Edinburgh Guarantee Jobs Board

Employer:           

Work+Play is a charity dedicated to removing barriers to employment for parents, especially mothers, by integrating flexible coworking space, supervised childcare, and mental health support - all under one roof. Rooted in equality of opportunity, our mission is to create an inclusive, family-friendly work environment that supports career progression, financial stability, and child development. Our Hub is based at Gilmerton Road.

Environment:

This is a working-manager role in a small, community-based service. While management responsibilities are critical, you will spend the majority of your time on the playroom floor, supported by the management team for administrative tasks. You will work as an effective member of our team and lead a team of Practitioners and Volunteers with mixed experience, ensuring that our childcare approach aligns with Froebel’s principles of play, creativity, and holistic learning. We're committed to creating a workplace culture where all our people feel valued, included and able to be their best at work - and we’re happy to talk about flexible hours. Working hours are 28 hours per week 10am - 5pm Monday to Thursday.

What might a day in this role look like?

A day at Work+Play Hub blends child-led discovery with supportive, nurturing practice. A typical day begins by opening the playroom, preparing a calm, well-organised environment and ensuring the space meets all safety checks and that there is sufficient staff on site to maintain safe ratios. As families arrive, you greet parents, help children settle, and lead the flow of the day: supporting child-led play indoors and outdoors, observing learning, and responding to children’s emotional and developmental needs. You’ll offer gentle guidance, join in imaginative moments, and create opportunities for social connection, observing what each child needs to thrive.

Throughout the day, you guide the team, keep routines running smoothly, and ensure policies are followed in real time. You maintain clear records, manage any incidents, and check in with families as children are collected. You’ll chat with parents at pick-up, sharing small moments of learning or joy from the day.

You close the session by reviewing the day’s learning, updating documentation as/if needed, and contributing to ongoing improvements that keep the service safe, nurturing, and aligned with Froebelian principles. Every day is a mix of relationship-building, creativity, teamwork, and attentiveness.

What will I learn?

You will deepen your child-led, play-rich practice while growing in confidence in shaping and managing nurturing environments, partnering with families, and working within a reflective, community-driven team. Alongside this, you’ll access meaningful CPD, including Froebelian Futures training, Froebel Trust workshops, outdoor-learning modules, and sector-standard safeguarding and wellbeing courses, to grow both your skills and professional identity.

What qualifications/skills are required?

• Priority will be given to candidates who already hold a Childhood Practice qualification at SCQF Level 9, such as BA Childhood Practice, Graduate Diploma in Childhood Practice, PDA Childhood Practice (SCQF Level 9), or another award accepted by SSSC as equivalent.

• Candidates who do not yet hold an SCQF Level 9 award will be considered if they are willing to undertake the qualification, or are already taking it, and a clear professional development plan will be agreed with us. In this case, the candidate must already hold a relevant qualification such as Practitioner-level qualification in Early Learning and Childcare at SCQF Level 7, or HNC Childhood Practice, or SVQ3 Social Services (Children & Young People).

• Candidates must have strong knowledge of Froebelian and play-based education principles. Recognised qualifications include Training through Froebelian Futures (University of Edinburgh), CPD with the Froebel Trust, courses from the Erskine Childcare Organisation, Froebel Scotland workshops, or relevant modules in BA Childhood Practice or ELC degrees

• Candidates must be eligible for registration with the SSSC (Daycare of Children) or already be registered.

• We are looking for someone who is experienced, genuinely warm, calm and responsive, with a child-centred approach grounded in consistency and reliability. The person who thrives here is values-driven, emotionally intelligent, and committed to creating a safe, inclusive, play-rich environment for children and families. No age restrictions apply.

Please see the following link for further information www.workplusplayhub.com/get-involved.

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