Play Assistants

Orchard Hill College; Kingston upon Thames; On-site; GBP 4,200 - 4,800; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Progression pathways

Pension scheme (LGPS or TPS)

Salary sacrifice schemes

Employee wellbeing

Employee discounts

Season ticket loan

Employee referral scheme

Job summary

Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust is seeking Play Assistants to support lunchtime sessions at the Bedelsford Chaucer Centre satellite site in Merton. This role is term-time only, 10 hours weekly, Monday to Friday, 11.30am–1.30pm, working with children with various needs.

You will assist with feeding, personal care, and social interaction, using Makaton where appropriate, while supervising activities and maintaining safeguarding. Training and ongoing support provided.

Qualifications

• Proven successful experience of working or caring with children
• Commitment to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children
• Have a caring and positive nature
• Work in line with the school's behaviour policy

Responsibilities

• Prepare the dining hall, serve lunch, and assist with feeding
• Support pupils' movement and personal care needs as advised by therapists
• Encourage social interaction and communicate with non-verbal pupils (using Makaton)
• Supervise play activities and clear away after lunch
• Assist with medical needs and provide kitchen support when needed
• Proven successful experience of working or caring with children
• Commitment to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children
• Have a caring and positive nature
• Work in line with the school's behaviour policy

Skills

Makaton communication

Caring for children

Job description

Working Pattern: Monday - Friday, 11.30am - 1.30pm, 10 hours per week, term time only. The Department for Education (DfE) granted permission for Bedelsford School to open a temporary satellite site in Merton for children with special education needs in the London Borough of Merton in September 2025. The School is located in The Chaucer Centre, a former school building located in the St Helier neighbourhood. The Centre was previously used by Merton Council as a training centre but has been adapted to meet the need for specialist education places in the borough. In the first year the centre will provide 40 places and will have the potential to increase up to 80 children over a three-year period. Pupils and staff will transfer from the Chaucer Centre to a brand-new Free School which is scheduled to open in the borough in September 2028. Both the temporary provision and the new Free School will provide places for children who have a range of moderate to severe learning difficulties and complex needs. This is likely to include Speech Language and Communication Needs and may also include Autism Spectrum Conditions and other associated areas of need. We are looking for enthusiastic Play Assistants with drive and creativity to join our dedicated and welcoming team to support the lunch time sessions for our pupils at our new satellite site. You will provide support for our pupils at lunchtime, both with eating and drinking, and joining in leisure activities. You will also be required to support their personal care. Key Responsibilities:

• Prepare the dining hall, serve lunch, and assist with feeding
• Support pupils' movement and personal care needs as advised by therapists
• Encourage social interaction and communicate with non-verbal pupils (using Makaton)
• Supervise play activities and clear away after lunch
• Assist with medical needs and provide kitchen support when needed
• Proven successful experience of working or caring with children
• Commitment to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children
• Have a caring and positive nature
• Work in line with the school's behaviour policy

OHCAT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees

Rewards & Benefits

• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Home Electronics Scheme and Employee Car Lease Scheme)
• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)

Find out what makes Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust a truly rewarding place to work - visit our 'Work for Us' page to learn more about our values, opportunities and the difference our staff make every day.

Our Trust: The Bedelsford Chaucer Centre is a satellite provision to Bedelsford School, which is part of Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust. We are a family of specialist education providers from pre-school through to further education across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire and fully represent all designations of special education needs and disabilities (SEND). To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please our website. We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners. Working together to transform lives is what we do and across the whole organisation we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential. As a large specialist education provider we employ over 1500 people across our schools, college and central support team. There is a wide range of job roles available, ranging from teaching and therapy to business support roles and significant career progression opportunities. It is an exciting time to be part of OHCAT and we are keen to recruit talented people who can play a key role in realising our mission and who want to make a difference. In return, we offer training and development, competitive pay and benefits in a positive and inclusive working environment.

If you wish to discuss this opportunity before or after submitting an application form, please get in touch with the School directly. Visits to the School in advance of applications are encouraged. Your application form will be scored according to each of the requirements laid out in the person specification for this role. Please demonstrate in your statement how your experience, skills and knowledge match the criteria that are required for the role.