Nursery Assistant - Maternity Cover

We are looking for a Full Time Nursery Assistant to join our outstanding Nursery team for Maternity Cover from February 2025. The Nursery is open from 7.30am to 6.00pm. The Nursery Manager works closely with the Nursery Assistants to ensure all hours are covered. Your hours will be agreed with you in advance to suit the needs of the Nursery each week and will include some 7.30am starts and some 6.00pm finishes. The starting rate of pay is £25,758.

The annual holiday entitlement is five weeks, in addition to Public Holidays.

Our Nursery team strive to meet the individual needs of our children, giving them the social skills and confidence they need in their formative years and providing them with a sound platform for transition into school life.

This post requires someone who loves working with and caring for children, and a confident user of ICT. They must be a self-starter who is able to work on their own initiative and as part of a team, and someone who would be able to help maintain high standards, good order and a happy, warm, stimulating and secure learning environment for our children.

We welcome applications from Nursery practitioners who are qualified to at least NVQ Level 2, CACHE, or equivalent. It is expected that the successful candidate will have knowledge and experience of EYFS, and within a School environment is desirable. Our Nursery Assistants will work with the Nursery Manager, Pre-School Lead and team to deliver a flexible, high-quality education and care to meet the needs of the children and their families throughout the year.

Responsibilities and Main Tasks

• To plan and carry out observations on children as needed;
• To understand the role of children s play in their physical, intellectual and emotional development;
• To be familiar with the aims and standards for learning in use at the Nursery - the Early Years Foundation Stage;
• To promote positive images for all children in the pre-school s care by introducing appropriate activities to encourage equal development for both sexes, fostered through language, play and other activities;
• To provide input to Nursery planning. To plan, carry out and evaluate activities for all children including differentiating where necessary to promote inclusion;
• To keep developmental records of key group children including updating Learning Journeys, regular evaluations of children s development and contribute to a Transition Report when appropriate;
• To attend to the needs of the children including personal care at Nursery whilst they are in our care ensuring that they are safe, happy and stimulated to enable them to enjoy their time at Nursery;
• To be fully involved in the children s play, nurturing the children s own creative potential through the activities offered and encouraging their full development;
• Hold a current paediatric first aid certificate and food hygiene certificate and be responsible for their updating;
• To report any safeguarding concerns over children and liaise with the appropriate external agencies, preserving confidentiality as necessary;
• Comply with the School s policies and procedures for child protection, countering bullying and positive handling, and be aware of the appropriate response needed in these areas;
• To demonstrate a commitment to parental participation, recognising the individual needs of the parent and offering support to the parents where appropriate;
• To ensure the safety and security of children in the Nursery. To have a knowledge of health and safety procedures and to be prepared to carry them out;
• Carry out ongoing cleaning of the Nursery equipment to ensure the Nursery is tidy, safe, clean and secure for children, staff, parent/carers and visitors;
• To provide an environment that adheres to the Vision, Mission and Ethos of the School.

Additional Information

Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), and a declaration of medical fitness. It is an offence to apply for this role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. A copy of the School s Child Protection policy may be found on the School s website.

Please note: we reserve the right to appoint prior to the closing date.

Little Lambs Nursery (as part of Sutton Valence Preparatory School) is an equal opportunities employer.