Early Years Practitioner

We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and dynamic Early Years Practitioner to join our team.
Birkenhead School, awarded the Sunday Times Independent Secondary School of the Year in the North West for 2025, was founded in 1860. It is an HMC independent day school providing education for boys and girls drawn from the whole of the Wirral, Liverpool and as far afield as Chester and North Wales.Situated in the leafy suburb of Oxton, the School enjoys excellent facilities. The main campus has a village green atmosphere, with classrooms and laboratories looking out over the cricket square. Recent capital developments have included a new landscaped playground area and an outdoor classroom.
Birkenhead School prides itself on being a family school and this has been greatly strengthened by the opening of the Nursery in 2006. It is attractive to parents to have all their children in one school and it is a great advantage for the school to be able to establish strong, long-lasting relationships with families.
A key feature of the School is its strength of community which runs through the student, staff and parental bodies. The School is embedded within the wider Wirral community, and has strong links with local business and charities.
Birkenhead School recruits on attitude as much as the quality of an individuals qualifications on paper, an approach that has played a considerable role in the winning of the Sunday Times award in short, staff go above and beyond.
The Early Years provision starts at 8.00am and continues until 6.00pm, looking after children aged 3 months to 5 years. The Nursery operates year-round with the exception of Bank Holidays and two weeks at Christmas. The Nursery has its own secure building and garden area, and it is from here that our young childrens journey of discovery begins.
Key Responsibilities:

• Promote an atmosphere of care and enthusiasm whilst providing the day-to-day care of children
• Ensure that children reach their full potential
• Ensure the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation is met at all times
• Carry out all responsibilities in line with current legislation
• Implement policies and procedures for the Early Years Foundation as set out by the School

Key Duties:

• Supervise, plan and lead childrens development
• Provide care and stimulation for the children according to the individual stages of development
• Work as part of a team of Early Years practitioners
• Make observations and assessments of the children under the guidance of the Room Supervisors
• Ensure all records for the children allocated are up to date and complete
• Ensure the room is safe and free from potential hazards
• Develop relationships with parents and carers so that childrens development may be supported
• Plan and provide safe, appropriate, child-led and adult initiated experiences, activities and play opportunities indoors and outdoors, which enable children to develop and learn.
• Practice and promote current legal requirements, national policies and guidance on health and safety, safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children.

Skills and Knowledge

• Level 3 qualified in Early Years
• Working knowledge of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage with the ability to implement policies
• Minimum of 2 years experience in a childcare setting
• A sound knowledge of child development
• Experience of working with a variety of different child ages
• An understanding of effective behaviour management strategies desirable, with a confidence in promoting positive behaviour in children
• Knowledge of SEND, Code of Practice and Child Protection and Safeguarding procedures

The full list of responsibilities can be found on the School website under Employment Opportunities.
Hours

This is a permanent role, covering 4 days per week. The post holder will be required to work as necessary to carry out the duties of the role. All staff are expected to attend training days.

Holiday

You will be entitled to 35 days holiday per year pro rata including the Christmas shutdown and Bank Holidays.

Pension

Candidates will be auto-enrolled into the defined contribution Pension Scheme.

Other Benefits

We will value and support your contribution to School life and in return provide you with excellent rewards;

• Working with fantastic children in a unique and happy environment
• Working as part of a committed and well-qualified team
• Membership of the Pension Scheme with Life Assurance
• Wellbeing support provided through an Employee Assistance Programme
• Fee discount for own children of permanent staff
• Free use of the fully equipped on-site gym
• Generous support for your continuous professional development
• Lunch provided
• Relaxed uniform policy (smart trousers/blouse/top and appropriate footwear)

A letter of application indicating skills and experience, together with a completed application form, including the names and email addresses of at least two referees, should be sent for the attention of the Head of Early Years via Cheryl Wallace (Personnel Manager).
To meet our safeguarding obligations, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check is undertaken as part of the recruitment process for all new staff. As Birkenhead School is an educational provider, it is permitted to ask whether an applicant has any convictions, cautions, reprimands or final warnings which would not be filtered in line with current guidance, as defined by The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020). It is a criminal offence for an individual who is barred from working with children to apply for a role which is classed as regulated activity.
Closing Date – Monday 17th February 2025
We reserve the right to close this vacancy when we are in receipt of sufficient applications. Should you wish to apply for this post you are advised to complete and submit your application form as soon as possible.

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