At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a room in delivering high-quality early years education and care for children.
- Company: Spring Oscars, a nursery committed to diversity and inclusion.
- Benefits: 25 days annual leave, professional training, flexible family packages, and discounts at 15,000 retailers.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Level 3 early years qualification and experience in an early years setting.
The predicted salary is between 28000 - 28000 € per year.
Location: Witham
Salary: up to £28,000 per annum
Contract/Hours: Permanent/Full Time – 40 hours per week
Closing date: Midnight on the 22nd May 2026
Benefits:
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Professional qualifications and excellent training
- Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages
- Up to 5% employer contribution and life assurance cover
- Blue Light Card eligibility with discounts at 15,000 national retailers
About the role:
As a Senior Early Years Practitioner, you’ll play a key role in the nursery’s daily routine, leading your room to deliver high quality early years education and care for all children. You will plan, implement and review engaging activities that promote learning and development in line with the EYFS, ensuring every child thrives in a safe, stimulating, and inclusive environment. In this role, you will support and guide other practitioners, model best practice, and help maintain strong, positive partnerships with parents and carers. You'll be responsible for completing accurate and up-to-date observations, assessments, and records.
What you’ll be doing:
- Leading the staff within the room on providing learning programmes for individual or groups of children appropriate to their needs and developmental stages in accordance with Early Years legislation and guidance.
- Supporting children with emerging or established special educational needs, working closely with families, staff, external agencies, and professionals to ensure each child's needs are understood and met.
- Ensuring the compliance and application of nursery policies and procedures and relevant legislative requirements, informing management immediately of any instances of non-compliance or variations in practices.
- Contributing to and participating in the wider nursery management through leading on specific areas of development within the nursery, as directed by the Nursery Manager.
- Preparing and supervising dedicated areas/rooms within the setting on specific working patterns through planning, monitoring of outcomes, managing ratio of children, and the provision of a stimulating and appropriate range of activities whilst ensuring health and care needs are met.
What we need from you:
- Level 3 early years and childcare qualification e.g., NNEB, CACHE, NVQ Level 3 in Childcare and Education.
- A thorough knowledge of children's developmental needs from 0 to 5 years.
- Experience working and leading in an early year setting.
- Strong planning, observation, and reflection of children and their learning.
- Effective communication skills across multiple age groups.
- Paediatric First Aid qualification.
Diversity, Equality and Inclusion:
At Spring Oscars we’re dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian therefore, all applicants are expected to have an understanding of and commitment to safeguarding best practice.
Senior Early Years Practitioner in Essex employer: Spring Nurseries by Action for Children
At Spring Oscars, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and nurturing work environment for our Senior Early Years Practitioners in Witham. With competitive salaries, generous annual leave, and a commitment to professional development through excellent training opportunities, we empower our staff to thrive while making a meaningful impact on children's lives. Our inclusive culture and strong emphasis on diversity ensure that every team member feels valued and supported, making it a rewarding place to grow your career in early years education.
Contact Detail:
Spring Nurseries by Action for Children Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Early Years Practitioner in Essex
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the early years sector and let them know you're on the hunt for a Senior Early Years Practitioner role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Get social! Follow nurseries and early years organisations on social media. Engage with their posts and share your insights on early years education. This can help you get noticed and show off your passion for the field.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to early years education. Think about how you would lead a room, support children with special educational needs, and ensure compliance with nursery policies. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of resources to help you ace your application and land that dream job as a Senior Early Years Practitioner. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Early Years Practitioner in Essex
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Early Years Practitioner role. Highlight your relevant experience and qualifications, especially those that align with the EYFS and children's developmental needs.
Showcase Your Passion:Let your enthusiasm for early years education shine through in your application. Share specific examples of how you've made a positive impact in previous roles, and why you're excited about leading a room at our nursery.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon, making it easy for us to see your qualifications and experience without wading through unnecessary fluff.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. This ensures we receive all your details correctly and gives you a chance to explore more about us and what we stand for!
How to prepare for a job interview at Spring Nurseries by Action for Children
✨Know Your EYFS Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. Brush up on how it applies to planning and implementing activities for children aged 0-5. Being able to discuss specific examples of how you've used the EYFS in your previous roles will show that you’re the right fit for the Senior Early Years Practitioner position.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Room Lead, you'll be guiding other practitioners, so highlight your leadership experience. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led a team or mentored colleagues in the past. This will demonstrate your ability to foster a positive environment and support your peers effectively.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific situations, especially regarding children's needs and compliance with nursery policies. Think about scenarios where you’ve had to adapt your approach for children with special educational needs or how you’ve ensured safety and compliance in your previous roles.
✨Engage with Parents and Carers
Since building strong partnerships with parents is key, be ready to discuss how you've effectively communicated with families in the past. Share examples of how you’ve involved parents in their child's learning and development, as this will show your commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment.
