1:1 Buddy  - Childcare Activity Leader

Location: Shefford Lower School, Bedfordshire
Hours:   3.00pm-6.00pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Pay: £7.55-£12.21 (plus holiday pay)
Contract: Term-Time Only 

The Buddy is responsible for providing one-on-one support to children in our care, ensuring their individual needs are met and promoting their well-being, development, and inclusion within the childcare environment. The Buddy will work closely with children, supporting their emotional, social, and physical needs while fostering a safe and engaging atmosphere.  
 
A day of play...

• Offer personalised 1:1 support for children, focusing on their emotional, physical, and educational development.
• Plan for how to support the child in the club, adapting the JAG program to ensure inclusivity and engagement.
• Undertake individual and/or group risk assessments based on the child's needs.
• Make any reasonable adjustments to enable the child to fully experience JAG alongside their peers.
• Attend specialist training as required.
• Share any concerns regarding the child's welfare with a JAG DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead).
• Assist children with specific tasks and activities, ensuring they are safe and supported throughout the day.
• Encourage participation in group activities, helping children interact with their peers.
• Observe and document the child's development and progress, noting any challenges or milestones.
• Communicate regularly with the child's key worker, parents, or guardians, and other professionals as required to share progress and concerns.
• Work with the safeguarding team to adapt the learning environment, making necessary adjustments for the child's specific needs.
• Promote an inclusive and positive atmosphere where all children are valued, respected, and treated equally.
• Use positive reinforcement and effective behavioural management strategies to support the child's social and emotional growth.
• Help the child develop coping strategies for emotional regulation and manage transitions between activities.
• Provide assistance with personal care tasks (if necessary) in a respectful and appropriate manner, ensuring dignity and privacy are respected.
• Support colleagues and share insights to ensure the overall success of the childcare program.
• Inspire children and young people to develop healthy minds, bodies, and attitudes!

For your new adventure

• You have experience of working with 4-11 year olds
• You're a big kid at heart.
• You have aligned experience. You love to create meaningful moments for people.
• You are driven. You're perceptive, you ask questions and you strive to understand.
• You enjoy solving problems. You don't get flustered easily. You're comfortable managing your time and can be counted on to skilfully handle feedback and complaints.
• You are people-focused. You're warm, honest and genuine.
• You get a kick out of creating unexpected experiences which make people go wow!
• You're cool under pressure. You are self-assured. You listen intently.
• You speak eloquently. You can explain just about anything to anyone and you're comfortable communicating at all levels. You're authentic when you express yourself. People trust you.
• You have a can-do approach. You think on your feet. Switching up tasks and juggling multiple priorities comes naturally to you.

 
What success looks like ✓ Be Considerate - Show you care ✓ Be Passionate - Love what you do ✓ Be Courageous - Show you are resilient ✓ Make a Difference - Leave a positive legacy
And the key ways that you will help us build brighter futures together... ✓ To be an employer of choice - make sure that we are supporting our team members to develop and be the best that they can be ✓ To be a trusted, long term partner that exceeds customer expectations - communicate with our parent and schools to make sure we are delivering on their expectations ✓ To deliver significant, sustainable growth - deliver first class care for the little people that look to us for guidance  

What we’re looking for:

• Someone who loves working with children and brings a positive, can-do attitude
• SEND experience is essential
• Willingness to undergo additional training 
• A creative thinker who knows how to turn an ordinary afternoon into a magical experience
• A team player who’s also confident running activities and managing a group
• Bonus points if you have experience in teaching, coaching, childcare, or youth work (but not essential, personality goes a long way!)

What’s in it for you?

• 24/7 wellbeing support via Health Assured
• Discounted childcare if you’ve got little ones
• Paid training + regular personal & professional development
• Family-friendly, no-weekend hours
• Refer-a-friend rewards
• A warm, welcoming, and energetic team
   

We’re JAG — and we believe every child deserves to feel safe, inspired, and full of joy!

Every day, our passionate teams across the UK make a real impact in children's lives. If you're ready to help kids learn, grow, and have fun, we'd love to meet you.

🛡️ Please note: All roles require an Enhanced DBS check. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and related amendments.

▶️ Learn more about us: Watch our video

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