Senior Early Years Assistant

The Hundred of Hoo Nursery have a fantastic opportunity for a Senior Early Years Assistant to take on the role from August 2023. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Early Years practitioner to support the Nursery Manager and oversee the operation of the Nursery to the highest standards, ensuring that the best possible environment and care are provided for children in our baby room. We are looking for an excellent and competent leader who will be expected to provide high-quality, flexible childcare for families. 

Our nursery is open throughout the year with three set closure periods; 1 week at Christmas and 2 weeks during the middle of the summer break. Our successful candidates must have a relevant Level 3 childcare qualification.

We are looking for someone demonstrates the following:

• A minimum of NVQ Level 3 in Childcare
• Previous, recent experience in a similar setting
• Proven success in providing support for management of a similar provision
• Being independent and able to work under pressure
• Excellent communicator at all levels
• Ability to organise own work and that of others, identify priorities and meet outcomes
• Lead by example, demonstrating high levels of drive, enthusiasm and passion with proven ability to motivate others
• Excellent written communication with ability to produce and evaluate reports
• Up to date knowledge of EYFS framework and other relevant regulations
• Knowledge of safeguarding children​​​​​​​

Our nursery is based in the grounds of The Hundred of Hoo Academy, a highly successful all-through academy that is easily accessible from Strood, Rochester, Hoo and surrounding areas. We're a nursery like no other and here are just some of the benefits you will receive when working for us;

• A highly skilled nursery management team who have been with the nursery for over 20 years, utilising their experience in the best way possible
• We have fantastic facilities, particularly our outdoor spaces which our children thoroughly enjoy making use of
• Very strong relationships with both the primary and secondary school sites, allowing us to use their facilities and also offer interaction with older students
• A large pupil intake highlighting our popularity in the local area
• Opportunities to progress and gain additional qualifications
• Fantastic support and excellent relationships with the parents of our pupils​​​​​​​

This is a fixed-term position initially for 9 months, working 35 hours per week from 8.00am - 5.30pm and offers an hourly rate of £12.37. If you have any questions in regards to the role and application process, please contact Rachel Cribben (Recruitment Co-ordinator) on rachel.cribben@latrust.org.uk or 01634 412 258. ​​​​​​​

Note that whilst the position is offered on a fixed-term basis initially of 9 months, every effort will be made to offer a substantive position thereafter, either at The Hundred of Hoo Nursery or within the wider family of academies across Leigh Academies Trust. The central Recruitment Team will keep in touch with you throughout your contract to discuss options available to you

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Working with our nursery: At the Hundred of Hoo Nursery we aim to provide a safe and friendly play space where highly qualified practitioners organise our enabling environment to allow children high quality play.

We recognise the importance of working in partnership with parents, our highly effective use of Tapestry for our observation, planning and assessment cycle ensures that parents are engaged with their child’s day immediately and that they have the opportunity to share with us any learning opportunities that happens at home.

Our well-established key person system means that our practitioners are skilled and sensitive in helping children form secure emotional attachments. From these secure bases’ children are encouraged to develop their independence to explore the environment and gain increased confidence in their own abilities.

OFSTED July 2019 – ‘Staff are inspirational role models. Children are extremely polite and their behaviour is impeccable’

We use our amazing outdoor spaces to facilitate a feeling of awe, wonder and fun for our children. We recognise that children embrace the freedom and space that the outdoors gives them in a different way to indoors. Being outside gives us the opportunity to shout, jump, run around, hop and skip and a sensory experience not found inside.

Being part of Leigh Academies Trust: As of 1st September 2022, our Trust comprises 30 geographically organised academies (14 secondaries, 14 primaries and 2 special) educating 20,000 students, and employing 3,000 talented staff. The Trust is establishing four ‘clusters’ of academies: North Kent; Central Kent; South East London; Medway. In addition, the Trust is responsible for one of the region’s biggest initial teaching training organisations, a large teaching school hub and is an accredited apprenticeship provider. Our future plans are found in our Vision 2030 document available on our website.​​​​​​​

As part of Leigh Academies Trust, you will have ample opportunity to collaborate with your peers both within the academy and across the whole Trust. This is an important part of our vision as we know through experience that we perform better when we work together. You are supported to undertake regular self-development to continue your professional development and hopefully progress further within the organisation.

​​​​​​​Click here to view the benefits available to all LAT employees from day one. ​​​​​​​

Our commitment to safeguarding: Leigh Academies Trust and all of our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair, robust and consistent recruitment process across all academies and business units which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates - you can read more about this in our Recruitment Guidance. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.

​​​​​​​Our commitment to equality and diversity: As a Trust, we are passionate about diversity and recognise that as individuals, we all bring something unique to the role regardless of any protected characteristics which is why we treat all of our people equally, without compromise. We are committed to providing equality and fairness throughout our recruitment and employment practices and not discriminating on any grounds.​​​​​​​

Based on the quality and quantity of applications received, Leigh Academies Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy sooner than the specified closing date. Applicants will be notified of this where possible. Therefore, early applications are encouraged.