Baby Room Leader (Level 3+)
Orchard Kingston at Park Hill School | Kingston upon Thames, Surrey (KT2)
Permanent | Full-Time | 40 Hours per Week | Up to £33,495 per annum (DOE)
Ready to lead a baby room where children feel safe, secure and ready to explore?
At Orchard Kingston at Park Hill School, we believe that the earliest years of a child's life provide the foundations for everything that follows. That's why we're passionate about creating a warm, nurturing environment where babies and young children feel secure, develop strong relationships and are encouraged to explore the world around them—and where our team feels supported, valued and able to grow.
Set within the grounds of Park Hill School in Kingston upon Thames, our nursery provides a welcoming and stimulating environment where children can learn through play, exploration and meaningful experiences. As part of Inspired Learning Group, you'll enjoy the close-knit feel of a friendly nursery while benefiting from excellent training, support and genuine career progression opportunities across our growing family of independent schools and nurseries.
We're looking for an experienced and passionate Baby Room Leader with a minimum Level 3 Early Years qualification to lead our baby room. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced practitioner who understands the unique needs of babies and young children and is ready to take responsibility for leading a room, supporting a team and ensuring every child receives the very best care and education.
What you'll be doing
As Baby Room Leader, you'll take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the baby room, providing strong leadership while ensuring the highest standards of care, education and wellbeing for every child.
You'll:
- Lead and organise the day-to-day running of the baby room, ensuring it is a safe, welcoming and stimulating environment for babies and young children.
- Lead by example, supporting, motivating and developing your team to deliver consistently high standards of care and practice.
- Plan and provide age-appropriate, sensory and play-based experiences that reflect babies' individual interests, developmental stages and emerging needs.
- Develop strong, nurturing relationships with babies, providing consistent care and supporting their emotional wellbeing, confidence and sense of security.
- Take responsibility for the key-person approach within the room, ensuring babies develop secure and trusting relationships with their key people.
- Support children through settling-in periods and transitions, working closely with parents and carers to ensure these experiences are as positive and reassuring as possible.
- Observe, assess and record children's development, using your knowledge of the EYFS to identify appropriate next steps and plan meaningful experiences.
- Ensure children's individual routines, including sleep, feeding and personal care, are understood, respected and consistently followed.
- Build strong partnerships with parents and carers, sharing information about their child's day, development, progress and wellbeing.
- Mentor and support practitioners within your room, sharing knowledge and encouraging reflective practice and continuous improvement.
- Ensure records, observations, planning and room documentation are completed to a consistently high standard.
- Maintain excellent standards of safeguarding, health and safety, hygiene and infection control throughout the room.
- Work closely with the Nursery Manager and wider team to identify opportunities to improve practice and the experiences provided for children.
- Contribute to the wider life of the nursery and support colleagues across the setting when required.
- Act as a positive role model, promoting a caring, professional and child-centred culture within the nursery.
We're looking for someone who has:
- A DfE-approved Level 3 Early Years qualification (or above).
- Previous experience working with babies and young children in a nursery or Early Years setting.
- Previous experience in a Room Leader, Senior Practitioner or similar leadership role would be highly desirable.
- Strong knowledge of the EYFS, particularly the development and care of babies and under-twos.
- A good understanding of attachment, settling-in, key-person practice and the importance of responsive caregiving.
- Excellent leadership, communication and organisational skills.
- The confidence to support, mentor and motivate other practitioners.
- A warm, caring and nurturing approach with a genuine understanding of babies' individual needs.
- A strong understanding of safeguarding and children's welfare.
- A genuine passion for providing outstanding Early Years education and helping children get the very best start in life.
Why join Orchard Kingston?
We believe that when our people feel supported and valued, children benefit too. That's why we invest in our team and create opportunities for everyone to grow.
We offer:
- Salary up to £33,495 per annum, depending on qualifications and experience.
- Annual salary reviews.
- Discounted childcare.
- Free lunch during your working day.
- Generous holiday entitlement.
- Health and wellbeing support.
- Ongoing training and professional development.
- Career progression opportunities across Inspired Learning Group.
- A welcoming, experienced and supportive team.
- The opportunity to lead a dedicated baby room within a nurturing and inspiring nursery environment.
- The chance to develop your leadership skills and make a real difference to babies and their families.
Apply today and help give our youngest children the very best start in life.
For more information, please contact Danielle on 07542 605096 or [email protected].
Safeguarding Statement
Park Hill School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.
Successful applicants will be required to undergo enhanced DBS clearance, identity, qualification and employment checks, including exploration of any gaps in employment and the receipt of two satisfactory references.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received. Interviews will be held on a rolling basis.
INDHP
Pay: Up to £33,495.00 per year
Work Location: In person
