Playgroup Assistant - Flying Start - Coastlands CP School

Salary: Grade 3 - £24,796 pro rata

Playgroup Assistant - Little Puffins Playgroup, Coastlands CP School

Grade 3 - £24,796 for 12.5 hours per week term time only for 45.8 weeks per annum equating to £7,358.42 pro rata

Are you passionate about supporting young children in their early years? Do you enjoy creating a safe, fun, and nurturing environment? If so, we'd love to hear from you!

About Us

Little Puffins Playgroup, based at Coastlands CP School, is entering an exciting phase of development. We currently provide:

• Wraparound care for three-year-olds (1:00pm - 3:30pm)
• After School Club for children aged 3-11 (3:30pm - 5:45pm)

We are also proud to have recently been selected as a new setting to provision for Flying Start places where space allows. We hope that interest in our setting will allow us to expand to a school holiday club.

The Role

We are seeking a caring and enthusiastic playgroup assistant to join our team and support the playgroup leader in delivering high-quality childcare. You will help create a safe, stimulating environment where children aged 2-4 can learn and thrive through play.

Working closely with the playgroup leader and other staff, you will assist with planning and delivering play-based activities, supervise children, and ensure their holistic needs are met.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Playgroup Leader in the day-to-day operation of the playgroup.
• Supervise and engage children in play activities, ensuring safety and inclusion.
• Promote positive relationships and encourage independence, self-esteem, and interaction.
• Assist with planning, observation, and record-keeping as directed.
• Communicate effectively with children, parents, and colleagues.
• Follow safeguarding procedures and adhere to all policies.
• Participate in training and team meetings.

Essential Criteria

• Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Children's Care, Learning & Development or equivalent.
• Experience of working with or caring for children in the Early Years sector.
• Knowledge of child development and local safeguarding procedures.
• Ability to relate well to children and adults and work effectively as part of a team.
• Commitment to confidentiality and professionalism.
• Basic knowledge of first aid and National Minimum Standards.
• Willingness to work both term time and school holidays.

Schedule

Monday to Thursday

12:30pm - 3:30pm: Working in the Playgroup

Friday

1:30pm - 3:00pm: working in the Playgroup

As demand grows, there may be opportunities to support holiday clubs during summer and other school breaks.

This is a fixed-term position, subject to budget availability, and is expected to run until 31 December 2026.

Please refer to the job description above for more details on this vacancy and the person specification.

Employment Checks

This post is subject to a DBS disclosure check.

Where it is appropriate for your role and responsibility, the personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by visiting https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.

Applicants should ensure they have the right to work in the UK before applying for a vacancy.

Please note that at this point, Pembrokeshire County Council is not accepting applicants who require a Skilled Worker visa as a prerequisite to a right to work in the UK. Applicants should ensure they have the right to work in the UK before applying for a vacancy.

Guidance Note: Use of AI and Accuracy of Information:

• We understand that applicants may choose to use tools such as generative AI to support the preparation of their application. While the use of such tools is permitted, it remains the applicant's full responsibility to ensure that all information submitted is factually accurate, truthful, and representative of their own skills, experiences and qualifications.
• Providing information that is false, misleading, or exaggerated, regardless of whether it was generated by AI or not, may result in disqualification from the recruitment process or dismissal if discovered after appointment.
• By submitting this application, you confirm that all content provided is accurate and submitted in good faith.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding and protecting children and adults at risk is a high priority for Pembrokeshire County Council. We aim to support vulnerable children and adults at risk to ensure they are as safe as they can possibly be. We are committed to ensuring their safety and will take action to safeguard their well-being. The Council's Corporate Safeguarding Policy provides a framework for every member of staff and Service within the Council, setting out responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and protecting children and adults at risk as well as the methods by which the Council will be assured that it is fulfilling its duties.

This policy applies to all Council employees and workforce, councillors, volunteers and also service providers that are commissioned by the Council. Safeguarding is everyone's business whether they work for, or on behalf of, the Council.

Support & Additional Info

• Please contact the HR Systems Team as early as possible if you're unable to apply online by emailing hrsystemsteam@pembrokeshire.gov.uk .
• Please contact the Recruitment Team if you have any queries relating to this vacancy by emailing Recruit@pembrokeshire.gov.uk .
• Local Government Employees on National Joint Council (NJC) terms are subject to national pay bargaining; all salaries currently stated in our adverts are as 01/04/2025.
• Please note, we have a legal obligation to consider employees for suitable alternative employment if their posts are at risk; therefore prior consideration will be given to existing employees who meet the person specification and are registered on our redeployment pool.

Welsh language skills are desirable. Applications may be submitted in Welsh and will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English.