Early Childhood Educator - Ark Start South Acton

Reporting to: Nursery Manager

Location: Ark Start South Acton (All Saints Church, Bollo Bridge Road, London. W3 8AX)

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

About the role

As we expand, we are looking for a Level 3 qualified Early Childhood Educator to join the team at our brand new setting - Ark Start South Acton. 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 – this won’t just be another day in the classroom!

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

• Generous pension scheme: We pay 11% pension contributions, employee contributions are optional
• Ongoing Learning: We are committed to providing the best development for all our staff. We close the nursery 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. We work hard to ensure there are clear career progression routes
• Annual leave: We are proud of our staff and want everyone to feel valued for playing their part. That’s why 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. We therefore work hard to ensure all staff have the support and infrastructure they need to take care of their wellbeing
• Part of a Network: Ark Start is part of Ark, a charity that aims to transform children’s lives through education. Ark operates a network of 39 schools across London, Birmingham, Portsmouth, and Hastings as well as a number of charitable ventures. Being part of a network means our staff get access to the opportunities, infrastructure, and support of a large organisation.

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. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective.

Safeguarding statement

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. 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. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend on the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred.