PINE TREES NURSERYEarly Years Practitioner – 0–2 Years
Location: Pine Trees Nursery, Prestwick
Position: Early Years Practitioner – Babies & Toddlers
Age Group: 0–2 Years
Responsible to: Nursery Manager / Senior Early Years Practitioner
Growing Healthy, Happy ChildrenAbout Pine Trees Nursery
Pine Trees Nursery is a high-quality, private Early Learning and Childcare setting in Prestwick, providing a warm, nurturing and stimulating environment for children from birth to five years.
At Pine Trees, nurture is at the heart of everything we do. We pride ourselves on creating a genuine home-from-home environment where children feel safe, secure, loved and valued.
Our aim is simple: Growing Healthy, Happy Children.
We believe every child is unique and should be given the opportunity to develop at their own pace, build confidence and independence, explore their natural curiosity and reach their full potential through high-quality play, relationships and experiences.
The Role
We are looking for an experienced, caring and enthusiastic Early Years Practitioner to join our team, working primarily within our 0–2 years room.
This is a role where the quality of relationships really matters. Our youngest children need practitioners who are warm, patient and responsive and who understand the importance of secure attachments and consistent, loving care.
The successful candidate must have previous experience working with babies and children aged 0–2 within an Early Learning and Childcare setting and be confident in meeting the individual care, developmental and emotional needs of this age group.
Qualifications & Essential Requirements
Applicants must:
· Hold an appropriate Scottish Early Learning and Childcare qualification, or an equivalent qualification recognised for SSSC registration.
· Be registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) or be eligible to register within the required timescale.
· Meet all relevant PVG Scheme requirements for regulated work with children.
· Have previous Early Years experience, including experience working with children aged 0–2 years – essential.
· Demonstrate a sound understanding of child development, particularly during the first two years of life.
· Have a good understanding of current Scottish Early Learning and Childcare guidance and professional expectations.
· Be committed to ongoing professional learning and development.
Key ResponsibilitiesNurture, Care & Wellbeing
You will:
· Provide consistently warm, responsive and nurturing care.
· Build secure, trusting relationships with babies and young children.
· Get to know each child as an individual, recognising their cues, preferences, routines and needs.
· Support children’s emotional security and wellbeing through sensitive, consistent interactions.
· Provide high-quality personal care, including nappy changing, feeding and supporting individual sleep routines.
· Follow current safe sleeping practices and nursery procedures.
· Promote children’s dignity, privacy, comfort and wellbeing at all times.
· Provide reassurance, affection and emotional support appropriate to each individual child.
Learning, Play & Development
You will:
· Provide stimulating, developmentally appropriate play and learning opportunities.
· Create an environment that encourages exploration, curiosity and discovery.
· Support children’s early communication and language through conversation, singing, stories and responsive interactions.
· Provide appropriate sensory, physical, creative and outdoor experiences.
· Observe and recognise children’s individual development, interests and achievements.
· Use observations to inform responsive planning and appropriate next steps.
· Recognise the importance of everyday routines and interactions as valuable learning opportunities.
· Support children to develop confidence and increasing independence at an appropriate pace.
Safeguarding & Professional Practice
You will:
· Place children’s safety, wellbeing and protection at the forefront of your practice.
· Understand your individual responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and child protection.
· Recognise potential concerns and follow Pine Trees Nursery’s safeguarding procedures without delay.
· Work in accordance with relevant Scottish legislation, national guidance and best practice, including GIRFEC, Realising the Ambition, UNCRC principles and the current Quality Improvement Framework for Early Learning and Childcare.
· Follow nursery policies relating to infection prevention and control, allergies, medication, food safety, safe sleep, health and safety and personal care.
· Maintain accurate records and contribute to children’s personal plans.
· Maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries at all times.
· Take responsibility for maintaining and developing your professional knowledge.
Working in Partnership with Families
Building strong relationships with our families is an important part of the Pine Trees ethos.
You will:
· Welcome parents and carers warmly and professionally.
· Build positive, respectful and trusting relationships with families.
· Recognise parents and carers as key partners in their child’s care and development.
· Provide meaningful daily feedback about children’s experiences, routines, wellbeing and development.
· Listen to families and respect their knowledge of their individual child.
· Work collaboratively to provide consistency between home and nursery.
· Deal with questions and concerns sensitively and professionally.
Being Part of the Pine Trees Team
We believe high-quality childcare depends upon a strong, supportive and professional staff team.
As a Pine Trees practitioner, you will:
· Be a positive and supportive member of the nursery team.
· Communicate effectively and professionally with colleagues.
· Support the Room Leader and wider management team in maintaining high standards.
· Contribute to planning, staff meetings, self-evaluation and continuous improvement.
· Be reliable, punctual and organised.
· Demonstrate a positive attitude and willingness to help.
· Take responsibility for your own practice and professional development.
· Be confident in raising concerns if you believe children’s care, safety or wellbeing could be compromised.
· Contribute positively to the warm, welcoming atmosphere of Pine Trees Nursery.
The Person We Are Looking For
Above all, we are looking for someone who genuinely enjoys working with babies and very young children.
You should be:
· Warm, caring and naturally nurturing.
· Patient, calm and responsive.
· Experienced and confident in working with children aged 0–2.
· Passionate about Early Learning and Childcare.
· Attentive to children’s individual cues and needs.
· Comfortable providing all aspects of personal care.
· Knowledgeable about the importance of attachment and emotional security.
· Creative and enthusiastic about children’s learning.
· Professional and dependable.
· An effective communicator.
· A strong team player.
· Willing to learn, reflect and continually improve your practice.
What We Value
At Pine Trees Nursery, we want our practitioners to understand that caring for babies and young children is about much more than completing routines.
It is about relationships, trust, nurture and genuinely knowing the child.
Every interaction matters.
Every child deserves to feel safe, valued and loved.
We are looking for a practitioner who shares these values and wants to play an important role in giving our youngest children the very best start.
Pine Trees Nursery
Growing Healthy, Happy Children
Pay: £25,500.00-£28,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
