Nursery Practitioner

Nursery Practitioner & Holiday Lead Practitioner

Our Nursery is based in our prep school and welcomes children from the age of 3. Children enjoy the family feel of our Nursery House. They spend their days learning through a wide range of play based activities and they are given plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy our stunning 100 acre site. From September 2024 we are moving from a term time only provision to all year round. This position is full time and involves joining an established term time team as well as leading on the new Holiday provision.

Main responsibilities

General purpose of the role

To work with our Nursery team to assist in the organisation of the Nursery at West Buckland Prep School. The successful candidate will work closely with the Nursery Leader during Term time to ensure continuity and progression through a stimulating and varied programme of learning, ensuring the safety and well-being of the children at all times. During the School Holiday periods the Nursery Practitioner will lead the daily provision and be assisted by a Nursery Assistant.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

Teaching and Learning

• To act as a key person in Nursery and plan daily Key Group activities.
• Instil a love of learning through a wide range of creative teaching styles and to facilitate a learning experience that provides all children with the opportunity to achieve their individual potential both in and beyond the classroom.
• To have a thorough understanding of the EYFS curriculum.
• Help to maintain a well organised, tidy, pupil friendly and interactive learning environment. Maintaining high standards of display.
• To assist with the planning and delivery of the daily programme of Nursery activities and events.
• To complete the children’s Learning Journeys and assessment of progress in Nursery.
• To attend termly parents’ meetings in Nursery to allow two-way discussion of children’s progress.
• Assist in the development of the Long, Medium Term and weekly programmes of work.
• To attend weekly meetings to plan and prepare for the week/ term/ year ahead.
• To be IT literate and have the ability to keep electronic/paper records up to date.
• To liaise with the Nursery Leader, SENDCO and external agencies where a child’s needs require this.
• To act as the Holiday Leader for Nursery outside of term time.
• To assist in the day-to-day running of the Nursery, ensuring staff ratios are correct, children are actively engaged and their pastoral needs are met.
• During Holiday periods, to act as the Lead practitioner, overseeing all aspects of the day to day running of the provision.

Pastoral Care

• To ensure records are properly maintained e.g. Daily registers, room risk assessments, accident and incident books.
• To comply with the school’s Health and Safety Policy and to complete risk assessments for all Learning environment, indoors and out.
• To be courteous to parents and colleagues, and to provide a welcoming environment for all visitors to the school. Communicating to achieve positive results with parents, pupils and staff and working to meet (and exceed) customer expectations.
• To liaise with other members of the school staff in order to ensure continuity and progression of planning in line with the current school policies and practices.
• To take part in the school’s staff development programme by participating in arrangements for further training and professional development.
• To attend appropriate INSET.
• To attend staff briefings and meetings as required.
• Attend school functions as are deemed part of the annual cycle of the school year.
• To maintain a professional appearance at all times.
• To maintain a high level of professionalism and to use initiative as appropriate.
• Have a good knowledge of the whole school policies in place within the school.
• To read and comply with the ‘staff Code of Conduct’ document annually.
• To contribute to and implement all Early Years policies and procedures.
• To display an excellent sense of humour and be willing to go the extra mile.

The Nursery Practitioner will be expected to undertake any other duties as can be reasonably expected of them by the Nursery Lead or the Prep School Head. 

Candidate Requirements:

• Ability to work as part of a team with good organisational and communication skills
• Confident in working sensitively with children and parents
• Recent experience of work within the EYFS and a sound knowledge of the revised EYFS curriculum
• Understanding and awareness of SEN would be an advantage
• Knowledge of observation techniques and writing Next Steps child progress reports
• NVQ3 Level 3 or equivalent in Early Years Education
• Paediatric First Aid

Hours of work

This is a full-time appointment based on a minimum of 37 ½ hours per week. During term time the Nursery Practitioner will work as part of the wider Nursery Team, in holidays they will act as the Holiday Lead for Nursery. The school operates Monday to Friday between the hours of 08:30am and 5:30pm. The incumbent is expected to be flexible in his or her attitude to hours of work and will be expected to manage working hours in line with the needs of the school which will include some evening and weekend work. Overtime is not applicable, but time off in lieu of additional hours worked can be claimed.

In addition to a competitive salary, we provide free parking, daily lunch and access to our outstanding sports facilities.