatric First Aid qualification.
• Current safeguarding training.
• Willingness to undertake any additional training required for the role.

Essential Experience

• Experience working with children aged 5–13 years.
• Experience working in holiday provision, childcare, play work, out-of-school care, education, youth work or a community setting.
• Experience of leading, supervising or supporting a staff team.
• Experience planning and delivering play-based or child-centred activities.
• Experience working within safeguarding procedures.
• Experience managing health and safety responsibilities.
• Experience communicating professionally with parents and carers.
• Experience responding calmly and appropriately to unexpected situations.

Essential Knowledge & Skills

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• A strong understanding of child-led and free play.
• Understanding of children’s development and the importance of play.
• Knowledge of safeguarding principles and procedures.
• Strong organisational and planning skills.
• The ability to create varied, engaging and age-appropriate play opportunities.
• Excellent communication skills.
• The ability to build warm and positive relationships with children, staff and families.
• Confidence leading a team.
• The ability to make sensible decisions under pressure.
• A calm, practical and solution-focused approach.
• Good understanding of inclusive practice.
• The ability to balance leadership responsibilities with hands-on participation.

Desirable

• Previous experience managing a holiday playscheme.
• Previous experience working within a HAF-funded programme.
• Playwork qualification or significant playwork experience.
• Knowledge of the principles of free play and child-led provision.
• Experience working within a community-based setting.
• Food Hygiene qualification.
• Experience of working with children with additional needs or adapting provision to support different needs.
• Experience planning programmes for children aged 5–13.

Safeguarding & Safer Recruitment

The Play Patch is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

The successful candidate will be required to:

• Complete an Enhanced DBS check as appropriate to the role.
• Provide suitable references.
• Complete safeguarding checks and recruitment procedures.
• Provide evidence of relevant qualifications and training.
• Follow all organisational safeguarding, health and safety and confidentiality policies.

The post holder will be expected to maintain professional boundaries and contribute to a culture in which children feel safe, respected and listened to.

Working Relationships

The Mainstream Playscheme Manager will work closely with:

• Chief Operating Officer
• Mainstream playscheme staff
• Parents and carers
• Children and young people
• HHCA staff and community partners
• Other holiday programme staff where appropriate

The Manager will report to the Chief Operating Officer

Additional Requirements

• Commitment to the ethos and values of The Play Patch.
• Commitment to child-led, inclusive and community-based play.
• Availability throughout the agreed holiday programme delivery period.
• Availability for approximately 20 hours of preparation in the two weeks prior to each programme, with specific hours agreed in advance.
• Willingness to work flexibly within the operational requirements of the playscheme.
• Commitment to safeguarding, equality, inclusion and the wellbeing of children and staff.

How to Apply:

Please ensure you have read the job spec fully and understand our expectations

📩 Please send your CV to tina@hargravehall.co.uk.

⏳ We’ll be interviewing on a rolling basis, so let us know your availability for an interview over the next two weeks when you apply.

🚀 We’re looking to hire as soon as we find the right person, so an immediate start is possible!

Apply now and help us grow something amazing! 🌿✨

~o0o~

Playscheme Healthy Eating Cook

Location: Hargrave Hall Community Centre, Hargrave Road, N19 5SP

Working over Easter, Summer and Christmas School Holidays the successful candidate will be an integral part of the playscheme team providing fresh, nutritious, and well-presented two course lunch, suitable for children aged between 5 to 11 years and be responsible for running small group food related activities.

Day shift – Monday to Friday

Hours: 10:00 to 15:00

Dates based on Islington Christmas, Easter and Summer Holidays*

*maximum of 5 weeks over the duration of the holidays.

Key Responsibilities

• To ensure that meals that are prepared reflect any special dietary requirements of the individual children; ‑ referring to food allergies, food intolerances, cultural needs, vegetarian requirements and any other, according to the information supplied by the Team Leader.
• To contribute ideas to menu planning with the Team Leader, ensuring that the children receive a healthy nutritionally balanced and culturally diverse diet.
• To maintain a safe, clean and healthy kitchen environment at all times.
• To adhere to the ‘Safer Food better Business standards and record keeping. To strictly adhere to Food Hygiene Regulations and other safety precautions at all times. Be aware of and implement Health and Safety procedures including Risk Assessments and COSHH.
• To ensure stock rotated daily and stock is monitored and maintained through the weekly shopping order.
• To ensure that equipment is maintained in good order and that any faulty or potentially dangerous equipment is immediately removed and reported to the Hargrave Halls Management.
• To ensure that equipment and materials (including the dishwasher, microwave, oven, fridges and freezers are cleaned and everything is cleared away leaving the kitchen neat and tidy at the end of the day in line with the daily and weekly cleaning checklist
• To maintain a neat and tidy appearance at all times, displaying a courteous and pleasant manner towards all. To be motivated, enthusiastic and innovative about the role.