At a Glance
- Tasks: Create fun and engaging learning experiences for children in a nurturing environment.
- Company: Join Freshfields Nursery, part of the Family First group, dedicated to inspiring young minds.
- Benefits: Enjoy 24 days holiday, 75% childcare discount, and tailored career development opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team committed to equality and safeguarding.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while growing your career in early years education.
- Qualifications: Must have a Level 3 childcare qualification and a passion for working with children.
The predicted salary is between 13.61 - 13.61 £ per hour.
Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom | Posted on 17/06/2026 Permanent | 40 hours per week | Monday – Friday - £13.61 per hour / £28,308.80 per annum
Freshfields Nursery, part of the Family First group, is a nurturing and welcoming setting where children are encouraged to explore, discover, and develop through meaningful, play-based learning. We are passionate about creating inspiring environments that foster curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning.
Requirements
We are looking for a Nursery Practitioner – Level 3 to join our growing team and provide the highest standard of compliance, care and education for children and effectively manage daily operations of the nursery, including positive partnerships with management, colleagues and parents.
Why Join Us?
- Annual leave: 24 days’ holiday, plus bank holidays and an extra paid day off for your birthday
- Childcare discount: 75% off nursery fees for team members
- Wellbeing support: Access to a confidential Employee Assistance Programme helpline
- Learning and development: Tailored training and development opportunities to support your career growth
- Pension: Company pension scheme
- Employee discounts: Access to Perkaboo employee discounts
- Health and wellbeing: Dedicated health and wellbeing support
- Refer a Friend scheme: Earn up to £750 through our referral programme
Nursery Practitioner main duties and responsibilities
- Provide stimulating and purposeful experiences, environments, and resources to children, that are appropriate to their age and stage of development.
- Understand and ensure that the requirements of the statutory framework for the EYFS are met.
- Ensure the highest levels of cleanliness and hygiene in the nursery and promote these daily in every routine.
- Undertake any other duties to ensure the smooth running of the nursery, and the safety and wellbeing of children, staff, and families.
- Maintain strictly professional relationships and report any complaints or concerns to management in accordance with company policy and procedures.
- Facilitate a strong key person approach to enable children to form secure attachments and cover all children daily when colleagues are absent.
- Attend regular team meetings to ensure that you remain updated on key priorities, changes, developments and regularly review company policies and procedures.
Requirements and skills
- Full and relevant Level 3 childcare qualification – essential
- Fluent in written and spoken English – essential
- Over 1 year’s experience of working in Early Years – desirable
- Knowledge of the Statutory framework for the EYFS and regulatory requirements – desirable
We are committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. A Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate will be required for all posts. This post will be subject to enhanced checks as part of our Safeguarding Duty.
Freshfields is part of the Family First Group. Where we take great care to treat everyone as a person, with equal rights and responsibilities to any other individual, whether they are an adult or a child. We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and anti‑discriminatory practice for all children and families according to their individual needs. Discrimination on the grounds of gender, age, race, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, ethnic or national origin, or political belief has no place within the Family First Group.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Nursery Practitioner - Level 3
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Family First.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Family First!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Family First, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Family First or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Nursery Practitioner - Level 3
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Family First:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Family First! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Family First
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
