Join us in making a difference in the lives of children and their families! Are you passionate about delivering exceptional childcare services? We are seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Nursery Assistant to join our team and provide high-quality care for babies and children. WHAT IS INVOLVED? As a Nursery Assistant, you will: Lead Engaging Activities : Assist in creating and delivering a stimulating range of indoor and outdoor activities tailored to children aged 0-5 years. Foster a Welcoming Environment : Ensure parents feel comfortable and involved by encouraging their participation and fostering open communication. Maintain High Standards : Uphold excellent hygiene standards for children, equipment, and the premises. Promote Independence: Support children in developing their independence and individuality within a nurturing group setting. Record Keeping: Maintain accurate records of children’s progress and activities. Monitor and Assess : Observe, monitor, and assess children’s learning in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. What We Offer A supportive and collaborative team environment. Opportunities for professional development and growth. The chance to make a meaningful impact on children’s lives. If you are excited about this opportunity, we encourage you to contact Christine Lovell, Childcare Manager, at christine.lovell@durham.gov.uk or julie.morton@durham.gov.uk to arrange an informal discussion about the role. WHAT WILL I NEED? You will be required to have a full and relevent Level 3 Early Years Qualification and a Level 1 in Safeguarding Training If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure. Our commitment to safeguarding Durham County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore if successful in your application, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be sought [include this line if relevant - inclusive of a check of the Children’s Barred List, due to the position working in regulated activity. Applicants should be aware that the DBS check will disclose both spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings, in line with current legislation and will confirm whether an individual is barred from working with children. INTERVIEWS Interviews will be held on 9th June 2026 We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran. OUR OFFER TO YOU We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our website Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions. EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent people and offer support throughout the recruitment process. HOW TO APPLY Please note, we do not accept CVs. All applications must be submitted online via the Northeast Jobs portal. Use the ‘Person Specification’ section of the form to clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential (and where possible, desirable) criteria. Applications that do not evidence the essential requirements will not be shortlisted. Please visit our website to understand our position on using AI to support to your application and for guidance on completing your application. If you require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27, or via email RecruitmentCYPS@durham.gov.uk All correspondence relating to your application will be sent from donotreply@northeastjobs.org.uk. Kindly check your spam/junk folder regularly to ensure you don’t miss any updates. CONNECT WITH US Follow us on Instagram Like us on Facebook Visit our website VPRS/161