Nursery Practitioner | Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust

Are you passionate about giving children the best start in life? Would you like a job where you can make a difference that could last a lifetime? A job where you can watch children learn, grow and flourish? If this sounds like you, please apply to join our friendly team.

At Honey Bees, the children’s learning and interests are our priority. You’ll find us encouraging the children’s curiosity by exploring the outdoor environment, getting messy and creative, making and baking, inventing and imagining…and after all that some of our little ones may have a snooze in the garden! Every day is different with unlimited possibilities that can make a day magical.

To be successful in the role you will need to be qualified to a minimum level 3 in Childcare or equivalent.

• To maintain a high standard of care for every child.
• To be aware of all needs of the children who attend the nursery and encourage their development in every area.
• Plan activities using Birth to Five Matters curriculum as guidance to ensure your key children have effective Individual Development Maps that link to planning and provide observations recording their development.
• To ensure key children’s Learning Journeys are kept up to date and regularly reviewed.
• In conjunction with this work with the parent to ensure they understand the relevance of the Learning Journey and the importance of the input they have in them.
• To work efficiently and competently as part of a team, ensuring staff are informed of any changes that may affect the children or nursery.
• Provide support to your colleagues ensuring ratios are maintained.
• To attend monthly team meetings after 5.30pm.
• Be flexible to provide cover as required.

You will work either a 7.00am to 3.15pm shift OR a 9.15am to 5.30pm shift on alternating days. This is a 7.5‑hour shift, totalling only 37.5 hours per week. We have excellent transport links; Norbiton Station is at the end of the road and there are numerous buses that stop on the hospital site or at the end of the road.

You’ll be caring for our little ones aged under 2 years old, maintaining Ofsted ratios in groups of no more than 9 per room, alongside another qualified staff member.

You’ll be joining a fantastic team of experienced nursery practitioners who love what they do. We’re based onsite at Kingston Hospital, so we only look after children whose parents work at the hospital. This unique setting allows us to become fully immersed in the hospital community, with both our staff and children actively participating in hospital events and initiatives. Our focus is on providing rich learning experiences for our children. From exploring local parks like Richmond Park and Hampton Court to exciting adventures in London, we believe in creating opportunities for growth and development. We encourage your creativity and welcome your ideas to enhance our children's learning experience.

Our last Ofsted rating in February 2024 was a solid "Good", with the inspector stating "Children are confident and happy in this extremely nurturing environment. The home‑from‑home feel and the strong relationships children have with staff help them to thrive at nursery and feel emotionally secure."

Please ensure that you have read the job description and person specification and that your supporting statement reflects these, as your application will be assessed and scored against these criteria. If you possess the magic and sparkle that makes every child feel special, can pretend to be a cat or Prince at the drop of a hat, can read a story and sing in front of a varied audience, and enjoy exploring the local environment—even if it means getting wet and muddy—this might be the perfect job for you. With a heightened sense of smell to seek out a smelly nappy and the ability to count small, fast‑moving little people, you might just be the person we are looking for. If this raises a smile and you can say yes to most of these questions, we would love to hear from you.