Early Years Practitioner

Job Title:                    Early Years Practitioner
Reporting to:              Head of Nursery & Pre-School & Head

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

Safeguarding, Safety & Compliance 

• To always provide a safe, caring, stimulating educational environment, both indoors and outdoors.
• To ensure the highest standards of safety and security within the Nursery and Pre-School.
• To ensure care, maintenance and security of equipment and toys within the Nursery and Pre-School.
• To provide simple first aid, when necessary.
• To adhere to the school and Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) policies with special reference to the learning support, safeguarding and child protection, and equal opportunities policies, and to help promote inclusion in the Nursery and Pre-School.
• To support the team, deliver an appropriate play-based EYFS curriculum that enables children to make individual progress and to support other staff in doing so
• To ensure the Nursery always meets Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) requirements.

Curriculum, Teaching & Learning 

• To promote high standards, progression, continuity and quality of learning.
• To have a solid understanding of the EYFS curriculum and deliver stimulating, varied, play-based activities across all areas of learning.
• To observe children as individuals and in groups and monitor behaviour, progress and possible developmental needs.
• To help plan activities which ensure each child is working towards their next steps in learning.
• To act as a key person for a group of children, monitoring, assessing, recording and reporting on their development, ensuring their needs are met.
• To set targets and next steps for key children and to write termly reports for key children.
• To ensure children’s online learning journals are up to date.

Parent Engagement & Communication

• To ensure that first impressions are professional and lasting for parents and prospective parents and that these are maintained throughout the day.
• To liaise closely with parents/carers, informing them about the nursery and its curriculum, exchanging information about children’s progress and encouraging parents’ involvement.
• To lead termly parent meetings with parents of children in key group.
• To support strong Pre-School–to–Reception progression by supporting a range of transition activities and events across the academic year.
• To promote the work and image of the school by always maintaining high standards of personal appearance and adopting a friendly, professional approach to parents, members of the public and the wider community.
• To keep up to date with current good practice.
• To attend Nursery and Pre-School meetings, whole school meetings and INSET training days as necessary for professional development.

Wraparound & Holiday Club 

• To work flexibly, providing cover for both term-time Wraparound and Holiday Club.
• To assist with the planning and delivery of an appropriate play-based stimulating and varied programme of activities, varying these to suit the age and preferences of users.
• To ensure that in Holiday Club the arrival and departure of children is properly recorded and monitored.

Administration & Other Duties  

• To assist in day-to-day administration and record keeping, following school policies and guidelines.
• To undertake any other reasonable duties as directed by the Nursery Manager and Pre-School Manager and/or Head.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential  

• A genuine passion for working with young children and a commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
• Hold a Level 3 qualification in Early Years Education/Childcare (or an equivalent qualification recognised for Early Years practice).
• Sound knowledge and understanding of the EYFS Statutory Framework.
• Experience working with children aged 2-4 years within an Early Years setting.
• Ability to plan, deliver and evaluate engaging play-based learning experiences that support children’s development.
• Experience observing, assessing, and recording children’s progress in line with EYFS requirements.
• Ability to support children’s personal care needs, including toileting, hygiene, and self-care routines.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to build positive relationships with children, parents, and colleagues.
• Values and respects the views, individuality, and needs of children.
• Basic IT skills and willingness to use nursery management and recording systems.
• Holds, or is willing to obtain, a current Paediatric First Aid certificate and Food Hygiene certificate.

Desirable 

• Knowledge of the Children Act and safeguarding requirements relevant to Early Years provision.
• Experience using digital learning journals and nursery management systems such as Tapestry.
• Experience supporting children with additional needs.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety requirements within an Early Years environment.

Application Procedure:

Applications should be made using the application form.

Application forms are available from the College website www.lancingcollege.co.uk.

Please send any emails to recruitment@lancing.org.uk.

A full curriculum vitae and the names, addresses and telephone numbers of a minimum of three referees, one of whom should be the candidate’s current or most recent employer should be included with the application.

Informal conversations about the post may be arranged with the Head of Nursery and Pre-School, Emma Street, at estreet@lancing.org.uk.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a sufficient number of suitable applications. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may be arranged on an ongoing basis. We therefore encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.