Forest School Practitioner in Colchester

Pippins Montessori Day Nursery and Forest School in Colchester is part of Grandir UK, offering a salary of £26,666 to £28,288 per year (depending on experience and qualifications with regular pay reviews). Join a supportive, child-focused nursery that provides strong benefits, flexible working, and genuine career progression.

At Pippins Montessori Day Nursery and Forest School, you will be part of a welcoming and supportive team who genuinely care about one another. We create a positive working environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported to grow.

Set on a working farm in White Colne, our Montessori nursery and Forest School offers a unique, nature-inspired environment for children aged 3 months to 5 years, supporting independence and a love of discovery. Ofsted rated ‘Good’, we provide high-quality early years education in carefully designed spaces, including a cosy under-2s room and Montessori classroom. Our small, homely setting is loved by families.

Outdoor learning is central to our approach, with two accessible outdoor areas and a dedicated Forest School in nearby meadow and woodland, offering hands-on experiences in all weathers.

Located in the village of White Colne near Colchester, we are easily accessible, with nearby train stations at Marks Tey and Chappel & Wakes Colne.

What will you be doing:

• Promote high standards of quality within the nursery in respect of the environment, resources, and experiences offered to children.
• Assume key carer responsibilities for designated children.
• Ensure that all children attending the nursery receive rich and stimulating experiences appropriate to their age and stage of development.
• Prepare and support children’s activities.
• In the absence of the Team/Room Leader, maintain effective day-to-day management of the environment.
• Contribute to ensuring that practice and provision in the nursery meets the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
• Support and mentor students and unqualified staff to ensure delivery of high-quality childcare practice and maintain friendly, professional relationships with parents and carers.

Enhanced Family and Wellbeing Benefits:

• Maternity and adoption leave paid at 100 percent for the first 12 weeks.
• Paternity leave paid at 100 percent for 4 weeks.
• Parental bereavement leave up to 4 weeks paid.
• Compassionate leave up to 2 weeks paid.
• Miscarriage leave up to 2 weeks paid.
• Wellbeing Day, an extra day off just for you.
• The Grand Event, up to an additional week of annual leave to attend a significant life event after 2 years’ service.

Even More Benefits:

• Employee benefits portal with hundreds of retail discounts including ASOS, gym memberships, cinema, M and S, and major supermarkets.
• 24-hour remote GP appointments.
• Medical cashback for dental treatment, physiotherapy, and alternative therapies.
• Recognition, rewards, and team celebrations throughout the year, with May dedicated to celebrating our teams.
• Tailored in-house training and genuine progression opportunities.
• Sustainability focus with Carbon Literacy trained teams and Eco Schools accreditation.

Grandir UK is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. An enhanced DBS check is required for this role. We are an equal opportunity employer and recruit based on merit. To support our recruitment process, we may use AI-assisted tools for tasks such as application screening and reference checks. These tools help us manage applications efficiently, and all hiring decisions are made by our team. Apply today. We review applications as they are received and may close the role early.