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- Tasks: Lead a team to create engaging learning experiences for young children.
- Company: Join Storkway Nursery, a supportive and highly-rated early years setting.
- Benefits: Enjoy 100% childcare discount, extensive training, and generous annual leave.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Level 3 Early Years qualification and experience in early education required.
- Other info: Access to mental health support and a vibrant workplace culture.
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Lead Early Years Educator to join our team at Storkway Nursery in Kidbrooke. Rated Good by Ofsted and 9.1 on Day Nurseries.
We are looking for a skilled lead early years educator, who will be a role model and enable the team to deliver high quality inclusive early years education and care.
What we offer:
We are proud to be part of the Early Years Alliance family of early years settings. Founded over 60 years ago, the Alliance is an educational charity dedicated to supporting the delivery of quality early years education and care to children and families.
The Alliance prides itself on being a supportive workplace and offers significant benefits for our team members including:
- 100% discount on childcare and early education places (applicable to staff working in our early years settings)
- Extensive training and career progression planning, including access to our Learning Management System (LMS)
- The Alliance has invested in FAMLY reducing paperwork and giving you more time to focus on the children.
- A generous workplace pension scheme
- 25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, with additional annual leave for long service.
- Birthday leave so you can have a day off for your birthday dedicated to you and your well being
- Enhanced sickness pay and paid bereavement leave
- A Recruitment Referral Payment Scheme, giving you an introductory payment of up to £300 if someone you have referred to the Alliance takes up a role in the charity.
- Access to our Employee Assistant Programme (EAP), which includes 24/7 helpline access, dedicated managers helpline, confidential counselling sessions delivered by accredited specialists, legal, debt and life management advice, discounts, and wellbeing content plus resources.
- Savings of up to 25% on O2 Refresh Airtime Plan on any new phone or tablets
- A dedicated mental health First aider to support your mental well being
Job purpose:
As the Lead Early Years Educator, you will:
- lead a team enabling them to provide creative and engaging learning opportunities for children.
- be a role model for the wider staff team, modelling sensitive and responsive interaction and extending children\’s learning
- be a proactive member of the team, providing a safe, stimulating, and inclusive environment
- support the nursery management team to deliver high-quality care and education in line with the setting\’s policies and procedures.
- be responsible for curriculum planning within the setting
- oversee the setting in the absence of the Assistant Manager and Manager.
Requirements:
Successful applicants for the Lead Early Years Educator position will need:
- a minimum Level 3 Early Years Education and Childcare qualification or equivalent.
- post-qualification experience in working in early education and childcare
- a sound understanding of child development and children\’s needs with an ability to plan and implement the curriculum in accordance with the Early Years Foundation Stage, taking into account the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice, safeguarding procedures and equality and diversity considerations
Also, you will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check if your current certificate is not subscribed to the update service.
For the full list of duties and the requirements, please download the job description and person specification which accompanies this advert.
Hours per week: 40
Weeks per year: 52
Lead Early Years Educator employer: Early Years Alliance
Contact Detail:
Early Years Alliance Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Early Years Educator
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the nursery! Before your interview, take some time to research Storkway Nursery and its values. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your storytelling skills! As a Lead Early Years Educator, you'll need to engage with children and staff alike. Prepare some examples of how you've created engaging learning experiences in the past to share during your interview.
✨Tip Number 3
Network with current employees! If you can, reach out to someone who works at Storkway Nursery. They can give you insider tips on what the team values and what to highlight about your experience.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We encourage you to submit your application directly on our site. It shows initiative and ensures your application gets to the right people quickly!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Early Years Educator
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for early years education shine through. We want to see how much you care about making a difference in children's lives and how you can inspire your team.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight your relevant experience and skills. We love seeing how your background aligns with our values and the specific requirements of the Lead Early Years Educator role.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured responses that get straight to the heart of your qualifications and experiences without unnecessary fluff.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this fantastic opportunity at Storkway Nursery.
How to prepare for a job interview at Early Years Alliance
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and any recent changes in early years education. Being able to discuss how you would implement this in your role will show that you're not just qualified, but also passionate about providing high-quality education.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Lead Early Years Educator, you'll be expected to lead a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed or supported a team in the past. Think about specific situations where you modelled best practices or helped colleagues improve their skills.
✨Engage with the Interviewers
Don't just answer questions; engage in a conversation! Ask thoughtful questions about the nursery's approach to inclusive education and how they support staff development. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect to be asked how you would handle specific situations, such as dealing with challenging behaviour or planning an engaging activity. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers clearly and effectively.
