At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide high-quality care and education for children aged 0-5, fostering their development.
- Company: Join a warm, welcoming nursery rated Good by Ofsted in Norwich.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days off, staff discounts, childcare discounts, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible working options and a focus on wellbeing for all staff.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while working in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Level 3 Early Years qualification and experience with children aged 0-5 required.
The predicted salary is between 26949 - 26949 € per year.
Location: Norwich
Salary: £26,949.50 per annum
Contract/Hours: Permanent/Full Time – 40 hours per week.
Closing date: Midnight on the 2nd of June 2026
Benefits:
- Time off to recharge – 25 days per annum plus bank holidays
- Treat yourself: Staff discounts portal and blue light card with 15,000+ retailers.
- Salary Finance – access to financial advice and the ability to manage savings or loans directly from your salary.
- Childcare Discount – A whopping 60% off childcare within our nurseries and out of school clubs
- Up to 3 Days Dependency Leave – to care for dependents in an emergency.
- Paid maternity, adoption, and paternity leave.
- Gain professional qualifications and excellent training/development opportunities.
- Secure your future: Pension with up to 7% employer contribution with included life assurance cover.
About the role:
We have a lovely opportunity for a qualified Level 3 early years practitioner to join our setting. You’ll play a key part in providing high quality care and education for children aged 0-5 years, helping them build confidence, social skills and a love for learning. You’ll work closely with our team to ensure our indoor and outdoor spaces are always engaging, safe and stimulating - making the most of our new facilities and sensory resources. You'll support children's daily routines, help manage transitions, and build strong, trusting partnerships with families. Your calm, caring nature and dedication will ensure every child feels valued and supported to reach their full potential.
What we need from you:
- A Level 3 Early Years and Childcare qualification (NNEB, CACHE, NVQ Level 2 or 3 or equivalent)
- Experience in planning and delivering educational programmes for children aged 0 to 5, tailored to their individual needs and developmental stages.
- The ability to observe, guidance support less experienced colleagues, helping them to develop their skills.
- Experience applying effective communication techniques with children and their families.
- Knowledge of children's emotional, physical, psychological, and educational development from 0-5 years
- Awareness and understanding of special educational needs (SEN) and how these are supported in an early year setting.
About Spring Thorp Hamlet:
Spring Thorp Hamlet is a warm, welcoming setting in Norwich, rated Good by Ofsted. With the care for children aged 3 months to five years, with three bright, dedicated playrooms and a large, secure garden for free flow outdoor play every day. We follow the curiosity approach and offer forest school sessions, encouraging independence, exploration and a love of nature.
About Spring:
Spring offers award-winning childcare services, as part of the national charity Action for Children. It's our mission to be the best provider of outstanding quality early education to children throughout the UK, that is accessible to all. We are focused on enabling young people to learn, have fun and make friends in our bright, engaging settings. That starts with creating a happy environment for our team.
Join us and you can look forward to:
- A kind, caring culture with an emphasis on wellbeing, both physical and mental.
- Flexible working – wherever possible we offer flexibility on hours and/or hybrid working.
- Lots of opportunities for training, learning, development, including gaining qualifications.
- Excellent benefits that compare favourably to other employers in our sector.
Ready to make a difference in the lives of children? Whether you're looking for a career change or the next step in your journey, we'd love to hear from you!
Contact: If you need support with your application, please contact our Recruitment Team at RecruitmentService@actionforchildren.org.uk quoting reference 13145. We'll be happy to give you any support you require.
Diversity, Equality and Inclusion:
At Spring Oscars we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic and disabled candidates as they are under-represented within the organisation. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups. Male staff are often under-represented within this sector, and we would like to encourage more male applicants for our roles. We are committed to safer recruitment practices to protect our service users; therefore, all applicants are expected to have an understanding of and commitment to safeguarding best-practice.
Don't meet every single requirement?
If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with the job description, we'd love you to apply anyway. You might just be the perfect person for this role, or another role within the Action for Children family.
Application Process:
Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. There are 5 sections for you to complete - Personal Details, CV, Supporting Statement & Information, Equality & Diversity, Submission & Declaration – please refer to the JD and Person Specification when applying. We also want to know what unique qualities you can bring to help us reach our vision for children and families.
Talent Pool:
We're sure you've got what it takes to join our ambitious team. If you're unsuccessful this time around, we'd like to hold your details in case similar jobs come up that you might be better suited for. But feel free to let us know if you'd rather we didn't do that.
If you need support with your application, please contact our Recruitment Partner. We'll be happy to give you any support you require.
Want to know more about Spring and Oscars? Check out our socials on Linkedin, Facebook or Youtube.
Early Years Practitioner in Norwich employer: Action for Children
At Spring Thorp Hamlet in Norwich, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a nurturing work environment that prioritises the wellbeing of our team. With generous benefits such as 25 days of annual leave, childcare discounts, and extensive professional development opportunities, we empower our Early Years Practitioners to thrive both personally and professionally. Join us in making a meaningful impact on the lives of children while enjoying a supportive culture that values diversity and inclusion.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Early Years Practitioner in Norwich
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the early years sector, attend local events, and join relevant online groups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios specific to early years education. Think about how you can showcase your experience with children aged 0-5 and your understanding of their developmental needs.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, let your enthusiasm for early years education shine through. Share stories that highlight your dedication to nurturing children's growth and learning.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our mission at Spring Thorp Hamlet.
We think you need these skills to ace Early Years Practitioner in Norwich
Some tips for your application 🫡
Read the Job Description Carefully:Before you start your application, take a good look at the job description. We want to see how your skills and experiences match what we're looking for, so make sure you highlight those in your CV and supporting statement.
Show Your Passion for Early Years Education:Let us know why you're excited about working with children aged 0-5. Share any relevant experiences or stories that showcase your dedication to early years education. We love hearing about your passion!
Tailor Your Supporting Statement:Your supporting statement is your chance to shine! Make it personal and specific to the role. Use examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your ability to provide high-quality care and education.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, we can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Action for Children
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your Level 3 Early Years and Childcare qualification. Be ready to discuss how your training has prepared you for the role, especially in planning educational programmes tailored to children's needs.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past roles where you've successfully supported children's development. Highlight your experience with children aged 0-5 and any effective communication techniques you've used with families.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion
Let your enthusiasm for early years education shine through! Talk about why you love working with children and how you create engaging, safe, and stimulating environments. This will show them you're a great fit for their caring culture.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions about their approach to early years education, especially regarding special educational needs (SEN) support. This shows you're genuinely interested in their mission and values, and it gives you a chance to see if it's the right fit for you.
