Senior Early Years Educator in Houghton-Le-Spring

About Chilton Meadows Day Nursery

For over 23 years, Chilton Meadows Day Nursery has proudly been a family-owned and family-run setting, deeply rooted in our community here in Houghton-le-Spring.

Our long-standing team has built more than just a nursery, we have created a safe and nurturing place of belonging, where children, families, and staff feel valued, supported, and truly at home.

Our mission is to provide high-quality early years care and education within a caring, positive, healthy and stimulating environment where everyone thrives.

Our practice is underpinned by the EYFS 2025 guiding principles

Unique Child, Positive Relationships, Enabling Environments, and Learning & Development , alongside Ofsted’s Early Years inspection framework.

Purpose of the Role

The Senior Early Years Educator plays a key role in delivering high-quality early years practice and supporting the consistency of provision across the nursery.

As a Senior Early Years Educator, you will lead practice across nursery and within a designated room, supporting colleagues, modelling high-quality interactions, and ensuring that children’s wellbeing, learning and development remain at the centre of daily practice.

This role bridges practitioner and leadership responsibilities, supporting Room Leads and management in maintaining high standards, promoting reflective practice, and ensuring positive outcomes for all children.

About the Role

The Senior Early Years Educator

• Leads practice within their designated room or area
• Supports and guides less experienced staff
• Contributes to consistency and quality across the nursery
• Works collaboratively with leadership to maintain standards
• Supports the implementation of the EYFS curriculum
• Promotes a safe, inclusive and nurturing environment
• The Senior Early Years Educator is accountable to the Nursery Manager and leadership team for the quality of practice within their room.

Key Responsibilities of a Senior Early Years Educator include

• Quality of Education and Curriculum Delivery
• Plan, deliver and evaluate developmentally appropriate activities in line with the EYFS
• Support a well-sequenced, engaging and ambitious curriculum
• Use observations and assessments to identify next steps and support progress
• Promote high-quality interactions that extend children’s learning
• Ensure all children are supported to make progress
• Create an enabling environment that supports independence, curiosity and exploration
• Room Leadership and Practice
• Lead a designated room, ensuring it is well organised, engaging and purposeful
• Ensure daily routines run smoothly and consistently
• Support colleagues to follow policies and procedures
• Model high standards of practice and professionalism
• Provide informal coaching and guidance to team members
• Support the induction of new staff within the room
• Safeguarding and Welfare
• Ensure the safety, wellbeing and supervision of children at all times
• Follow all safeguarding and child protection procedures
• Recognise and report concerns in line with nursery policy
• Support a strong safeguarding culture within the room
• Carry out personal care routines with dignity and respect
• Administer medication when required, ensuring accurate recording
• Behaviour, Wellbeing & Relationships
• Build strong, positive relationships with children, promoting belonging and security
• Support children’s emotional development and self-regulation
• Model positive behaviour and consistent expectations
• Support children through transitions and daily routines
• Promote kindness, respect and inclusive practice
• Assessment, Recording and Communication
• Complete accurate observations and assessments using the nursery’s systems (e. g. EY Works)
• Maintain up-to-date records of children’s learning and development
• Share information effectively with colleagues and leadership
• Contribute to progress tracking and planning
• Partnership with Parents and Carers
• Build strong, respectful relationships with parents and carers
• Share information about children’s development and wellbeing
• Support parents with guidance and reassurance where needed
• Maintain clear, professional and open communication
• Teamwork and Professional Practice
• Work collaboratively as part of a team
• Support a positive, inclusive and respectful working environment
• Engage in reflective practice and continuous improvement
• Attend staff meetings and training sessions
• Contribute to the wider development of the nursery
• Safeguarding Responsibilities

The Senior Early Years Educator must

• Follow all safeguarding policies and procedures
• Promote a vigilant and proactive safeguarding culture
• Report any concerns promptly and accurately
• Always maintain confidentiality

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is a core responsibility of this role.

Essential Qualifications and Requirements

• Full and relevant Level 3 qualification in Early Years Education
• Minimum Level 2 English and Maths
• Experience working within an Early Years setting
• Strong knowledge of the EYFS framework
• Enhanced DBS check (or willingness to obtain)
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills
• Confident ICT skills for recording and communication
• Commitment to CPD and reflective practice

Desirable

• Experience in a senior or room-based leadership role
• Paediatric First Aid
• Safeguarding training (up to date)
• Leadership and management qualification (or willingness to work towards)
• Experience supporting children with SEND
• Professional Standards & Expectations

The Senior Early Years Educator will

• Uphold the nursery’s ethos, values and commitment to belonging
• Demonstrate professionalism, integrity and consistency
• Model high expectations for children and staff
• Promote inclusive, nurturing and child-centred practice
• Support a culture of teamwork and positivity
• Performance and Accountability

Performance will be assessed against

• Quality of practice within the room
• Children’s progress and engagement
• Effectiveness of planning and assessment
• Contribution to team development
• Relationships with children, families and colleagues
• Adherence to policies and procedures
• Flexibility Clause

This job description outlines the main duties of the role.

It is not exhaustive and may be amended in line with the operational needs of the nursery, legislative updates or Ofsted requirements, following consultation with the post holder.

Benefits

• A beautiful newly extended and refurbished nursery.
• A friendly, supportive and experienced leadership team.
• Training, CPD and genuine career progression opportunities.
• Staff wellbeing, Christmas closure, team events and rewards.
• The opportunity to make a real difference every day.
• This is more than just a senior position.

It's an opportunity to lead, inspire, develop others and help shape the future of our nursery.

If you would like to be part of something different, and have high standards, care deeply about what we do and have lots of fun along the way then we’d absolutely love to hear from you!

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