Support Worker – Early Years / Additional Needs
Location: Howden Pre-School, The Chicks @ Church Hall, Howden
Contract: Fixed-term contract until July 2027, with the possibility of extension
Hours: Term time only – Monday 8am–12pm, Tuesday 8am–6pm, Thursday 8am–3pm
Total: 21 hours per week
Pay: £12.71
Start date: September 2024
About the role
We are looking for a caring, patient and enthusiastic Support Worker to provide dedicated one-to-one support to a very young child within our nurturing preschool environment.
This is a rewarding opportunity for someone who is passionate about supporting babies and young children with additional needs and helping them to feel safe, secure, included and confident.
The child has complex medical, sensory, physical and developmental needs and requires a high level of supervision, care and individual support throughout the day. The successful candidate will work closely with the child's parents, our SENDCo, key person and wider professional team to ensure that she is supported safely and consistently.
What you will be doing
You will provide warm, responsive and consistent support throughout the child's day, including:
- Providing close supervision and ensuring the child's safety at all times.
- Supporting her physical, sensory, communication and social development.
- Developing a trusting relationship and helping her to feel secure within the preschool environment.
- Supporting separation from parents and helping her settle into preschool.
- Providing nurturing one-to-one interaction, play and communication.
- Using songs, rhymes, peek-a-boo, sensory activities and Intense Interaction to encourage communication and engagement.
- Following her individual cues and responding sensitively to her communication, including facial expressions, movements, gestures and vocalisations.
- Supporting her gross motor development through appropriate floor-based play and movement opportunities.
- Supporting feeding, nappy changing and other personal care routines in accordance with her needs and the setting's procedures.
- Following her individual support plan, medical guidance and risk assessments.
- Maintaining a safe environment and taking particular care to minimise risks associated with her physical and sensory needs.
- Following allergy and emergency medication procedures in accordance with her individual healthcare plan and the setting's policies.
- Working closely with parents and the preschool team and sharing relevant information about her day and progress.
The child's support plan emphasises the importance of constant support, engagement, understanding and patience, alongside lots of supervision and encouragement to support her development.
About you
We are looking for someone who is:
- Warm, nurturing and genuinely enjoys working with babies and very young children.
- Patient, calm and emotionally responsive.
- Confident providing close one-to-one support.
- Able to recognise and respond to non-verbal communication and subtle cues.
- Reliable and consistent, as building a trusting relationship with the child will be an important part of the role.
- Comfortable supporting personal care, including feeding and nappy changing.
- Able to follow detailed care plans, risk assessments and medical procedures.
- A good communicator who is able to work positively with parents and other professionals.
- Passionate about inclusion and enabling every child to participate and make progress.
- Prepared to undertake any relevant training required for the role, including emergency medication and specialist support training.
Experience of working with children with SEND, complex medical needs, allergies, sensory or physical needs, or developmental differences would be advantageous, but we are also interested in hearing from people with the right attitude, values and transferable experience.
What we can offer
- A rewarding role where you can make a genuine difference to a young child's development and wellbeing.
- A supportive and friendly early years team.
- The opportunity to develop your experience in SEND and early years practice.
- Training and support to help you understand and meet the child's individual needs.
- A role where you can build a meaningful relationship with the child and work closely with her family.
- The possibility of the role being extended beyond July 2027, subject to ongoing funding and the child's support requirements.
How to apply
If you are a kind, patient and enthusiastic person who feels you could make a positive difference in this child's life, we would love to hear from you.
Please send your CV and a short covering letter explaining why you are interested in the role and any relevant experience
Closing date: 6/9/26
Early Explorers Community Pre-Schools is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful applicant will be subject to appropriate pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.
Pay: £12.71 per hour
Expected hours: 21.0 per week
Work Location: In person
