Job Description

Early Years Practitioner


Trinity Primary School


Salary: 29,173 - 33,287 (pro-rata for sessional)


Hours: 36 per week, 39 weeks sessional


Post title Early Years Practitioner / Nursery Nurse Special Schools, Specialist Provision and Services Division / Section Schools and Lifelong Learning / Early Years Department Children, Education and Justice Services Responsible To Head Teacher/Head of Centre/Business Manager Purpose of Job To provide a service compatible with good practice in the education and care of children and young people within the policies and systems laid down by the Council and Education Department and the Care Inspectorate. To work as an effective member of a Multi Disciplinary or other Team promoting a stimulating environment which balances education and care for children and young people.


Meeting children's individual needs and those of their families, enabling each individual to achieve their potential. Work as a team member and establish good and effective relationships with children, young people, staff and parents. Major Tasks Contribute to the delivery of an effective education and care service in line with the pre-determined policies and procedures of the Council. Work as a team member and establish good and effective relationships with the children, young people, staff and parents. Contribute to programmes of work for children with additional support needs and help to assess their effectiveness Create a supportive and caring ethos in which individual children and young people are encouraged and supported to develop self-esteem, self-confidence and respect for others.


Provide an appropriately challenging and stimulating educational environment where individual children and young people are encouraged to reach their full potential. Job Activities Where appropriate act as a key worker for a designated individual or group of children and young people by taking the lead responsibility for them, ensuring they are comfortable and secure in their surroundings and are afforded every opportunity to acquire and develop skills appropriate to their age and ability. In doing so being sensitive to circumstances at home and in the family by working in partnership with parents/carers in the care/education of their children and young people. Contribute to the building of developmental profiles of children and young people in an educational setting through the use of observations and other appropriate methods of assessment, recording results, being jointly responsible for maintaining records pertaining to each individual'' care and development, recognising that such profiles are available to parents and appropriate colleagues and other professionals with parental approval. Participate in discussions and other forms of communication with parents to ensure they are kept informed about their children's progress.


Support children and young people in using ICT as part of their learning. Use ICT where relevant in preparing resources and other work-related activity. Undertake routine administration tasks such as photocopying, collecting and keeping simple records of class monies, etc. Staff may find from time to time that they are responsible for the collection of money ( snack, outings, fundraising and enterprise). On an individual and/or team basis be aware of and act on, any additional support needs, for example learning, dietary, medical, emotional and/or behavioural and provide appropriate care/support through implementation of individual care/learning plans, with the guidance of the Headteacher/teacher/Centre Manager of his/her deputy and within the policy guidelines of the Council e.g. Behaviour Management. Work collaboratively within a multi-disciplined team (e.g. speech and language therapist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist). Many of the children have physical disabilities and require careful handling. Some have challenging behaviours that means that staff have to be alert and ready to respond to sudden outbursts of aggression Be committed to working in an environment which promotes social inclusion and be aware of the particular requirements of children and young people with additional needs. To promote equality and be aware of diversity issues ensuring that every child and young person experiences a supportive and caring ethos.


Be actively involved in a programme of development with individuals in relation to their self-help skills, toilet training, toileting, dressing skills, personal care, eating skills and mobility training. Where children and young people have not yet developed these skills provide care and support or them. Encourage children and young people's language and communication development and be aware of ways to stimulate language and communication through play, books, stories, alternative communication systems and by personal interaction. Encourage children and young people's development in other curricular areas where relevant, including outdoor learning. As an individual or as a part of a team be responsible for setting up equipment and working with children and young people in both indoor and outdoor play areas, set up and clear playroom, classroom and outdoor play areas. Contribute to the care and maintenance of equipment and apparatus including visual and aural aids.


Assist in securing a safe, secure and hygienic environment for children and young people. Staff are required to undertake the food hygiene course regularly and be aware of children with special dietary requirements Encourage children and young people to participate in the preparation of snacks and simple meals and when involved in supervising mealtimes, be aware of the emotional, personal and social developmental opportunities this presents. Participate in the wider work with parents and where considered appropriate, take a lead role in this work. Attend to the immediate/basic need for comfort and care of children and young people when injured/ill, completing appropriate record according to Council policy. Provide visiting specialists with information for their records. Adhere to the Council Policy and Procedures on Child Protection.


Participate in staff development and review. Participate in appropriate staff meetings and training sessions in order to ensure the smooth and effective running of the nursery school/class/centre/unit. Continuously improve his/her individual skills, utilising interests and expertise in music, drama, movement, arts and crafts, literature and environmental studies, or other skills and interests, as appropriate, and use these to assist in the delivery of the curriculum.


Undertake a programme of continuing professional development activity, in line with Council policies and procedures, based on and greed plan which will support and improve individual and/or group skill, knowledge and ability in furtherance of the provision of an effective service Keep professional knowledge up to date including current initiatives and developments. Supervision and Management of People Where appropriate provide basic good practice advice and support to learning assistants, Pupil Support Assistants and Modern Apprentice/Trainee Early Years Practitioners. Work with and support volunteers and students. Creativity and Innovation Contribute to the planning and implementation of a curricular programme which meets the needs of the individual and is in line with guidelines and standards, issued by the authority, through attendance at planning meetings, the delivery of agreed programmes of activity and the production of appropriate records/reports and evaluations.


Contribute to the completion of transitional records Observe record and report on individual children and young people's progress in line with the Council's policies and procedures. Use observations, in consultation with the Headteacher/teacher/Centre Manager where appropriate, for the development of individual care/learning plans where necessary. Contribute to the planning and be responsible for small groups of children and/or young people on organised outings and/or escort children on bus runs in accordance with the Health and Safety Guidelines of the Council including the completion of any necessary documentation. Contacts and Relationships Early Years Practioners are required to develop and maintain positive relationship with children and young people and their parents/carers. Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary team (e.g. speech and language therapist, physiotherapist occupational therapist or any other relevant professional) Decisions (Discretion) Liaise and work with parents, other members of multi-disciplinary teams (e.g. education, social work, and health), other establishments and agencies in relation to the delivery of the curriculum and the welfare/development of the children and young people Decisions (Consequences) The post holder will be required to refer any difficulties or concerns to their line manager clearly and concisely in line with relevant Council Policies and Procedures.


Resources Be involved in the purchasing, utilising, maintaining and cataloguing appropriate resources associated with the delivery of the curriculum through e.g. making recommendations on required purchases based on judgements of children's and young people's needs. Environment - Work Demands The post holder will work as a member of the team contributing to the decisions regarding the day to-day activity within the setting. Environment - Physical The post holder will be required to undertake physical tasks related to the day-to-day delivery of care and learning to children and young people, as outlined in the Job Activities.


This post is regulated work with children and/or protected adults under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. The preferred candidate will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check. Where an individual has spent a continuous period of 3 months or more out with the UK in the last 5 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check. An unconditional offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of both these pre-employment checks being deemed satisfactory.




We're committed to creating a workplace culture where all our people feel valued, included and able to be their best at work, and we recognise the benefits that a diverse workforce with different values, beliefs, experience, and backgrounds brings to us as an organisation.


As part of our goal to improve our organisational culture and create a great place to work together for the people of Edinburgh, we want to make sure that we're bringing the best people into our roles, not just in their skills and experience but also in their approach to work.


To help achieve this, we're changing the way we interview and assess candidates by moving from a competency-based interview approach to a behavioural and technical (skills for the job) based approach. This new way of interviewing will allow us to assess how you think and how you would bring Our Behaviours of Respect, Integrity and Flexibility into your ways of working.


You can find out more on Our Behaviours web page Our Behaviours - The City of Edinburgh Council


Our salary range typically reflects the initial starting salary and annually increases until it reaches the top of the range.


Happy to talk flexible working.


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View Early Years Practitioner job pack


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