About The Role Nursery Practitioner (30 hours per week, TTO) Start date: November 2025 Contract: Fixed term until 31st August 2026 Hours: 30 hours, Monday - Friday Salary: £23,723.00 FTE -(£17,004.80) Actual Salary Closing date: 3rd November 2025 (with interviews taking place that week) Here at Ark Castledown we are committed to providing our pupils with the very best educational opportunities by having the very highest expectations of ourselves as a staff team. We are now seeking a resilient and robust individual to join our fantastic EYFS team as a Nursery Practitioner. This is a fixed term contract until 31st August 2026. The role will involve helping to implement work programmes for groups of children, assisting in planning and the management/preparation of resources, which could include some specialist knowledge in particular areas. The successful applicant will also support in whole class cover under a system of supervision for up to 30% of the employed time throughout the school year, including lunchtime cover. We can offer you a friendly, supportive school and opportunities for professional development. The successful candidate will: have a Level 3 Early Years Qualification have experience of working with nursery aged children have Maths and English Qualifications or equivalent at GCSE level C or above be hard working and adaptable to change ideally have a secure understanding and knowledge of observing children’s learning. If you have a passion for education, we can offer you support and challenge you to develop further. By joining the Ark Schools network, you will gain access to an exclusive range of benefits including comprehensive CPD, reduced gym membership and large retail discounts. Interested in this exciting opportunity? Please contact Miss Stewart on 01424 444046 or rstewart@arkcastledown.org to arrange an informal chat or a visit. To apply please go to https://arkcastledown.org/jobs/vacancies to apply through the job portal. A copy of the job description is available Here. Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. Benefits Salaries 2.5% higher than main pay scale. Twice as many training days as standard. Generous pension scheme. Access to Ark rewards – a scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers Interest-free loans – up to £5,000 available for season ticket or to buy a bicycle. Gym discounts – offering up to 40%. Access to Employee Assistance Programme – providing free, confidential counselling, legal advice and a range of different support. Find out more about the benefits of working for Ark at https://arkonline.org/careers/why-work-with-us/. About Us We are community primary school that is dedicated to providing the very best education for the children of our town. We hold a strong child-centred approach to teaching, where consistency, praise, encouragement and challenge are key. We believe that every child has a unique potential and we work hard to inspire and motivate children to achieve their goals. We know that a successful and happy school depends on all of us working together, and that parents make an important contribution to children’s achievements at school. We are committed to developing excellent working relationships with our families and all members of our school community. Visit arkcastledown.org/jobs to learn more about us and see our current vacancies. Diversity and inclusion: We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link. Safeguarding statement: Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link. Please note we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage to submit your application at your earliest convenience.