Meadow Lane Children’s Nursery is based on a wonderfully unique location of Farmland in St Ives. With livestock, allotments and vases indoor and outdoor play spaces. This beautiful location allows us to offer regular Forest School sessions and plenty of outdoor play and learning. Giving the children the opportunity to be at one with nature.

We follow the Early Years curriculum alongside the Reggio Emilia approach. This enables us to encourage children’s learning and development in the seven areas, whilst incorporating the principles of respect, responsibility, and community through exploration, discovery and play.

We have 3 classrooms here at Meadow Lane; Daisy’s (our babies), Daffodil’s (Our toddlers) and Dahlia’s (Our Preschools)

• Daisy's is over two environments that can hold 20 children with a 1 to 3 ratio.
• Daffodil is over two environments that can hold 40 children, with mixed ratios 1 to 3 and 1 to 5
• Dahlias is a large space attached to large garden with their own little garden, they can hold 35 children with a ratio of 1 to and 1 to 8.

The children transition from room to room and it is assessed throughout the year based on the children’s development. We use inquiry based learning in each classroom where we look at the children’s interests and come up with a question/topic which incorporates those interests to further the children’s learning.

We have an onsite Cafe for the children, an allotment where they grow their own fruit and veg, onsite Forest School and investigation Dome.

Job title: Nursery Educator

Responsible to: Nursery Manager, Deputy Manager

Salary: average of £12:30

Shift Patterns - Minimum 2 days 7:50am to 6pm, with additional 7:50am to 4pm days

(for example 2 x 7:50am to 6pm and 2/3 days at 7:50 to 4pm) or (3/4 days 7:50 to 6pm with 0/1 day 7:50 to 4pm)

Qualification: Level 2 or 3

Purpose of the job: To work as part of the team under the direction of the managers. To provide safe, high quality education and care for young children which meets the individual needs of children attending the setting.

Safeguarding requirement: Meadow Lane Children’s Nursery is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. It is a requirement of all staff that they share this commitment and follow the prescribed policy.

Main duties:

1. To assist with the planning of the curriculum using the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) for guidance and inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach.

2. To help to set up for the daily programme and to help tidy away at the end of the session.

3. To act as a key person to a small group of children, liaising closely and building an effective relationship with parents/carers and ensuring each child’s needs are recognised and met. To have a solid understanding of children's developmental stages and when and how to support them.

4. To work in partnership with parents/carers and other family members.

5. To advise the Manager of any concerns e.g. health and well-being of children, parents or the safety of equipment, preserving confidentiality as necessary.

6. To take action to support the setting to achieve and maintain a minimum good OFSTED rating at the next inspection.

7. To offer an appropriate level of support and stimulating play experiences.

8. To ensure that children are kept safe and that you understand when to follow child protection procedures.

9. To support meal times within the setting.

10. To actively participate at team meetings, supervision meetings and appraisal meetings.

11. To attend training courses as required and to take responsibility for personal development.

12. To keep completely confidential any information regarding the children, their families or other staff, which is acquired as part of the job.

13. To be aware of and adhere to all the setting’s operational policies and procedures, e.g. health and safety, fire precautions, dropping off and collection of children, food safety, cleanliness of the setting.

14. To ensure that adequate records are kept and updated regularly.

15. To promote the setting to current parents and potential customers.

16. To communicate highly. It is essential to team work in the fast pace environment that we work in. We ask that you are always kind, respectful and considerate during any forms of communication.

17. To be approachable and able to listen and welcome child-initiated conversations.

18. To communicate with appropriate language to the children allowing them time to respond to open ended questions that may be asked.

19. To take the time to support children’s feelings allowing them to have opportunities to talk about and express how they feel. Allowing the children to understand that it is acceptable for them to feel sad, unhappy, angry as well as happy and excited.

20. To get down to the children’s level when communicating with them encouraging eye contact when appropriate. To consider all forms of communication when interacting and engaging with the children based on the child’s age and stage of development.

21. To follow the lead of your educational coordinators/‘team buddy’ in the room, listening to support and guidance given and respond in a appropriate manner.

22. In turn feel you can give ideas, share your opinion, discuss strategies appropriately in line with our communication policy.

23. To use initiative to follow daily routines, day to day jobs and to continuously safeguard children ie take the bin if its full/headcount children regularly

This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties and the post holder will be required to undertake any other reasonable duties discussed and directed by the line manager. The post holder is also expected to be flexible and adaptable in their approach to fulfilling their duties.

Essential criteria:

1. Willingness to learn and undertake further training.

2. Level 2 early years education and childcare qualification or equivalent, and a commitment to obtaining a level 3 qualification.

3. Previous experience of working with young children.

4. Sound knowledge of child development from birth to five years.

5. Knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

6. Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection procedures.

7. Good communication skills.

8. An understanding of play-based approaches to children’s learning and development.

9. A commitment to continuously promote a culture of safeguarding.

10. A commitment to equal opportunities.

11. A commitment to working effectively with young children and families.

12. A friendly and flexible approach at work which facilitates the development of effective relationships.

Staff Benefits:

5 mental health first aiders on site, well being nights, for example yoga sessions, stress support sessions, staff EAP service, wellbeing app, 6 sessions of therapy per year, onsite massages yearly, a warm welcoming and relaxed environment, plenty of time out in nature, animals on site, free parking 2 min walk away, regular in house training as well as access to a training platform, regular food/breakfasts provided, large staff room with all amenities and a staff garden, strong team morale.