6 reasons why you should become a Premier Education playworker
Childhood doesn’t stop at 3:15pm. For families and schools across the UK, those hours before and after the school day matter just as much as what happens in the classroom. They’re where children unwind, make friends, build confidence, and where parents need absolute peace of mind. That’s where Premier Education comes in.
We’re best known for our holiday clubs and sports programmes, and children still love us for exactly that. But today, wraparound care is at the heart of what we do. We support over 200 primary schools with reliable, active before- and after-school care that feels like a natural extension of the school day.
With the government’s ambition for all primary-aged children to have access to wraparound care by September 2026, schools are under pressure to get this right. Not just to meet demand, but to provide care that’s safe, consistent, and genuinely enjoyable for children.
The difference is people.
Our wraparound care works because it’s led by playworkers who bring energy, care and purpose to every session. They create spaces where children feel happy, included and free to be themselves, while schools and parents know everything is taken care of.
In this article, we’ll explain why playwork is such a rewarding career, and why Premier Education is the right place to build it.
What is playwork?
Playworkers provide safe, nurturing and enriching environments for children in a range of settings. Crucially, playworkers are there to supervise children and set up play activities without directing the play. They may lead children in a specific activity or sport, but their main role is to allow children to explore how and what they want to play, for themselves.
Why? Because play provides a valuable learning experience for children. According to Unicef, play is one of the most important ways in which young children gain essential knowledge and skills.
The cognitive, social, emotional and physical benefits of play cannot be overestimated. It’s why the availability of play opportunities is even covered in Article 31 of the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Playworkers spend a lot of time with the children in their care. They may work within play centres, holiday clubs or wraparound care provisions such as ours, and they build relationships with the children, they get to know their preferences and become a trusted adult in their lives.
They may help with homework tasks after school, provide the necessary resources for activities and games, respond to any incidents needing first aid and be a friendly ear for any concerns or worries. They also provide a nutritious breakfast to those attending breakfast clubs and a healthy snack for those attending the after-school club.
Playworkers also make sure the environment is fully inclusive and is adaptive to meet the needs of any children with SEND.
Why is it such a good career option?
Playworkers are in-demand thanks to the increase in wraparound care provisions. In fact, the career has a 1.97% projected growth over the next 8 years.
So, in terms of job role availability and stability, it’s certainly up there as being a much-needed job both now and in the future.
Playworking is varied, flexible and fun, with plenty of opportunities for getting creative and imaginative with the activities you plan – and inspiring kids to do the same.
Who does it suit?
Playworking is a great career option for anyone who enjoys working with children. Playworkers are adaptable, patient and fun, with strong interpersonal and teamwork skills. Those working with children in a wraparound care setting need to be able to understand the needs of children of a range of ages, providing different activities and knowing how to manage challenging behaviour.
Premier Education – why you should join our growing team
Why join Premier Education as a playworker? It’s a good question! Let’s take a look at some of the main reasons why a role with us is fulfilling and rewarding.
Reason 1: Experience
We’ve been providing the very best sports coaching since 1999, so as well as being a recognised and trusted brand, we know a thing or two about working with kids! Our wraparound care provision has seen huge growth over the past few years and we’re proud to say we are the largest provider of wraparound care to schools in the UK.
For you, this means you’re working with a highly experienced company who has refined its provision to make sure it’s the best it can be.
Reason 2: Support and development
We know that having the chance to learn new skills, gain qualifications and progress in their career is a priority for many, and our training partner Educationwise allows exactly that.
We have many opportunities available for traineeships and apprenticeships so even if you have little or no experience, our programmes can provide you with valuable support and learning.
To be eligible to start a government funded traineeship, you must be aged 16-18, be a UK or EEA Citizen or have a settled status with no restrictions, be unemployed, not hold a qualification above level 3 and not have undertaken a similar programme before.
Reason 3: Never a dull moment
We make sure playwork isn’t just the same old games every session – our provisions are dynamic, varied, stimulating and fun! You’ll be able to flex those creative muscles and plan which activities are on offer, bringing imagination to every session.
Reason 4: Supporting health and wellbeing as well as play
We believe a big part of play is getting moving and getting active. Not only does physical activity burn off any excess energy before or after school, but it’s a great way for kids to get some additional minutes of activity built into their day, helping to keep them healthy.
Reason 5: A quality approach
We have a commitment to delivering a ‘best in class’ network of coaches, apprentices and playworkers. In fact, not only are we an award-winning employer, but as testament to our outstanding operations, a number of National Governing Bodies choose to partner with us, such as the LTA, British Gymnastics and British Dodgeball.
With us, you can be confident that you’re working for a top-class company with a set of values at the heart of what we do, ensuring consistency and quality at all times.
Reason 6: Don’t just take our word for it!
We visited our wraparound care provision at Wendover Youth Centre to find out first-hand why our playworkers enjoy working with us:
Livi:
Livi, 18, used to attend Premier Education wraparound care at Wendover Youth Centre when she was a child and knew she wanted to work within the setting when she was older. “I enjoyed coming here as a kid, it was fun”, she says. “Now I am back here and working with children, it’s like a full circle moment!”.
Livi is in sixth form and works after school every day. “It’s really good for school”, she adds, “I can work after school from 3pm-6pm every day and it doesn’t interfere with school, and I get my weekends free which is a bonus. I’ve become more confident since working as a playworker. I just love watching the kids have fun and being able to join in”.
Livi has also appreciated the benefits of working with Premier Education: “They have supported me in so many ways, and paid for my qualifications such as first aid and hygiene, which I can use in my A-Levels”.
Jackie:
Jackie has been with Premier for three years and has been able to progress within her role.
“Working with Premier Education has helped me grow as a person”, explains Jackie. “I’ve gone from playerworker to venue lead which is fantastic, my skills have improved and I’ve learnt a lot more about children”.
Jackie also feels like working with Premier Education is the right fit for her. “My role fits my life perfectly, the flexibility is great – I couldn’t ask for more”.
But alongside the role itself is support from the wider business. “My experience of working with Premier Education is that you get 100% support, whether that’s for training or mental wellbeing, there’s always someone who we can turn to”.
Could playwork be for you?
If you’ve recently left school or college or are just thinking about a change in career, we’d love to hear from you! Hopefully we’ve given you all the reasons you need to come and join our fantastic team. So what are you waiting for? Get in touch today and see where a career in playwork with Premier Education could lead.
