Nursery Practitioner

Established in 2004, Little Owls is a purpose-built day nursery and pre-schoollocated in the heart of the Danbury countryside and less than 2 miles from the Chelmsford park and ride.

At Little Owls, we are committed to ensuring your child’s individual needs are fully catered for. Our childcare providers aim to deliver individualised learning and development opportunities to enhance the experiences of your child and give them the best possible start into school life.

We promote enjoyable and purposeful play that encourages learning and development in a safe, relaxed, healthy and fun atmosphere whilst encouraging discovery, wonder, adventure, challenge and a strong sense of belonging.

Vacancy

• 40 hours
• Shift patterns: 10 hour shifts, 4 days per week or 8 hour shifts, 5 days per week
• Salary: £24,000 to £28,000
• L3 Childcare qualification
• L2 applicants may be considered

• 24/7 Confidential Support: Access to trained counsellors and advisors any time, day or night.
• Mental Health Support: Assistance with stress, anxiety, depression, and emotional wellbeing.
• Workplace Guidance: Help with managing work-related stress, conflict, and performance concerns.
• Legal and Financial Advice: Free consultations on legal matters, debt management, and budgeting.
• Family and Relationship Support: Guidance on parenting, elder care, and relationship challenges.
• Digital Wellbeing Tools: Access to online CBT-based programmes via SilverCloud Health.
• Family Access: Immediate family members (aged 16+ and living at the same address) can also use the service.

Key Responsibilites

Promoting the Nursery

a)Maintain positive links with parents/guardians and within the local community

b)Effectively communicate information to prospective customers and provide guidance, support and reassurance to parents / guardians.

Care and Child Development

a)Implement and maintain high quality working practices to create an exceptional learning environment for all children within our care

b)Promoting the welfare of the children and ensure the children are kept safe and Child Protection Procedures are followed where necessary. To support the implementation of the curriculum in line with the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), Ofsted registration and Inspection criteria.

c)Facilitate the nursery’s learning environment and resources in order to facilitate the learning process, through effective planning in line with the Nursery’s curriculum.

d)Support the nursery in its delivery of EYFS, with special responsibility for coordinating principles or associated aspects relating to the Early Years Foundation Stage across the whole of the nursery.

e)To ensure all knowledge and information relating to their area of responsibility is kept up to date and to disseminate relevant information to the whole team.

f)Meeting requirements for the planning, observation, assessment and recording of children’s development.

g)Ensuring records of progress are maintained.

h)Maintain effective planning, assessment and record keeping.

i)Ensure parents/carers are kept fully informed and included in record keeping, monitoring and reviewing the progress of their child.

j)Establish and maintain relationships with the children to facilitate their learning and development and maintain relationships with parents and carers to further support the children.

k)Interacting with and supporting children to foster enthusiasm for learning.

l)Promote the use of informed observation and other strategies to monitor children’s activity, development and progress systematically and carefully and to use this information to inform, plan and improve practice and provision.

m)Prepare and use a range of resources suitable for children’s ages, interests and abilities taking into account of diversity promoting equality and inclusion.

n)Promote children’s rights, equality, inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice in all aspects of the setting.

o)Actively support the development of children’s language and communication skills.

p)Maintain a positive and proactive culture amongst practitioners in being able to identify and support children whose progress, development or well-being is affected by changes or difficulties in their personal circumstances, ensuring team members know when to refer them to colleagues for specialist support.

q)Under the guidance of the setting engage with local schools and Early Years Settings.

r)Promote equality of opportunity and positive behaviour management strategies.

Personal

a)Maintain a positive attitude at all times with children, parents, carers, visitors and work colleagues. Be enthusiastic and energetic in your role.

b)Work as a team with other team members and undertake any other duties as reasonably requests by line management.

c)Provide a role model attitude approach for less experienced team members by following best practice at all times.

d)Support team members with their day-to-day duties.

e)Motivate, be inspirational and support a team of early year’s practitioners in the delivery of best possible practice to meet the needs of parents, children and families.

f)Support team members in the skills and behaviours that safeguard and promote good outcomes for children.

g)Deliver high quality and effective tracking and progress of the children.

h)Have high expectations of all children and to demonstrate commitment to ensuring they can achieve their full potential.

i)Work with Room Leader implementing the EYFS curriculum to ensure a consistent approach.

Training

a)Learn about and keep abreast of current developments in childcare and education policy and practice. Attend regular team meetings, planning meetings and undertake training as required.

b)Support and mentor Apprentices and students completing training placements with the setting.

Finance

a)Support deploying of people and resources and equipment efficiently and effectively.

Facilities

a)Ensure efficient and effective use of available resources reflecting diversity.

b)Undertake a shared responsibility and to ensure the premises, garden and equipment are well maintained and meet Health and safety/EYFS requirements.

c)Ensure the nutritional needs of the children are met and the Food Safety Regulations are complied with.

Health and Safety

a)Take responsible care for the Health and Safety of themselves and colleagues who may be affected by acts or omissions at work.

b)Demonstrate the highest standard of hygiene and cleanliness of the children at all times. Ensuring the premises and the environment are safe, clean, tidy and well maintained to a high standard.

Quality Assurance

a)Adhere to all Company policies and procedures.

b)Work with the Management team and Inspectors during inspections by regulatory bodies and assist in the implementation of any recommendations made by those external bodies or recommendations made following a programme of internal audits.

Equal Opportunities

Little Owls Day Nursery and Pre-School actively promotes and are committed to equality and diversity for all our children and staff. Applicants will be considered on merit only, irrespective of race, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion or belief.

This post is classed as having a high degree of contact with children and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. An enhanced disclosure will be sought through the Disclosure Barring Service.

A copy of the Company’s Equal Opportunities Policy and Disclosure Information Policy is available upon request as well as forming part of our Employee Handbook.

The duties and responsibilities listed above describe the post as accurately as possible. However the post holder is expected to accept any reasonable alterations, which from time to time may be necessary.

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