Nursery Practitioner

Purpose of post

To provide a high standard of physical, emotional, social and intellectual care for all children in the nursery. To ensure all children are safeguarded and their welfare and safety is promoted. To give support to other team members throughout the nursery and to work as part of a team in order to provide an enabling environment in which all individual children can play, learn and develop. To work with the EYFS and carry out an effective key person role, whilst building and maintaining strong partnerships with parents.

Responsible to

Nursery Manager/ Room Leader

7.20am to 17.20pm

8.00am to 18.30pm

8.30am to 18.30pm

Or we can offer 7.30am to 18.30pm

We would consider 2, 3, 4 or 5 days for qualified staff, either a level 2 or level 3.   The shift patterns do have some flexibility, we can’t offer term time only or 9 to 3 hours.

Duties and responsibilities

• Operate a programme of activities that meet the individual needs and interests of children in your care in conjunction with other team members and the EYFS
• To keep records of your key children’s development and learning journeys and share this with parents, carers and other key adults in the child’s life
• To follow the nursery safeguarding procedure to ensure all children are kept safe, well and secure
• Support all staff and engage in a good staff team
• Liaise with and support parents and other family members
• To be involved in out of working hours activities, e.g. training, monthly staff meetings, parent evening, fundraising events etc.
• To be flexible within working practices of the nursery. Be prepared to help where needed, including to undertake certain domestic jobs within the nursery, e.g. preparation of snack meals, cleansing of equipment etc.
• Work alongside the Manager and staff team to ensure that the nursery’s philosophy is fulfilled
• Read, understand and adhere to all policies and procedures relevant to your role as deemed appropriate by the Manager
• To administer first aid when necessary
• To have positive attitude towards new incentives Pennies embrace (eg curiosity approach, Plant based menu)
• Recording accidents, children on an accident/incident form and staff accidents in the accident book. Ensure the Duty Manager has read and signed the report before parents receives it
• Look upon the nursery, as a “whole” where can your help be most utilised? Be constantly aware of the individual needs of all children
• Ensure someone known and agreed by the nursery and parent collects the child
• To respect the confidentiality of all information received.
• To develop your role within the team especially with regard as a key person
• To ensure that meal times are a time of pleasant social sharing
• Washing and changing children as required
• To ensure good standards of safety, hygiene and cleanliness are maintained at all times
• Ensuring a poorly child is kept calm and warm and management is notified immediately
• To develop and maintain strong partnerships and communications with parents/carers to facilitate day-to-day caring and early learning needs
• To ensure the provision of a high-quality environment to meet the needs of individual children regardless of any disabilities, family backgrounds or medical history
• To be aware of the high profile of the nursery and to uphold its standards at all times, both within work hours and outside.
• To Maintain a high standard of dress, personal hygiene and presentation at all times
• To work towards substantiality initiatives 

Qualifications, training and experience

·      The jobholder must hold a childcare qualification (NNEB, NVQ3, BTEC, CACHE or equivalent)

·      The jobholder must have at least two years recent experience within a day care environment. 

·      The jobholder must be up to date on childcare developments and have a good working knowledge of the Children Act 1989 and OFSTED regulations for Day Care provision

·      The job holder will be required to complete training to maintain Pennies standards and to maintain their own CPD. This includes Paediatric first Aid, Food safety and hygiene, Safeguarding, FGM, understating the prevent duty and Online safety.