Sunday 15 February 2015

Taking the plunge........

So here goes....... My very first blog post! I created this blog back in 2012 and have found every which way possible to procrastinate to the highest order! Anyway, here we are and away we go!

How it all began.....

I started my career in the children's workforce back in 2004, an eager sixth form student at the start of my journey to become a primary school teacher. In preparation for this I decided that some practical experience with children was a good place to start. I became involved with a local out-of-school scheme working with children aged 4 to 12 years old. I quickly became engrossed and was provided with my work badge, and career long dedication. I was duly entitled 'Playworker'.

I quickly realised that 'this is me' and a Playworker I was. After deciding to put university on-hold while I pursued something I thoroughly enjoyed, two years had passed but an opportunity had arisen! 'Out-of-School Coordinator'. At 18 years old this was a daunting proposition but one in which I never hesitated upon and have loved every minute of it!

A parent asked “when are you going to get a proper job?” this made me think, I entered the room to find ‘absolute mayhem’- faces, hands, arms, legs and feet covered in paint, a group of boys hysterically laughing as they danced around in girls clothes, and my desk, redesigned into a “secret steath ship”……… In all seriousness who would want a “proper job?”


I pursued this venture for a further 7 years and in this time graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University with First-Class Honours after studying a BA in Playwork under Professor Fraser Brown.
Everything I had learnt in the practical field was now supported with an academic and theoretical underpinning which has helped me develop into a well-rounded, reflective Playworker.

In 2010 I was given the opportunity to playwork in Romania with a community of Roma-Gypsy children, working with Aid for Romanian Children. These children are some of the most deprived and impoverished children in Europe. For me, this experience was life changing, and a fundamental necessity for both my career development and also for me as a human being (Romania blog to follow!)

Having gained all this knowledge and experience in the Playwork field it enabled me, in my position of 'Coordinator' to create a rich play environment, in-keeping with the Playwork Principles and controversially differing in what society would expect from a child-care establishment. Our centre is well recognised as a centre for playwork excellence, something we are all proud of!


In more recent times I hold the title of Children's Centre Manager, working under the Sure Start agenda. I have been in this role for just over a year. I have steered it through some tough times, battled with Ofsted and currently driving it through a district wide restructure, which, more than likely will result in my redundancy.  I have enjoyed the challenge (and the salary) but ultimately I know where my passion lies, in Playwork and to be honest, I cant wait to get back to it!

I am a director for Pop-Up Adventure Play, an organisation which promotes the child's right to play and the importance of Playwork on an international scale - In early 2014 I was able to support their USA Tour, presenting to audiences in San Diego and Seattle. I hope to become more involved with this fantastic organisation during 2015 and beyond!

Watch this space.......