Job Title: Room Leader (Seedlings Room)
Responsible to: Deputy Manager / Manager
Responsible for: Early Years Practitioners / Apprentices / Students
Hours: 40 hours a week
Salary: £13.70 per hour
Schedule: Monday – Friday
Job Overview
To provide a high standard of care for all children through leading an effective team, an enrich, safe and educational environment and ensuring your team are meeting the needs of all individual children through social, emotional, educational and practical interactions, nurturing and guidance.
Organisation Context
Squirrels Nursery is a welcoming and nurturing early years setting, housed within Willow Trees Community Centre, rated Good by Ofsted in 2024. We provide flexible childcare 51 weeks a year and our modern facilities include a sensory room, outdoor play area, safe sleeping spaces and hot meals, all designed to create a stimulating and inclusive environment. Our dedicated team helps children grow in confidence, creativity and curiosity.
YMCA Worcestershire is committed to supporting all young people, particularly in times of need. Our vision is an inclusive future, where everyone can reach their true potential. We are a registered social landlord providing housing and supported housing services to young people and a range of community and other services at a variety of locations.
Duties & Responsibilities
- To assist nursery team in providing a friendly, caring and relaxing environment in order to encourage and develop children in our care.
- Ensure children get the best start in life by working in close partnership with parents/carers to develop independence, confidence and self-esteem, building children’s resilience and wellbeing.
- Support staff development and work closely with other staff and professionals.
- To conduct 1:1’s and annual Staff Development and Performance Reviews.
- To communicate with parents and other visitors in a calm, friendly and efficient manner.
- To oversee an effective key worker system.
- To liaise with other Room Leaders to provide a smooth transition for children.
- To ensure your specific duties regarding Health and Safety and fire procedures are understood and action.
- To organise parent/keyworker and Room staff meetings.
- Responsible for opening and closing of the Nursery.
- Assist the Nursery Manager and Early Years childcare Manager in the management and leadership of a diverse staff team.
- To ensure feedback is given to parents in a constructive and encouraging manner.
- To prepare for and attend parent meetings out of hours, if necessary
Training & Meetings:
- To keep abreast of current issues and attend training as necessary.
- To undertake monthly staff meetings outside normal working hours when necessary.
- To attend room leader meetings.
- Undertake training if requested by the nursery manager
- To attend and participate at meetings as required.
- To encourage other staff members to participate in training or staff meetings
Flexibility:
- To be flexible in relation to undertaking the tasks of the Room Leader position.
Communication:
- To communicate with all relevant personnel, frequently, in a straightforward, accurate and professional manner and not to engage in unnecessary social conversations when working and supervising children
- To communicate frequently with the team members and parents as appropriate
Confidentiality:
The person appointed to this job shall not during the period of employment or at any time after the termination of employment disclose any confidential information in respect of the employer or information relating to the work, children, parents or staff participating or working in the service.
- To undertake the role of DSL leader and keep update with current legislation regarding safeguarding.
- To work within and maintain the context of the whole Nursery team
- To supervise staff and students in training and maintain a proactive and professional team.
- To ensure all daily routines are adhered to and records kept up to date.
- To maintain staffing levels, arranging cover when needed.
- To plan and carry out activities in line with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, Setting the Standards for Learning, Development and Care for children from birth to five, ensuring they meet with the Early Learning Goals.
- Further develop ‘free flow’ play.
- Ensure assessments and 2.5 years checks are regularly completed.
Person Specification/Key Competencies
Qualifications
- Must have a minimum level 3 Childcare Qualification or equivalent.
- Preferably hold a C or above in GCSE or equivalent, in mathematics and English
- Preferably hold up to date first aid, Child protection and food hygiene certificates.
Experience/Knowledge
- Significant post-qualification experience in a childcare setting working with children
- Expert knowledge in the provision of high quality care to children aged 3 months to 2 years
- Expert knowledge of Ofsted requirements, EYFS statutory requirement and EYFS development goals.
- Knowledge of health & safety requirements for the environment
Skills
- Good oral and written communication skills
- Able to lead and motivate a team
- Numerate
- Able to plan and manage own and others work load
- Highly effective supervision skills
- Good IT skills – Able to use Microsoft Office (Word and Excel) and e-mail
- Strong personal commitment to an understanding of equality of opportunity and diversity and its delivery.
Attributes
- Motivated with high energy levels
- Positive outlook
- Caring and friendly personality
- Reliable and responsible
- Flexible and adaptable
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £13.70 per hour
Expected hours: 40 per week
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Bereavement leave
- Childcare
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
