About us
Little Fishes is a much‑loved setting within the Coastal Childcare Group — a growing family of nurseries across Devon and Cornwall. Being part of a wider group means you’re never on your own and career progression is real, supported and encouraged.
At Little Fishes, we pride ourselves on high standards, nurturing relationships and a calm, consistent approach to early years practice — and we’re now looking for a strong Early Years Room Educator to help drive this forward.
We believe the best settings are built by the right people. That’s why we recruit on personality, values and potential, not just experience
Across Coastal, our expectations are simple and shared by everyone in the team. We work to TEN simple words:
- Do great work – not “OK” work. Children deserve the best of us, every day.
- Show you care – we talk about the GAS factor (Google it): in every situation, choose the option that shows you care, even when it’s not the easiest one.
- Bring the right attitude – we believe attitude is a choice, and we choose behaviours that are right for children, families and each other.
These expectations shape our culture, our practice and how we support one another — and they matter just as much as qualifications and experience.
The Role (IN PLAIN ENGLISH):
We’re looking for a nurturing, playful, passionate Practitioner to make every child’s day magical.
This isn’t your average Practitioner role, you’ll be valued, supported and encouraged to progress as part of the Coastal Group.
You’ll be responsible for:
- Bringing joy, curiosity and care to children’s daily experiences
- Supporting learning through high-quality interactions
- Creating a safe, stimulating environment
- Building trusting relationships with parents
- Being a consistent, loving and calm presence
- Following all safeguarding and EYFS practices
Why this role is awesome:
- You get to be part of a genuinely caring team
- We celebrate individuality, kindness and teamwork
- Real career progression — right up the ladder if you want it
- Training & development to help you shine
Performance, Appraisals and pay progression:
We offer termly appraisals linked to pay reviews, meaning exceptional practice is recognised and rewarded. If your practice is outstanding, you are in control of your earnings — progression is based on quality and consistency, not just time served.
Reasons why we're an amazing place to work:
- A supportive, family‑feel culture — we’re a team, not “staff”
- Referral scheme - £200 if someone you know joins us
- Random acts of kindness
- £250 Driving Lesson Support — one of our most-loved perks
- CPD through Noodle Now with TOIL given when completed
- Early Years Conference tickets
- 31 days holiday per year (including national bank holidays and closure over Christmas)
- Annual awards, Christmas countdown treats & more
The perfect candidate will :
- Be Level 2 or 3 qualified (or working toward Level 3)
- Be warm, playful and deeply caring
- Love supporting children to learn and grow
- Be reliable, positive and a great communicator
- Want to grow in their career over time
A Day in the Life at Coastal Childcare
Your day starts with children arriving — some bounding in with stories to tell, others needing a cuddle, reassurance, or a familiar face. You’re present. You notice. You greet every child like they matter — because they do.
There’s laughter early on. There’s also a shoe missing, a tear that needs soothing, and a parent who needs a moment at the door. You handle all of it calmly, kindly, and with care. At Coastal, we talk about the GAS factor — every situation is a chance to Show You Care. You choose that option, even when it’s not the easiest one.
Throughout the morning you’re fully involved. On the floor. In the garden. Reading stories, building towers, answering endless “why?” questions. You might be singing — maybe beautifully, maybe not — but you’re singing anyway, because connection matters more than perfection.
You work as part of a team that genuinely has each other’s backs. There’s support when you need it, encouragement when something’s gone well, and honest conversations when things need to improve. High standards matter here — not in a pressured way, but because we believe children deserve great work, not “OK work”.
No two days look the same. One moment you’re supporting a child to take their first brave step, the next you’re helping a colleague, updating learning, or sharing a proud moment with a parent at pick‑up. You’re trusted to use your judgement. You’re encouraged to reflect, learn and grow.
At Coastal, you’re never just “staff”. You’re part of a wider family. You know that if you want to progress, there’s a pathway. If you want to learn, there’s support. If you care deeply about doing things properly, you’re in the right place.
You leave tired — but in a good way. The kind of tired that comes from knowing you showed up, made a difference, and helped create a day where children felt safe, valued and important.
And tomorrow?
It’ll be different.
But the values stay the same.
The nitty gritty:
- Based at Little Fishes Pre-school and Nursery, Braunton
- Full‑time, all‑year‑round position
- £13.25 per hour for Level 3 qualified with termly review opportunities
- Start date flexible
Your next steps:
If you’re ready to join a supportive nursery with real development opportunities, APPLY NOW.
The important part:
Due to the nature of the work, this employment is exempt from the provision of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendments) Order 1986. All applicants must disclose details of any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings which for other purposes may be considered as ‘spent’.
An Enhanced DBS check will be carried out for applicants selected for appointment. Information received will be kept confidential and only used in relation to the position. Two, suitable references will be required.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From £13.25 per hour
Benefits:
- Childcare
- Company events
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Referral programme
Education:
- GCSE or equivalent (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- NVQ Level 3 in childcare (preferred)
Work Location: In person
