Play support workers sought for number of primary schools

SHETLAND Islands Council is recruiting a number of play support workers for many of its primary schools – with a particularly focus on children who have transitioned from nursery.

There are nine part-time vacancies live at the moment at schools such as Hamnavoe, Scalloway, Nesting and Sound.

The purpose of the posts are to “work effectively with the class teacher(s) to support play-based, child-centred pedagogy within primary”.

A spokesperson for Shetland Islands Council said: “We’re hoping to recruit to these posts to build on young children’s experiences in early learning and childcare settings, and to support a high quality transition into primary school.

“These staff will also support teachers to ensure children have opportunities for high quality play outdoors and inside.”

The council added that the benefits of play on children’s development has been “widely acknowledged, and national guidance encourages a play-based approach in early years settings”.