Holiday Camp-Activity Science Instructor Vacancy
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Holiday Camp– Activity Science Instructor Vacancy
Position Title: Activity Instructor
Deadline: There is a rolling deadline for this position –apply as soon as possible.
Line Manager(s): Lead Instructor and Camp Manager
Job Description
Bright Sparks Events run science activity day camps in the school holidays for children aged
5 – 11 years. Our fun-packed science camps are located across Oxfordshire (Oxford,
Wantage, Abingdon, Woodstock, Didcot) and at Winchester Science Centre, where we have
a reputation for delivering high quality, exciting science activities that children love.
Activity Instructors are responsible for delivering the camp activities and we depend on their
utmost professionalism and hard work to make the camps a success. With our camps
running in most school holidays this is the perfect seasonal opportunity for those looking to
gain experience in a childcare setting or develop science outreach and teaching skills.
1. The role
Under the direction of the Camp Manager and/or Lead Instructor, you will be assigned to
mentor a group of 8-10 children through a range of different science experiments and crafts
activities. You will be required to adapt your skills and experiences to working with children
of a variety of ages, backgrounds and abilities whilst catering for their individual needs.
As part of a dynamic team you will be expected to help children settle in at the start of their
day and organise them and their belongings at the end. This can involve direct interactions
with parents or guardians to discuss individual requirements in a professional and friendly
manner.
The role involves ensuring a respectable and safe environment is maintained throughout the
day, this includes cleaning and maintenance of activity equipment and cleaning of tables
and floor areas as required.
Flexibility is essential as Bright Sparks Events relies on a small team of dedicated individuals
working closely together to support the Camp Manager in the camp organisation, so
occasional additional support duties will be required.
Areas of Responsibility:
• Adhere to policies and procedures to ensure the children in your care have a fun and
stimulating time in a safe environment.
Page 1 of 5
Updated May 2021• Deliver a variety of activities with structure and enthusiasm whilst encouraging the
maximum participation of the children.
• Contribute positively and effectively to the team, co-operating with other staff.
• Maintaining safe standards of behaviour from children in accordance with the
procedures and encouraging good practice with regards to sharing and caring for
one another.
• Ensure that the pastoral needs of the children in your care are met through active
supervision and care throughout the day including breaks and lunch times.
• Demonstrate continuous respect for the host venue and Bright Sparks Events’
resources through ad hoc duties such as cleaning and kit maintenance.
• Manage the exchange of relevant information regarding the children to their parent
or guardian.
Duties and Key Tasks to include:
• Be a mentor to an assigned group of children, providing clear instructions and setting
tasks which ensure high levels of interest and maintain student’s enthusiasm.
• Be aware of and make provision for children who are SEN or who have other
particular individual needs.
• Challenge more able children with effective questioning and altering tasks to keep
them motivated.
• Listen carefully to children and give attention to those who aren’t fully participating
by providing them with support and encouragement.
• Alert appropriate staff to problems experienced by children.
• Communicate with other members of staff to ensure sharing and effective usage of
resources.
• Assist with the movement and transportation of activity kits and equipment from
Head Office to host venues and from venue to venue, whenever possible.
• Workers will be expected to comply with any reasonable request from a line
manager to undertake work of a similar level that is not specified in this job
description.
2. Personal Specification
It is essential that candidates:
• Are responsible individuals, who will demonstrate a mature and professional
attitude to their employment.
• Have relevant experience working with children or an enthusiastic approach to the
role.
• Have excellent communication skills and are capable of leading a group of children
• Have a flexible and hardworking attitude.
• Pay attention to detail and have the ability to see points of view from a child’s
perspective.
• Have the ability to use their own initiative.
Page 2 of 5
Updated May 2021• Have the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Have a good understanding of and an interest in science.
• Are able to adapt to effectively deal with the unpredictable challenges that working
with children can sometimes bring.
It is desirable that candidates:
• Are qualified or are studying towards a relevant teaching, coaching, childcare or
science qualification.
• Hold a previous DBS check which is registered on the DBS Update Service.
• Have knowledge on safeguarding and child protection.
• Have experience working within a camp environment or similar.
3. Salary and Benefit overview
Casual / zero hours Contract
Under this contract of employment you will be classed as a worker not an employee and
work will be offered to you on an ad hoc basis. Working hours will vary depending on the
fluctuating needs of the business. A calendar of available shifts is circulated in advance of
the holiday camps and individuals can choose which shifts to accept.
Bright Sparks Events science camps are open Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays.
This academic year’s holiday dates when our camps are running are:
• May Half Term: 1st June – 3rd June 2021
• Summer Holidays: 26th July – 27th Aug 2021
• October Half Term: 25th – 29th Oct 2021
• February Half Term: 21st – 25th Feb 2022
• Easter Holidays: 11th – 22nd April 2022
Our Holiday camps in Oxfordshire are open to accept children from 9.00am – 3.30pm.
Therefore, the normal working day for Activity Instructors will be 8.25am to 4.15pm to allow
time for set up and pack down. All staff receive a 20-minute unpaid lunch break which will
be timetabled by the Camp Manager. Holiday camps delivered at Winchester Science Centre
have slightly different timings with children staying until 4.00pm. Therefore, Instructors may
need to stay until 4.30pm to allow time to tidy away and prepare for the following day.
Bright Sparks Events hourly rates of pay for casual workers are £7.00 (18-20 yr), £8.50 (21-
22 yr), £9.00 (age 23+), for 7.5 hours per camp day. Candidates aged 16-17 years may apply
for the position as a Youth Worker with fewer responsibilities and will receive £5.20 per
hour. Workers at Winchester Science Centre must be aged 18+ due to the nature of working
in a smaller team with direct responsibility for children.
Page 3 of 5
Updated May 2021Development and progression opportunities are available for the right candidate as we
continue to grow.
Holiday Pay
Pro-rated annual leave based on a full-time entitlement of 28 days' holiday during each full
holiday year. Workers will receive a payment for any accrued annual leave every 12 weeks.
Annual leave entitlement will be calculated as an average wage according to the 12 weeks
pay reference period.
Pension
Automatic enrolment duties apply to any staff that are aged 22 to state pension age and
earn over £192 a week or £833 a month; they must be put into a pension scheme which the
business must contribute towards. The pension scheme chosen by the employer is Smart
Pensions. The employers’ contributions are set at 3% of staff’s earnings and workers will
contribute 5% of their earnings. Workers can choose to opt out of the Smart Pension
scheme within one month of being put into a scheme.
Place of work
Your main place of work will be the holiday camp venue and you will only be expected to
travel to one venue per day. The time the worker spends going back and forth to work from
home, is commuting time and isn't paid. Workers should consider whether they live within
reasonable travelling time/distance of the venues to fulfil the requirements of the role.
Travel Expenses
Due to the nature of the job and the daily or weekly change in your place of work, Bright
Sparks Events will pay a mileage allowance or reimburse the cost of travel expenses to camp
venues. Mileage Allowance Payments are paid to workers who use their own vehicle for
travel and the rates include the general running costs of your car, such as maintenance and
insurance. Mileage rates are increased to reflect longer journeys for large distances. As part
of your duties, you may be asked to travel to Head Office during your working day in which
travel time would also be paid. For those using public transport, Bright Sparks Events will
reimburse the cost of travel i.e. bus or train fares.
Workers placed at Winchester Science Centre have the opportunity to stay in paid overnight
student accommodation in lieu of full mileage or travel costs.
Training
Training is the final stage of the recruitment process, from which successful candidates will
be selected. All potential staff members receive training dependent on their roles, to ensure
they are camp ready!
ONLINE TRAINING: all staff must complete an introductory to safeguarding online course
consisting of videos and multiple-choice assessment questions. This will also be where you
will learn all the policies and procedures required for the job role.
Page 4 of 5
Updated May 2021CAMP INDUCTION DAY: Most workers will receive on the job induction on the morning of
their first day of camps. Workers will receive training on delivering activities and any
specialist science experiments as required. This hands-on training will go through the theory
and practical skills required to ensure our children have a great time.
ACTIVITY TRAINING DAY: Lead Instructors, future Camp Managers and selected staff will
receive a compulsory kit training day, which covers specific training on all the science
activities as well as everything from safeguarding to team management and child welfare.
This is a paid day and offers a chance to get camp ready and prepare for a busy summer
season ahead.
Health check
Confirmation of appointment to the position will be subject to you completing a declaration
statement of your fitness for work.
References
Confirmation of appointment is also subject to satisfactory references.
Background checks
Bright Sparks Events are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and an
enhanced DBS will be required. Bright Sparks Events believe that all staff need to be vigilant
and act on any concerns they may have regarding the welfare of the children they are
working with. If any member of staff has any suspicions about the treatment of a child, or
actions of an adult, they must immediately raise it, either to the Bright Sparks Events Senior
Management Team, local authority safeguarding services or the police.
4. Selection & Application Process
Please submit an application form, clearly stating how your experience/qualifications match
those required.
Short listed candidates will be invited to a telephone interview and if selected will be
required to complete a pre-camp training session. All job role appointments are subject to
satisfactory training attendance, references and DBS Status.
At Bright Sparks Events we strongly believe in respect and equal treatment for all persons
regardless of race, religion or belief, ethnic origin, marital status, civil partnership status,
colour, nationality, gender, age, sex, sexual orientation or physical ability. We insist that this
respect is applied in every aspect of our business and in how we conduct ourselves.
For more information or an informal conversation about the role, please speak with Jenny
Turner, Managing Director on 01865 522775.
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