Early Years Practitioner

Early Years Practitioner 

Reports to: Lead Teacher of Nursery / Nursery Manager

Salary: Ark band 3 (full time salary: £ 22,206- £23,427; actual salary: dependent on exact hours worked)

Hours: Term time only; Part time (8am – 12pm, or 8am to 1pm)

3 to 5 days a week. Exact work arrangement agreed on appointment. Full time roles also available.

The Role

To work collaboratively within the Early Years team to provide a safe and joyful start to our children’s education through our ‘integrated’ approach to teaching and learning based on developing the unique child, supporting them to learn through play and assessing their progress so they achieve excellent outcomes. 

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to creating and maintaining an excellent learning environment both inside and outdoors

• Invest in positive relationships with children and their families

• Support children in our two priority areas of personal, social and emotional development and communication and language

• Meet the needs of all our children, including pupils who have diagnosed or emerging SEND

• Observe, monitor and assess children using the EYFS framework and through child-initiated observational assessment. 

• Work collaborative as a member of a team 

• Ensure pupils eat well at snack times and meal times 

• Respond to pupils’ needs on a 1:1 basis

• Safeguarding

Outcomes and Activities

• To build a positive relationship with children and families encouraging dialogue, co-operation and partnership.  Share information about their child in an honest but sensitive manner.

• To plan, prepare and set out, in collaboration with the Early Years team, activities, materials and equipment and resources for groups of and/or individual children. 

• Support planning and building a stimulating learning environment which enables children to develop independence and learn to manage risk; where homes and families are reflected and which provide provocation based on children’s needs and interests. 

• Support the organisation of the learning environment so children can play physically as well as with objects, symbolic play, music, movement, pretend and socio-dramatic play and games with rules. 

• Celebrate nature in the learning environment and take every opportunity to play and learn outside with children

• Be responsible for the planning, initiating and delivery of programs of work and activities for a class, group or individual children.  Eg  story sessions, math meetings, guided reading, interventions, cooking, music & movement, 1:1 SEN support

• Share and at times take sole responsibility (within ratio) for children working indoors and outdoors, facilitating and enabling learning by providing high quality support and interaction.

• Be responsible for groups of children and prepare and present their assessment evidence in learning journals. 

• Liaise with external professional contacts and develop co-working practices with colleagues from other agencies, for example, health visitors, speech therapists and educational psychologists by exchanging information and participating in sessions/visits, contributing to assessments and carrying out action plans.

• Constantly reflect on and improve professional performance and participate in weekly PD training.  Keep informed of current childcare legislation, educational theory and practices. 

• Role model exemplary practice for support staff and support the development of the whole team in collaboration with the phase leader. 

• Contribute to experiential learning activities and participate in trips and extended learning opportunities e.g fire brigade day,  going for a local area walk.

• Seek to constantly expand children’s vocabulary, deepening their understanding of the world around them through repeating key phrases and providing commentary on children’s play. 

• Take every opportunity to promote a love of reading, singing, rhymes and games

Other

• Perform additional duties and tasks required for the effective operation of the school, including: attending home visits, parent meetings, open mornings, home learning workshops, providing cover for colleagues across the phase, break supervision and other duties

• Undertake other various responsibilities as directed by the Principal or the line manager

Person Specification: Early Years Practitioner

Necessary qualification criteria

• Relevant level 3 qualification in childcare as a minimum

• GCSE English and maths at grade C or above

• Right to work in the UK

Experience

• Experience of teaching effectively in an EYFS setting

• Experience of working with vulnerable children desirable but not essential

Skills and attributes

We are looking for these skills and attributes in line with our values or - at the very least - a candidate’s clear, demonstrable capacity to develop them:

“Aiming high”

• Prepares for success with excellent organisational skills 

• Works hard to achieve goals

• Never gives up on ourselves, our teammates or our mission

• Willingness to play a full part in school life and go above and beyond to ensure success

• High energy and driven by a ‘whatever it takes’ attitude. 

“Working together”

• Works effectively as part of a team

• Seeks out opportunities to build on own and others’ strengths and helps others to be better through a culture of clear, kind feedback

• Makes a strong contribution to assessments and child-led planning

“Being kind”

• Able to create a safe, happy and successful environment for everyone in our community

• Shows gratitude

• Takes care of others

• Exhibits pride in achievements of self and others

“Leading the way”

• Has a passion for working in the EYFS

• Is a positive role model to others, and can direct other staff’s work in an EYFS setting

• Is brave

• Shows initiative 

• Feels passionate about creating a better future.

Other

This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services check.