Early Years Educator

Dean Close Little Trees Nursery is looking for energetic and enthusiastic Early Years Educators to join our team in Newport.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about working with children with a drive to educate our youngest generation and excited to be part of our growing team!

Requirements:

Minimum of Level 2 qualified in Early Years Childcare and Education.

What can we offer you?

* Competitive salary; Now £12.20 per hour

*Enhanced Holiday entitlement - extra 2 days holiday per year for the 1st two years, increasing to an extra 5 days holiday after 2 years service, in addition to statutory holiday entitlement, pro rata

* Opportunity to work full or part time contracted hours, Monday-Friday. Full time roles are across 4.5 days per week.

* Paycare - a cash free private health care benefit including retail discounts

* GP in your pocket - access to a GP 24 hours a day including wellbeing support.

*Training inset days

* Personalised professional development opportunities bespoke to you using our career pathway programme

* Free uniform and a free daily lunch

* Cash Bonus for long service awards starting from 5 years +

* Wellbeing support

Job Description

This job description is not fully prescriptive, but acts as a guide to the main duties and responsibilities most relevant to the role. The Early Years Educator is accountable to the Nursery Manager.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Adhering to the Policies and Procedures of Dean Close Nurseries Ltd and compliance with the Children Act, Safeguarding, Health and Safety legislation within the guidelines of relevant inspectorate and welfare requirements • To undertake all Dean Close Nurseries Limited (DCNL) mandatory training set by the Learning and Development Manager in accordance with the training matrix and to demonstrate your knowledge in practice. • Promote the nursery to current parents and potential customers. • To effectively mentor Early Years Assistant, students and volunteers

Safeguarding;

• Be responsible for the safeguarding of all children by working to DCNL Code of Conduct. • To share in the responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children in the nursery
• To report any child safety/protection concerns to the nominated Designated Safeguarding Lead immediately using current safeguarding policies and procedures and practice.

Health and Safety;

• To ensure that the care, cleanliness and maintenance of the nursery premises, resources and equipment is adhered to as outlined in relevant policies.
• To be alert to issues and practices of health and safety to keep everyone safe including adhering to DCNL risk assessment and reporting any hazards.
• To adhere to the DCNL Safety of the Children Policy including any cross-referenced policies.
• To maintain accurate records for all children as outlined in relevant policies.
• To act appropriately in an emergency situation, ensuring that the safety and well being of children is paramount at all times.

Care and Education;

• To provide a safe, caring, stimulating educational environment both indoors and outdoors to promote all aspects of learning
• To implement nursery routines adapting as required to meet the needs of the children.
• To deliver our educational curriculum that enables all children to make individual progress, to address their next steps, keeping in mind the intent, implementation and impact of these activities.
• To act as a key person to a group of children and to ensure their needs are reflected in the planning of routines and activities and you have a sound knowledge of each of your key children’s starting points and that you extend and support their learning.
• To undertake observations, planning and implement of our educational curriculum based on children’s interests both indoors and outdoors and their stages of development, supporting and extending their learning.
• To support with the care and supervision of all children regarding their individual needs, enabling them to reach their full potential.
• To provide personal care routines to all children, encouraging independence according to their age or development.
• Provide a good role model for students/volunteer and effectively mentor Early Years Assistants.
• Effectively implement our positive behaviour management policy
• To support the Room Leader with inducting new children and families into the nursery
• To deputise for the Room Leader and undertake any tasks as delegated by the Room Leader as appropriate.
• To provide professional and relevant feedback to parents about their child, exchanging information about children’s progress and encouraging parental involvement.
• To monitor children for the identification of possible developmental delay and discuss any concerns with the Nursery Manager and nominated SENCO (England) ALNCO (Wales)
• To encourage individualised support to children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (England) and Additional Learning Needs (Wales) in accordance with our SEN/ALN policies
• To liaise and work in partnership with other agencies both statutory and voluntary where appropriate.

All staff are expected to:

• Be loyal, honest, trustworthy, and reliable.
• Enthusiastic and motivated
• To work as an effective part of the team ensuring you maintain good morale, positively promoting a team approach.
• Support the Dean Close Foundation values of Love, Contribution, and Courage to enable all to Flourish.
• Maintain high professional standards if attendance, punctuality, conduct and positive courteous relationships with the children, parents, carers, and colleagues.
• Ensuring confidentiality in maintained both inside and outside of the nursery.
• To assist with the provision of a high-quality environment to meet the needs of individuals from the protected characteristics including race, gender, cultural, disability and age.
• To actively participate in regular team meetings, inset days, appointments with parents / carers, publicity, and open days.
• To complete any necessary training as deemed appropriate by the nursery manager.
• Any other duties appropriate to the post as directed by the nursery manager including working across Dean Close Foundation.

PERSONAL QUALITIES;

• Skills, aptitude, knowledge and experience
• Essential
• Appropriate level 2/3 childcare qualification as recognised by regulatory bodies.
• Sound knowledge of the regulatory framework
• Strong understanding of safeguarding procedures
• Safeguarding training
• Good understanding of child development and of children’s needs
• Ability to communicate and engage effectively with children, families and colleagues and outside agencies.
• Positive approach to learning, training and gaining new skills as outlined in the Career Development Matrix
• Patience, resilience and flexibility
• Be approachable, caring and have a passion for working with children.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Competent level of literacy and numeracy
• Knowledge and understanding of basic IT skills.

Desirable

• 1 years’ experience in supporting children in an Early Years learning environment.
• Paediatric First Aid training
• Food hygiene training
• Female Genital Mutilation training
• Prevent Duty training.

Dean Close Nurseries Limited are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All positions will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent

Pay: £12.20 per hour

Expected hours: 16 – 40 per week

Benefits: 

• Additional leave
• Childcare
• Company pension
• Discounted or free food
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• Gym membership
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site parking
• Referral programme 

Schedule: 

• Monday to Friday 

School type:

• Day nursery 

Education: 

• GCSE or equivalent (preferred) 

Experience:

• Nursery experience: 1 year (preferred)

Licence/Certification: 

• NVQ Level 2 or 3 in CCLD or regulatory accepted equivalent? (required)

Work Location: In person

For further details please see the attached job description below.

Early applications are encouraged and applicants may be invited to interview prior to the closing date. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a suitable candidate is appointed before the closing date.

Internal applicants

Please contact the Recruitment Team requesting the internal candidate application form link before starting your application.

The Foundation

Dean Close Foundation is a growing, vibrant and diverse family of independent schools and nurseries, uniting around a shared vision and set of values. These spring from the origins of Dean Close School, which was founded in 1886 in memory of Dean Francis Close, Rector of Cheltenham and educational philanthropist. The Christian ethos of that original school continues today where the aim is that every child should be given the opportunities to flourish, underpinned by its core values of courage, contribution and love which are the guiding principles behind its educational vision. The Foundation currently has five schools and six nurseries within its group, creating a strong community that can share best practice, resources and a secure future.

Dean Close Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.