OPAL Play Co-ordinator - St Lukes CofE Primary School, Cannock

St Luke's CofE Primary School, Cannock; Cannock; On-site; GBP 5,800 - 9,000; Full time

Job summary

St Luke’s CE Primary School in Cannock is seeking an enthusiastic OPAL Play Co-ordinator for a 10-hour-per-week role, 12:00pm–1:30pm, plus 2.5 flexible hours. Term-time only (39 weeks) and a permanent position with Grade 3, Scale Point 5 (£25,583 FTE; pro-rata approx. £5,827).

The role involves coordinating play provision, developing play areas and resources, and promoting inclusive, child-led activities within the school day.

Qualifications

• Experience in playwork, childcare, education, youth work, outdoor learning, sports, community work or a similar setting would be advantageous.
• OPAL experience desirable, but passion and commitment to develop expertise with us is valued.

Responsibilities

• Coordinating the day-to-day organisation of OPAL play provision.
• Supporting and developing the lunchtime/play team.
• Creating and maintaining exciting play opportunities and resources.
• Developing different areas of the playground and school grounds.
• Working with children to discover what they enjoy and what they would like to see developed.
• Encouraging imaginative, creative and child-led play.
• Supporting staff to understand their role in facilitating play.

Job description

St Luke’s CE Primary School

New Penkridge Rd

Cannock

Staffordshire

WS11 1HN

Tel [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

OPAL Play Co-ordinator

10 hours per week – 12:00pm – 1:30pm

(plus 2.5 hours flexible to carry out additional duties)

Term Time Only (39 weeks)

Permanent Position

Grade 3 Scale Point: 5 £25,583 (Pro Rata approximately: £5,827)

Required – as soon as possible

Do you believe that play is one of the most important parts of a child's school day?

Are you creative, energetic and passionate about giving children the freedom to explore, imagine, take appropriate risks and have fun?

If so, we would love to hear from you.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and inspirational OPAL Play Coordinator to join our team and help us create playtimes that children genuinely look forward to.

About our OPAL journey

We are committed to developing an exciting, inclusive and engaging play environment where children have the freedom to play, create, investigate, build friendships and develop independence.

Our OPAL approach recognises that play is far more than simply a break between lessons. It is an essential part of children's development, supporting their:

• social and emotional development;
• communication and relationships;
• creativity and imagination;
• independence and resilience;
• physical development;
• problem-solving and decision-making;
• confidence and wellbeing.

As our OPAL Play Coordinator, you will play a central role in bringing this vision to life.

The role

Working closely with the Senior Leadership Team, staff and children, you will coordinate and develop our play provision across the school. You will be responsible for helping to create exciting, varied and inclusive play opportunities that encourage children to be active, creative and independent.

Your role will include:

• Coordinating the day-to-day organisation of our OPAL play provision.
• Supporting and developing our lunchtime/play team.
• Creating and maintaining exciting play opportunities and resources.
• Developing different areas of the playground and school grounds.
• Working with children to discover what they enjoy and what they would like to see developed.
• Encouraging imaginative, creative and child-led play.
• Supporting children to manage appropriate risks and develop independence.
• Promoting inclusive play so that every child has opportunities to participate.
• Organising and maintaining our play equipment and resources.
• Working with colleagues to develop a positive culture around play.
• Supporting staff to understand their role in facilitating rather than unnecessarily directing children's play.
• Helping to identify and address barriers that prevent children from accessing play.
• Monitoring the effectiveness of our play provision and identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Supporting appropriate risk assessment and safe working practices.
• Contributing to the ongoing development of our OPAL action plan.
• Promoting children's voice and involvement in shaping their play environment.

This is a hands-on role. We are looking for someone who will be prepared to get involved, demonstrate ideas, build dens, organise games, explore the outdoors, solve problems and, most importantly, understand what makes play meaningful for children.

What we’re looking for

Passionate about children and play

You understand that play is fundamental to children's development, wellbeing and happiness.

Creative and imaginative

You have ideas and aren't afraid to try something different.

A great relationship builder

You can develop positive relationships with children, staff and families.

Enthusiastic about outdoor learning and adventure

You're happy to embrace outdoor play whatever the weather!

A problem solver

You can think creatively and find practical solutions when things don't go according to plan.

A confident communicator

You can inspire children and adults and communicate ideas clearly.

Well organised

You can coordinate people, resources and activities effectively.

Inclusive in your approach

You understand that every child is different and that successful play provision needs to work for everyone.

Safeguarding conscious

You understand the importance of safeguarding, supervision, boundaries and appropriate risk management.

Previous experience in playwork, childcare, education, youth work, outdoor learning, sports, community work or a similar setting would be advantageous.

Experience of OPAL would be desirable, but we are equally interested in people who have the passion, creativity and commitment to develop their expertise with us.

This could be the role for you if...

You are the person who looks at an empty playground and thinks:

“What could we do with this?”

You see a pile of cardboard boxes and imagine a castle.

You see a muddy patch and think about an adventure area.

You hear children saying “There's nothing to do” and immediately start thinking about possibilities.

You understand that sometimes the best thing an adult can do is step back and let children take the lead.

And you're excited by the idea of helping transform children's experience of play every single day.

What we can offer you

In return, we can offer:

• A genuinely exciting opportunity to shape our developing OPAL provision.
• The opportunity to make a visible difference to children's daily lives.
• A supportive and committed school team.
• Opportunities for professional development and training.
• The chance to develop your knowledge and experience of play, inclusion, wellbeing and outdoor learning.
• A role where your ideas and creativity will be valued.
• The opportunity to work directly with children and see the impact of your work every day.

Most importantly...

We want our children to leave school remembering the adventures they had, the friends they made, the things they created and the confidence they developed.

We want playtimes to be places where children can:

• Explore
• Imagine
• Create
• Move
• Laugh
• Take risks
• Solve problems
• Make friends
• Be themselves

As our OPAL Play Coordinator, you will help make that happen.

Could you help us make playtime the best part of the school day?

If you are enthusiastic, creative and passionate about giving children exceptional opportunities to play, we would love to hear from you.

Closing date for applications: Wed 18th November '26

Interviews scheduled for w/b: Mon 23rd November '26

St. Luke’s CE Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This position is subject to a criminal records check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) which will require you to disclose details of all unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions in your application form.