EARLY YEARS PRACTITIONER

With guidance, adhere to the Policies & Procedures of 5 Star Day Nursery and compliance with the Children Act, Health and Safety legislation and within the guidelines of OFSTED and the National Standards.

To assist in the provision of a high standard of care for children placed in the Nursery in a way that meets their physical, social, emotional, intellectual and developmental needs.

To give support to all other personnel within the Nursery.

To assist with the implementation of the daily routine in the base room.

Responsible to: Management Team: Nursery manager, Deputy manager

Qualification: Full & relevant Level 3 Early years qualification

Duties and Responsibilities:

• To provide the highest standards of quality care and education.
• You must be passionate about delivering a high standard of care within the Nursery.
• It is fundamental that you will be motivated, be able to demonstrate a good understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum.
• Assist with planning a programme of activities, suitable for the age range of the children following the guidelines for the implementation of the EYFS.
• To ensure the Nursery is always kept safe, secure and clean at all times.
• Be prepared to undertake certain domestic jobs within the Nursery e.g. preparing snack, cleaning of equipment, doing the laundry, taking out bins etc.
• To attend all in and out of working hours activities e.g. staff meetings, open days, training etc.
• Develop positive relationships with colleagues, parents, children and outside agencies.
• Understand that each child is an individual and have a general understanding of childcare and child development.
• Be a reliable member of the team, working co-operatively and with flexibility.
• Knowledge of OFSTED standards and the FS.
• Maintain good relationships and communication with parents/carers to facilitate day to day caring needs of the children.
• To respect the confidentiality of all information received.
• To develop your role within the team especially in your capacity as a key worker; keeping children's folders up to date with observation, progress reports and photos.
• With appropriate support and training, record accidents on the appropriate form ensuring the Nursery Manager/Deputy Manager has initialled the report before the parent receives it.
• To ensure all children are signed in and out.
• Ensure someone known to the Nursery collects all the children.
• To assist in the provision of a high quality environment to meet the needs of individual children from differing cultures and religious backgrounds and stages of development.
• To assist in the provision of an attractive and stimulating range of equipment, activities and displays, indoors and out, relevant to all ages and needs of the children, which encourage independence, self motivation and eagerness to learn.
• To have a full understanding of the Nursery systems of record keeping and keep records of the children's development using the key worker system.
• To share the responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children in the Nursery.
• To be aware of the high profile of the Nursery and to uphold its standards at all times.
• To initiate and conduct effective risk assessment.

Specific Child Care Tasks:

• The preparation and completion of activities to suit the child's stage of development.
• Help maintain hygienic standards at all times.
• To ensure that mealtimes are a time of pleasant social sharing.
• Providing conscientious and effective supervision of the children.
• To help children with feeding, changing clothes, toileting, washing etc.
• Providing comfort and warmth to a poorly child.
• To report any signs of illness, neglect or apparently non-accidental injury.
• To interact and engage with the children at all times.
• Ensure each child is collected in accordance with the Child Collection Procedure.

Health and Safety Responsibilities:

• All employees will ensure that they take care of their own safety and that of others.
• Comply with the Health & Safety procedures and instructions.
• Will not neglect, misuse, damage anything provided in the interest of Health & Safety.
• Undergo any training or instruction to enable them to work competently and safely.
• Ensure that products, plants, equipment, vehicles and building are not damaged.
• Assist by reporting to the Nursery Manager any hazard, accident, damage or defect in order that appropriate and quick action may be undertaken.