Monday to Friday

The Hawthorns School -
Bletchingley

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Job details

12 days ago

Qualifications

Early childhood education
Paediatric First Aid Certification

Full job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Early Years Nursery Practitioner

Promote and exemplify the School Mission:
‘To prepare each child for life and inspire a love of learning.’

Promote the School Values:

Respect, Kindness, Courage, Honesty, Resilience

A warm family atmosphere

The pursuit of excellence

A generosity of heart

A robust vitality

1. Job Purpose

To support the Room Leader in the smooth running of the nursery classroom.

To deliver high standards of care, child development and learning for the nursery children in a

welcoming, caring and safe environment.

To comply with all regulatory requirements, including the EYFS.

2. Relationships

The post holder reports to the Room Leader.

The post holder is also accountable to the Nursery Manager and/or Assistant Nursery Manager.

Develop and maintain positive relationships with children, colleagues and parents or carers.

3. Key Responsibilities

Child Development and Learning:

Maintain a stimulating, engaging and interactive learning environment for all children.

To lead activities for a group of children.

To assist with the planning and delivery of the daily programme of purposeful play activities to suit

the children’s needs and stages of development, supporting and promoting each child’s learning.

To guide and monitor children’s progress, provide feedback to the Room Leader on pupil progress;

assessing and observing where required to help inform children’s developmental next steps.

Be proactive in embedding classroom routines so children are continually supported.

Be a key person to a number of children, providing a secure attachment figure to help children

settle, meeting their care needs such as feeding, sleeping and nappy changes, planning for your
key children’s needs and interests and monitoring and supporting their development.

To complete the children’s learning journals and assessment of progress in Nursery.

Liaise regularly with parents about their child’s needs, interests, and progress.

Ensure records of the children’s day are completed and the details communicated to parents.

Ensure effective working practice is followed including safeguarding and adhere to all School

policies and procedures.

Health & Safety:

Support children’s weaning and eating needs, encouraging children to eat and drink when

required. Record and communicate children’s daily eating and toileting habits.

Ensuring effective supervision at mealtimes and that all dietary requirements are adhered to for

children within your room.

Undertake daily risk assessments e.g. locking gates, spillage of water, monitoring the condition of

toys and equipment and reporting any health and safety concerns to the Room Leader.

Always maintain a clean and safe environment both inside and outside.

Working within the School’s Health and Safety Policy to ensure a safe environment for the

children, their parents and carers, the nursery team, and any visitors to the Nursery.

Pastoral and Wellbeing:

To be sensitive to the needs of all children.

Promote positive values, attitudes, and good behaviour of children.

Promote positive professional relationships with the Nursery team.

General:

Work as part of the whole nursery team and take on additional responsibilities as required.

Be available to work in any areas of the Nursery, undertaking the care and supervision of the

children and ensuring its smooth running.

To carry out playtime and lunchtime duties as required.

Reappraising professional performance, keep up to date with EYFS requirements & best practice.

Engaging actively in the performance review process and participate in CPD opportunities.

Attend meetings and INSET, as required.

Ensure confidentiality is maintained in the nursery.

4. Safeguarding Children

The post holder’s responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons,
for whom s/he is responsible, or with whom s/he comes into contact, will be to adhere to and ensure
compliance with the School’s Child Protection Policy Statement at all times. If in the course of carrying
out their duties, the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of
children in the school s/he must report any concerns to one of the School’s Designated Safeguarding Leads
or to the Headmaster.

This job description is not intended to be all embracing and the post holder shall be required to carry out
other duties as necessary and required, commensurate with training and experience.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Early Years Nursery Practitioner

Essential Criteria Desirable Criteria

Qualifications
& Training

Minimum Level 2 childcare

Level 3 childcare qualification

Paediatric First Aid

Basic Food Hygiene

Evidence of CPD

Experience

Experience of Early Years Education

Experience of providing care and

education to children with a wide
range of needs and abilities

Minimum of 2 years’ experience

within a childcare setting

Experience of working in the

independent sector

Knowledge &
Understanding

Strong understanding of early

childhood development and
learning

Good knowledge of the EYFS

curriculum

Knowledge and commitment to

child protection, health and safety,
equal opportunities and
SEN/inclusion

Knowledge of health and safety

practices and procedures

Excellent knowledge of how to

provide for the needs of babies and
young children

An understanding of the

independent school sector

Skills & Abilities

Able to provide consistently high

levels of quality care and education
opportunities to all children

Caring, friendly, approachable,

open, welcome and personable

Proactive and positive team player,

able to work constructively as part
of a team

Able to work under direction but

use own initiative

Able to maintain confidentiality

Able to carry out light physical

duties to include lifting children
and setting up resources

Reflective approach and

commitment to personal
development

Ability to observe and assess

children’s development

Record keeping and reporting

Adaptable and flexible and the

ability to cope with changing needs

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