Early Childhood Educator

About The Role

Reporting to: Nursery Manager

Location: ArkStart John Keats (Bell Lane, Enfield EN3 5PA)

Contract: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full-time (37.5 hours per week, all year) or Term-time (39 weeks per year)

Salary: From £27k per year

As we expand, we are looking for a Level 3 qualified Early Childhood Educator to join the team at Ark Start John Keats. In this role you will provide the highest standards of physical, emotional, social, and intellectual care for all children in your care. You’ll ensure all children are safeguarded and their welfare and safety are promoted, and you’ll work to provide an enabling environment in which all children can play, learn and develop. We are looking for people with genuine passion for young children, with the skill, creativity, commitment, energy, and enthusiasm required for leading room practice. You’ll be able to take learning beyond the classroom and interact with outdoor and forest learning, cooking, and gardening.

Key Responsibilities

• To be responsible for a group of key worker children including observations, assessments and relationships with parents
• To implement the Ark Start curriculum
• To ensure high quality interactions with all children in nursery
• To create an enabling environment where all children make good progress
• To ensure that nursery is safe and secure and following the Ark Start safeguarding policy and procedures
• To keep child records up to date and report to parents and senior staff
• To promote high standards of the nursery at all times to parents, staff, and visitors in line with the Ark Start code of conduct and handbook

Key Requirements

• Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care or the willingness to work towards qualification
• Right to work in the UK
• An awareness of keeping children safe, noticing safeguarding and welfare concerns, and knowing how and when to take appropriate action
• A team player that can work collaboratively as well as using own initiative
• The ability to reflect on your own practice and a commitment to continuous improvement

Benefits

• Ongoing Learning: We are committed to providing the best development for all our staff. We close the nurseries for five days each year to focus on staff training and ensure there is protected time for training and supervision each week for every adult.
• Annual leave: Staff receive 25 days holiday each year, excluding bank holidays.
• Wellbeing: Staff wellbeing is incredibly important to us. We know that while incredibly rewarding, working in a nursery can be challenging.
• Part of a Network: Ark Start is part of Ark, a charity that aims to transform children’s lives through education.

Our dedicated team work together to ensure that every child has a joyful, engaging, and secure nursery experience and leaves us ready to start school happily and confidently. We are driven by our values in everything we do: Aim High, Be Brave, Be Kind and Keep Learning. Ark Start is at an exciting time in its evolution. We opened two nurseries in South London last year and aim to expand our reach over the coming years.

Diversity and inclusion

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential.

Safeguarding statement

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check.

Please note we will be reviewing applications on an on‑going basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage you to submit your application at your earliest convenience.