At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to deliver high-quality care and education for children aged 3 months to 5 years.
- Company: Join Bright Sparks, a top-rated early years nursery with a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Full-time role with a flexible rota, ensuring work-life balance.
- Other info: Be part of a valued team where your contributions matter!
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: NVQ Level 3 in Childcare and strong understanding of EYFS required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Come and join our Bright Sparks & Early Years Nursery, which has an excellent reputation as one of the very best early years settings in the area. We seek to appoint a Senior Nursery Practitioner to lead and support a team of early years staff to deliver high-quality care and education for children aged 3 months to 5 years. The ideal candidate will play a key role in planning, implementing, and evaluating activities that promote children’s development, while ensuring a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment.
Key Responsibilities are:
- Monitor and assess children’s progress, maintaining accurate records and reports.
- Lead and mentor a team of nursery practitioners and assistants.
- Plan and deliver age-appropriate activities in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
This role is perfect if you:
- Have a strong understanding of EYFS & child development
- Have excellent communication & interpersonal skills
- Are organised, proactive & have a flexible approach
- Have NVQ Level 3 in Childcare (or equivalent)
This vacancy is full time and all year round, Monday-Friday, 7am-6pm on a rota basis (typically 37 hours/week). Come and be part of a team where you’re valued, supported, and never bored!
To apply for the post, please complete our application form and return by Monday 1st June 2026. You can pop the form back to us by hand or via email to brightsparks@stmarys.lpool.sch.uk or to a.haigh@stmarys.lpool.sch.uk. Please address all applications to Alice Haigh, Head of Early Years.
We recommend submitting a covering letter alongside your application letting us know why you would like to work here at Bright Sparks and how you would fit nicely into our team. Shortlisting will be completed by Tuesday 2nd June and interviews will be held during week commencing 8th June 2026.
We are committed to the safeguarding of children and child protection screening will apply to this post. Come and be part of our team! Deadline for applications is Monday 1st June 2026. Any questions then do not hesitate to give us a call on 0151 932 0743 ask for Jill, Rebecca or Alice.
Senior Nursery Leader: EYFS Planning & Mentoring employer: Stmarys
At Bright Sparks & Early Years Nursery, we pride ourselves on fostering a supportive and dynamic work environment where every team member is valued and encouraged to grow. Our commitment to high-quality early years education is matched by our dedication to employee development, offering mentoring opportunities and a collaborative culture that ensures you are never bored. Join us in our vibrant setting, where your passion for nurturing young minds will be met with enthusiasm and support.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Nursery Leader: EYFS Planning & Mentoring
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the nursery's ethos and values before your interview. We want to see how you can fit into our Bright Sparks family, so do a bit of homework on what makes us tick!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your EYFS knowledge during the interview! We love candidates who can discuss age-appropriate activities and child development strategies, so come prepared with examples from your experience.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just focus on your qualifications; highlight your mentoring skills too! We’re looking for someone who can lead and inspire our team, so share stories about how you've supported others in their professional growth.
✨Tip Number 4
Finally, make sure to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Nursery Leader: EYFS Planning & Mentoring
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for early years education shine through! We want to see why you’re excited about joining our Bright Sparks team and how you can contribute to creating a nurturing environment for the little ones.
Tailor Your Covering Letter:Make sure to customise your covering letter to highlight your experience with EYFS and child development. We love seeing how your skills align with our values and the specific role, so don’t hold back on sharing relevant examples!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your qualifications and experiences are easy to read and understand. Bullet points can help us quickly grasp your key strengths!
Double-Check Everything:Before hitting send, give your application a thorough once-over. Typos and errors can distract from your amazing qualifications. We want to see your best work, so take the time to polish it up before submitting!
How to prepare for a job interview at Stmarys
✨Know Your EYFS Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework before your interview. Be ready to discuss how you’ve implemented it in past roles and how you plan to use it to promote children's development at Bright Sparks.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Senior Nursery Leader, you'll be mentoring a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led and supported others in previous positions. Highlight your communication style and how you foster a positive team environment.
✨Bring Your Creativity to the Table
Think about age-appropriate activities you could implement that align with the EYFS. Be prepared to share some ideas during the interview, showing your proactive approach to planning and delivering engaging learning experiences.
✨Demonstrate Your Commitment to Safeguarding
Since safeguarding is crucial in this role, be ready to discuss your understanding of child protection policies and how you ensure a safe environment for children. This will show that you take the responsibility seriously and are aligned with their values.
