Activity Ranger - Reading Education Play and Support Team

Permanent - Part time, 28 Hours per week

Do you have a passion for play, the outdoors, and making a difference in young people’s lives? We’re looking for an enthusiastic Activity Ranger to us and help create fun, safe, and inclusive opportunities for children and young people across Reading.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the Role:
As an Activity Ranger, you’ll be at the heart of creating fun and inclusive play opportunities for children and young people from the Ranger Station in Prospect Park, Reading and across the borough in schools.

This role is for Monday to Friday only – doesn’t require weekend work.

You’ll deliver engaging sessions in parks, open spaces, schools, and outreach venues, helping children build confidence, stay active, and enjoy positive, healthy experiences. A key part of your role will be supporting children and young people with SEND, ensuring activities are safe, welcoming, and accessible for everyone.

By working closely with families, schools, and partner organisations, you’ll help build strong community connections while ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding, health & safety, and inclusion. During school holidays, you’ll support activity clubs and special projects, bringing even more opportunities for children to get outside and play.

We use Play (activities, sports, crafts) to support young people between the ages of 4 – 13, helping young people to understand their world, have access to play and build resilience which may support with wellbeing, routines, understanding the world, educational attainment and building key life skills.

Duties will include:

• Coordinate with team members and manage a diverse range of play-based and sports provisions that focus on increasing physical activity, educational attainment and improving wellbeing of young people.
• Support the Team with administration needs relating to the projects you are involved in.
• Focus on play based strategies, safeguarding children and ensuring health and safety policies and procedures are followed.
• Your role will include supporting young people at the Ranger Station Prosect Park, this can consist of supporting with our onsite activities including low ropes, mini golf, archery and sports. Training will be provided.
• Working with young people with learning disabilities or SEND.

We’re looking for someone with experience working with young people or delivering leisure and play services, who is confident in using play-based learning to engage children and young people.

You’ll bring excellent organisational, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders and build strong, positive relationships. Most importantly, you’ll have a genuine passion for supporting the personal development and wellbeing of every individual you work with.

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed

Our offer:
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

For more information on this position please contact Dan Peters - Service Manager, Reading Education Play and Support at daniel.peters@reading.gov.uk

Closing Date: Sunday 28th September 2025
Interview Date: To be confirmed

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment,