Early Years Practitioner - Widcombe Acorns Forest School and Pre-School in Bath

Under the direction of the Pre-school leader, to provide safe, high-quality education and care for young children in a stimulating, enjoyable and inclusive environment.

Widcombe Acorns is a warm, loving and secure environment that values children’s ideas and views and constantly strives to promote well-being and confidence in all our children. We are an inclusive setting and as such we welcome children from all backgrounds and with all abilities. The staff team work very closely together to ensure the best possible outcomes for the children in our care.

We are looking for someone who has experience of working with pre-school children, who has a passion and drive and can work as part of a close-knit team of like-minded people. The successful applicant will need to be creative, calm, reassuring, fun, energetic and fit! They will need to be able to work in an incredibly busy, fast-moving environment and keep a good sense of humour and gaiety throughout the day and, of course, to genuinely care about children’s welfare.

Principal Accountabilities:

• To liaise with the team to plan and implement developmental programmes for the children.
• To promote an inclusive environment, welcoming all children and ensuring no child is discriminated on the grounds of disability, race, gender or cultural background.
• To support and deliver an incredible range of fantastically creative and innovative play and learning experiences for children, making full use of the indoor and outdoor environment throughout the year.
• To help to set up Acorns for the daily programme and to help tidy away at the end of the session, ensuring that all toys and equipment are safe and clean at all times.
• To be a key person to a small group of children, liaising closely with parents/carers and ensuring each child’s needs are recognised and met, and that written records of observations are maintained.
• To have a knowledge of ICT due to our children’s journals being on-line.
• To be aware of and respect the individual needs of children, their parents and carers, and to act at all times in accordance with the pre-school Operational Plan and policies, including those for special educational needs and equal opportunities.
• To keep completely confidential any information regarding the children, their families or other staff which is acquired as part of the job.
• To work with parents as partners in their child’s development.
• To attend in-service training courses as required and keep up to date with current good practice. To attend weekly staff meetings.
• To keep the Pre-school Leader informed of any concerns e.g. over children, safeguarding children, parents/carers or the safety of equipment.
• To carry out duties in accordance with health and safety regulations and procedures outlined in the Operational Plan, or any other relevant guidance that may be issued.
• To undertake any other reasonable duties as directed by the Pre-School Leader.

Safeguarding Statement: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Please note, if selected for an interview references and identity will need to be checked before the interview. If you are successful, we will request evidence of all relevant training and qualifications before your start date.

Start date: To start from April 2026. Hours: Monday to Friday, as required. Please note that Widcombe Acorns is open term time only. Hourly rate: depending on experience and qualifications. Closing date for applications: 2 April 2026.

Please email for an application form. Please telephone Emma Dodds 01225 445446 for any questions.

Widcombe Acorns Forest School and Pre-school, St Mark’s Community Centre, St Mark’s Road, Widcombe, Bath, BA2 4PA.