Early Year Practitioner

Woodpecker Hall Academy is a primary school and nursery, a member of North Star Community Trust. The Trust supports communities through education, opportunity and support. At Woodpecker Hall, the children are at the heart of everything we do. We aim to provide an excellent education in a safe, nurturing environment with staff who care deeply and go above and beyond. Our children consistently achieve strong results in the borough, with progress and attainment above national averages. We are ranked in the top 5% of schools nationally and have received a national Silver Award for Primary School of the Year.

Join our nursery team as an Early Years Practitioner, where you will help create a safe, nurturing and inspiring environment in which every child can thrive. Working with the EYFS and leadership team, you will support the day-to-day running of the nursery, delivering high-quality care, learning and development through an engaging Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum.

As a Key Person, you will build strong, positive relationships with children and their families, supporting each child’s individual learning journey and promoting their wellbeing, confidence and development. You will work collaboratively with colleagues, parents and external professionals to ensure every child receives the support they need to reach their full potential.

This role offers an opportunity for a caring, enthusiastic and committed practitioner who is passionate about early years education and dedicated to providing outstanding experiences for young children. You will also help maintain high standards of safeguarding, health and safety, and regulatory compliance, contributing to a positive, inclusive and stimulating environment where children can learn, grow and flourish.

• Support the day-to-day running of the nursery and deliver high-quality care, learning and development within the EYFS.
• Build strong, positive relationships as a Key Person with children and their families, supporting each child’s learning journey and wellbeing.
• Collaborate with colleagues, parents and external professionals to ensure children receive the support they need to reach their potential.
• Maintain safeguarding, health and safety standards and regulatory compliance in daily practice.
• Contribute to a positive, inclusive and stimulating environment where children can learn, grow and flourish.

• Understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and commitment to creating a safe, inclusive and stimulating environment.
• Excellent teamwork with strong communication and interpersonal skills; able to build positive relationships with children, parents, colleagues and external professionals.
• Experience in observing and assessing children’s development, planning engaging learning experiences, and adapting activities to meet the needs of every child, including those with SEND or additional needs.
• Organised, reliable and able to manage daily routines while maintaining accurate records and contributing to high-quality teaching and learning.
• Strong commitment to safeguarding and promoting children’s wellbeing; able to remain calm, patient and nurturing in a busy nursery environment.
• Reflective practitioner with willingness to develop professionally and to work collaboratively to improve outcomes for children.
• Values of kindness, inclusion and excellence, with a focus on encouraging curiosity and a lifelong love of learning.

We are committed to being a supportive, caring and rewarding place to work and learn, and to being an employer of choice. A full overview of our offer, including staff benefits and our People Plan, is available in the supporting documents attached.

We are fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will undergo safer recruitment checks, including enhanced clearance through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and any other pre-employment checks relevant to their role.

We are committed to fostering a positive and inclusive working culture that reflects our Trust's ethos of being Stronger Together. The Trust promotes equality of opportunity for all and aims to create a working environment where all individuals can use their skills free from discrimination or harassment, and where decisions are based on merit.