We are recruiting! Could you join the team at Hexham Community Centre Playgroup

Job Description and Person Specification

Playgroup Practitioner

Hours variable, average hours 13.25 per week

£13.45 per hour

 

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our vibrant and nurturing Early Years setting. Hexham Community Centre Playgroup is looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated childcare professional.

Shifts will be Monday – Friday, term time only.

To request application form email Amy on playgroup@hexhamcommunitycentre.org 

Applications close 5pm Friday 3rd April 2026

Job Description

The right candidate will be enthusiastic, nurturing and professional, contributing to the high quality of care, learning and fun that Hexham Community Centre Playgroup is well-known for. They will have a flexible approach to work, able to pick up additional shifts as the business requires, most weeks they will have regular shifts. Pay is annualised to incorporate paid annual leave during the summer holidays.

 

Key responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:

Provision of care for Playgroup children

• You will assist with the provision of suitable programmes of activities for the children who attend playgroup, providing a safe, secure, happy and stimulating environment.
• You will be a key worker for named children, tracking their progress and tailoring their experience, updating parents as the main contact for their child.
• You will contribute to the upkeep of the Playgroup allotment and take children on local outings.
• You will be flexible regarding the hours you work, willing to work extra hours to provide cover for staff absence.
• You will have good time keeping and good personal hygiene.
• You will undertake personal care for children, including toileting, first aid and mealtimes.
• You will be prepared to run and lead Parent and Toddler sessions; collecting money, providing refreshments, planning and delivering craft activities and singing sessions, setting up and clearing away.

Adherence to policy and guidelines in line with EYFS and Ofsted standards of care

• You will be aware of and comply with Playgroup policies and procedures and regional and national child protection law and guidelines.
• You will contribute to your personal CPD by undertaking mandatory training in child protection, first aid, food safety, FGM and Prevent / WRAP and other courses as they become mandatory. You will also take part in supervisions, appraisals and apply for and attend free and / or funded training courses that relate to areas that require development or areas of special personal interest. You will be required to share your training with other staff.
• You will adhere to the practitioner’s code of conduct as set out in the playgroup staff handbook, including guidelines on; safeguarding, data protection, information sharing and privacy.
• You will be aware of Playgroup’s Safeguarding policies and procedures, reporting any concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

 

Person Specification

 

Essential Criteria	Desirable Criteria
Min.  NVQ3 or equivalent in relevant subject i.e. Early Years Educator or working towards or commitment to undertake.	First Aid with Paediatrics training – in date
Experience working in Early Years	Child Protection training – in date
Energetic and proactive approach to whole group planning.	Prevent training – in date
Clear DBS	Level 2 Food hygiene – in date
Excellent time keeping
Strong commitment to Inclusion / SEND inclusion
Strong commitment to child protection
Strong commitment to equal opportunities for staff and children
Strong commitment to CPD
Ability to talk to parents tactfully but clearly.
Good standard of written English – min GCSE grade ‘C’ level or equivalent
Good standard of maths – min GCSE grade ‘C’ level or equivalent
Team player.

 

Hexham and Tynedale Community Trust is a Real Living Wage Employer, we are committed to providing a fair wage for all of our employees.