Apprentice Early Years Educator

Join to apply for the Apprentice Early Years Educator role at Cherubs Nurseries.

Reports To: Nursery Manager

Annual Leave: 20 days plus bank holidays

Our nurseries are currently open from 7:30am-6pm, but these can change from time to time. Our current shift patterns start from 7:20am and finish at 6:20pm. Generally, we like our team to work over 5-days, but will try and accommodate 4-day weeks for those that prefer to consolidate their hours. To ensure our nurseries run compliantly, your shift patterns will vary each week unless we have agreed Flexible Working with you. As part of your role, some evening and weekend work will be required. This will be paid or given back as TOIL - and we will let you know arrangements ahead of time.

As an Apprentice Early Years Educator, you will be responsible for supporting your fellow Educators to deliver all aspects of our award-winning service including:

• Facilitating purposeful learning opportunities
• Meeting each child’s individual needs
• Ensuring our high standards are maintained in all areas of your nursery setting

Alongside this, you will be training towards your ICQ Level 2 or ICQ Level 3 Diploma in Children’s Learning and Development (Early Years Educator), through the Cherubs Nurseries Academy. This will include a range of on-the-job learning including coursework, practical assessment and regular meetings with your Assessor.

Due to the changing nature of the service we provide, this job description will not be an exhaustive list of all your duties. Cherubs Nurseries reserves the right to amend this job description should it be deemed necessary. You have a personal and professional responsibility to inform us immediately of any change in your circumstances that might affect your suitability to work with children.

Description of Duties

• Deliver an amazing service, for both our children and families
• Work as part of the Childcare Team to provide an amazing service, for both our children and families
• Assist in ensuring the children’s environment is safe, secure and clean at all times
• Develop an awareness of safeguarding policies and ensure they are adhered to
• Be a role model for the children at all times, whilst demonstrating best practice to your colleagues
• Ensure all toys, equipment and furniture is kept clean and in good working order, sterilising toys when necessary or required by policy
• Assist in the supervision of meal times, ensuring this remains a learning opportunity for the children where positive eating practices are learnt and developed
• Give parents and carers a warm welcome and concise handover at the end of the day
• Ensure you are up to date and compliant with all Cherubs Nurseries policies and procedures

Take Ownership

• Take ownership in everything, always being honest and transparent
• Ensure paperwork is completed correctly, accurately and on-time
• Complete Blossom for all your key children, ensuring you meet targets and provide detailed and relevant accounts for each child, underpinned by the EYFS
• Take pride in your room and nursery, ensuring it is presented well with organised resources, engaging displays with an inviting layout

Commit

• Commit to continuous improvement, always strive to be and do the best
• Present yourself in a professional manner at all times, always “dressed for service”
• Ensure confidentiality is maintained at all times both inside and outside of the workplace
• Work towards your qualification in childcare, ensuring all targets are met and you are always up to date with any assigned coursework
• Attend both in-house and external training, as required. Some of this may be outside of working hours, for example on a weekend
• Complete all PLA training that is relevant to your role, ensuring this is completed within 7-days of issue

Embrace

• Embrace creativity and innovation - these are what keep our service fresh, unique and inspiring
• Assist in the thorough planning and successful delivery of a variety of activities (both indoor and outdoor) to maintain the children’s interests and to ensure the development of all children in-line with their own needs

Build

• Build a positive and progressive team environment where everyone is united and able to shine
• Work under the direction of your Nursery Manager, Assistant Nursery Manager and Senior Early Years Educators - absorbing their knowledge and experience to enhance your own
• Ensure any information you receive is shared with the relevant people and in a timely manner
• Establish and maintain friendly but professional relationships with all parents, staff and suppliers
• Attend all staff events including parents evening, staff meetings and summer fairs, some of these may be out of hours and on weekends
• Undertake any other duties which may reasonably be regarded as within the nature of your duties

Your Qualifications and Experience

• GCSE Level Pass (4 or above) in both English and Maths. However, these are not essential as you can complete these as Functional Skills, as part of your qualification
• Experience of caring for children, such as babysitting