Level 3 Early Years Practitioners
Location: Apollo Nursery, Lydden, Dover
Pay: £13.25–£13.75 per hour, depending on experience and additional skills
Full-time equivalent salary: £27,560–£28,600 per year
Job type: Permanent
Working patterns: Full-time, part-time and term-time-only roles available
Start date: August/September/October 2026
Work location: In person
About Apollo Nursery
Apollo Nursery is an exciting new all-year-round nursery opening in Lydden for children aged six months to five years.
Our three pillars of learning, Wonder, Wellbeing and Wisdom, guide everything we do. We believe in providing real experiences, real learning and a real childhood within calm, nurturing and thoughtfully designed environments.
We are now looking for warm, enthusiastic and knowledgeable Level 3 Early Years Practitioners to join our team and help bring our vision to life.
We are recruiting a mix of:
- Full-time practitioners
- Part-time practitioners
- Term-time-only practitioners
- Practitioners seeking school-friendly or reduced-hours working patterns
Our nursery will be open from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, and we are happy to discuss different working patterns depending on your availability and the needs of the nursery.
This is a fantastic opportunity to join a brand-new setting from the beginning, contribute your ideas and help shape an environment where children feel safe, confident and curious.
About the role
As a Level 3 Early Years Practitioner, you will:
- Provide high-quality care and education for children aged six months to five years
- Build warm, secure and responsive relationships with children
- Take responsibility for a group of key children
- Work closely with parents and carers to support children’s individual needs
- Plan meaningful experiences based on children’s interests and development
- Complete observations, assessments and next steps to a high standard
- Support children’s personal care routines, including meals, nappies and sleep where appropriate
- Create calm, engaging and welcoming indoor and outdoor environments
- Promote children’s independence, confidence and emotional wellbeing
- Follow safeguarding, health and safety, hygiene and safer-sleep procedures
- Support room routines, transitions and the smooth running of the nursery
- Work positively and professionally as part of the wider nursery team
- Take part in staff meetings, training and professional development
- Work flexibly across different areas of the nursery when required
We are looking for someone who:
- Holds a full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification or above
- Has a secure understanding of the EYFS and child development
- Has experience working within an early years setting
- Is warm, patient and genuinely passionate about working with young children
- Understands safeguarding and the importance of the key-person approach
- Can provide responsive, child-centred care
- Communicates confidently with parents, carers and colleagues
- Is reliable, organised and able to work effectively as part of a team
- Is open to new ideas and excited to help develop a new nursery
- Is willing to contribute ideas and support the wider nursery vision
Experience working with babies and children under two would be particularly welcomed, although positions may be available across different age groups.
What we can offer
- £13.25–£13.75 per hour, depending on experience and additional skills
- Full-time, part-time and term-time-only opportunities
- A range of working patterns across the nursery week
- The opportunity to join a brand-new nursery from the beginning
- A supportive and approachable leadership team
- A calm, child-centred working environment
- Full-team safeguarding and paediatric first-aid training
- Ongoing training and professional development
- Opportunities for progression as the nursery grows
- The chance to contribute ideas and help shape the setting
- Opportunities to support Forest School, outdoor learning and real-life experiences
- A positive team culture where staff wellbeing and professional input are valued
Our approach
At Apollo Nursery, children are encouraged to explore, investigate and develop at their own pace.
Our practitioners support learning through meaningful interactions, carefully considered environments and a balance of child-led exploration and sensitive adult guidance.
We focus on natural and real-life materials, free-flow access to the outdoors, secure relationships and giving children the time and space to develop confidence, resilience and a lifelong love of learning.
How to apply
Please send your CV and a short covering message explaining:
- Your early years experience
- The age groups you have worked with
- Whether you are looking for full-time, part-time or term-time-only work
- Your preferred days and hours
- Any additional skills or areas of experience
- Why you would like to join Apollo Nursery
Please email:
[email protected]
To learn more about Apollo Nursery and see what we are creating, please visit our Facebook page.
Please note: Salaries for part-time and term-time-only roles will be calculated on a pro-rata basis according to the contracted hours and weeks worked.
Pay: £27,000.00-£28,600.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Health & wellbeing programme
Work Location: In person
