Job Description

To support the Management team in undertaking and carrying out all tasks related to working in an Early Years setting. To provide safe, high quality education and care for pre-school children. To work as a key person and as part of the pre-school team under the direction of the management team. To ensure all legal and statutory requirements and obligations are met through following the pre-school policies and procedures. To be a strong and positive role model, leading, inspiring and supporting junior staff on a day-to-day basis. To actively build positive relationships with all children and their families, encouraging positive engagement and supporting children to flourish. To provide safe, high quality education and care for young children which meets the individual needs of children attending the setting.

Main duties

1. To fully and wholeheartedly endorse and promote the settings ethos, creating a warm, nurturing and secure environment for children, families, staff, students, volunteers and the wider community.

2. To show a clear understanding of and commitment to the settings gentle nurture based approach to supporting children's learning and development.

3. To understand the importance of play and show a strong ability to engage positively in play and interactions that support, nurture and extend children's learning and development, taking a keen interest in children's interests, fascinations, and enjoyments, as well as their 'Next Steps' as identified by Key Persons.

4. To 'teach' children through sensitive interactions, offering appropriate levels of support or extension, and providing stimulating play experiences that promote positive communication, interaction, and engagement from children.

5. To support and encourage children to make their own choices during play, facilitating them to complete tasks, extend their learning and develop their play by being responsive to their needs and interacting sensitively.

6. To act as a key person, leading the induction and settling in process in a positive, gentle and proactive way that best meets the family's needs. To liaise closely with families to build effective, professional, trusting relationships that promote open honest communication in order to effectively understand and meet the child's needs.

7. To actively inform parents about the pre-school ethos and curriculum, encouraging their engagement and involvement in their child's learning and pre-school events.

8. To observe, monitor and record all children's progress and development on Tapestry online learning journal using the EYFS, COEL, ECAT, Involvement and Well-being scale assessments, with particular focus on your key family group. To ensure your key groups journals are accurate, up to date and accessible to parents.

9. To be a good team player working in partnership, following guidance and instruction from the management team whilst using your initiative to carry out daily duties, supporting and role modelling positively to junior staff.

10. To support the settings Healthy Active Lifestyles initiative through positively promoting healthy eating at meal times and encouraging a positive attitude towards being outside in all weathers and being physically active.

11. To actively participate at team meetings, supervision and appraisal meetings.

12. To show a positive attitude towards continual professional development, attending training courses as required and taking responsibility for your development.

13. To ensure that the welfare and safety of children is strongly promoted within the setting with particular focus on Safeguarding, Child protection and Health and Safety, whilst promoting positive 'Risky Play'. To have a sound knowledge of the above procedures and actively contribute to ensuring the pre-school is a safe environment for children, staff and others, that equipment is safe, standards of hygiene are high, safety procedures are implemented at all times and fire drills are regularly practiced.

14. To keep completely confidential any information regarding the children, their families or other staff, which is acquired as part of the job.

15. To be aware of and adhere to all of the setting's operational policies and procedures, e.g. health and safety, fire precautions, dropping off and collection of children, food safety, cleanliness of the setting etc.

16. To ensure that accurate records are kept and updated regularly as advised by the management team.

17. To support the management team through positive reflective practice, contributing to the continual development of the pre-school, it's activities and the environment.

18. To promote the nursery to current parents and potential customers.

19. To actively support and promote the settings fundraising efforts, participating fully and representing the preschool positively.

20. To ensure your conduct in person and on social media uphold the strong values of the setting and that your activities in no way bring the setting into disrepute.

21. To maintain the cleanliness and organization of the setting effectively including ensuring the settings cleaning schedules are followed.

22. To undertake any other reasonable duties as directed by the Pre-school Manager, in accordance with the setting's business plan/objectives.

This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties and the post holder will be required to undertake any other reasonable duties discussed and directed by the line manager.

Person specification

Essential criteria

1. An understanding of the importance of play to children's learning and development.

2. Passion, enthusiasm and drive to achieve the best for children.

3. A creative and imaginative approach to implementing the pre-school curriculum.

4. A nurturing approach to promoting child development with an understanding of the importance of attachment.

5. Willingness to learn, ability to follow instructions effectively with clear and appropriate use of own initiative.

6. Flexible and self-motivated with a positive attitude.

7. Minimum Level 3 early year's education and childcare qualification or recognised equivalent.

8. At least 2 years' previous experience of working with young children in an early years setting.

9. Sound knowledge of child development for children from birth to five years.

10. Knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Characteristics of Effective Learning (COEL).

11. Knowledge of child protection procedures.

12. Ability to communicate effectively with children, parents and families to promote professional partnership working.

13. Commitment to equal opportunities.

14. Commitment to working effectively with young children and families.

15. Friendly and flexible approach at work which facilitates the development of effective relationships.

Desirable criteria

1. Level 4 early years' education and childcare qualification or equivalent, and a commitment to obtaining a level 5 qualification.

2. Willingness to undertake further training.

3. Current First Aid at Work qualification.

Recent SENCO and Safeguarding Training

Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

Pay: From 13.28 per hour

Expected hours: 22 per week

Work Location: In person