Overview
Nursery Practitioner
The nursery is a provider of high-quality childcare and education for young children within a fun, stimulating and safe environment. We work in close partnership with parents/carers as well as meeting the children's individual needs.
Safeguarding Statement: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect the staff, volunteers and contractors to share this commitment.
Purpose of the post
To plan, develop and support the education and care of all the children within the setting.
Accountable to
A nursery practitioner is accountable to the Senior Practitioner within the room. If the Senior Practitioner is not available, then they must go to the Deputy Manager or the Settings Manager. They must follow the plans set out for the day, to ensure the safety of the children and to ensure that policies and procedures are always adhered to.
Knowledge
* A strong understanding of children's development and their needs.
* A strong knowledge of how to safeguard children.
* A minimum Level 2/3 qualification in Early Years or equivalent.
* An awareness of Special Needs and requirements needed to meet those needs.
* A willingness to develop own professional development. Training will be provided in-house, with refresher courses and online updates.
* An awareness of Health, Hygiene & Safety in the workplace.
* An awareness of Equal Opportunities.
* An appreciation of building strong partnerships with parents throughout the setting and confidently working through any concerns that may arise.
Abilities
* To have a sound knowledge of the Statutory Framework and work within its boundaries.
* Meeting deadlines efficiently.
* The ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with both the children and their families.
* To ensure that a high-level of quality childcare is always provided.
* To participate in promoting an effective team environment, and to follow best practice.
* Emotional resilience to support challenging behaviours.
* Able to communicate effectively with parents and colleagues.
* Able to work under pressure.
* Good organisational skills.
* Able to show reliability and initiative.
* To have a professional attitude and manner.
* An enthusiastic approach to work.
* Flexibility to work within the changing needs of the nursery.
* A willingness to adhere to nursery learning targets.
* Able to write reports, observations and provide comprehensive daily feedback to parents and carers.
* Being able to work as part of a team, developing positive relationships with children, colleagues, parents and any outside agencies.
* The ability to carry out light physical duties to include lifting babies and children. To include household tasks and setting up resources.
* A positive attitude to the use of authority and maintaining discipline.
* Act with integrity and trust. Be sensitive about what you say and how you act around the children.
* Make time to acknowledge all families, including visits and settle sessions.
* Always remember you are part of a team, acknowledging your colleagues throughout your day builds a stronger work environment.
* To support and raise awareness amongst your colleagues of the benefits of personal development.
* A willingness to learn and abide by the nursery policies and procedures.
Roles and responsibilities
* To deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework and other appropriate guidance for young children in accordance with the nursery policies and procedures.
* Plan a nurturing and enriching curriculum in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), record observations and achievements, noting progression and continuity to support next steps for each child.
* Ensure that you are providing an attractive, stimulating and safe environment for the children both indoors and outside.
* Activities planned and provided are following the children's interests and support their developmental needs.
* To deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and any other guidance for young children in accordance with nursery policy and guidelines.
* To plan a nurturing and enriching curriculum in line with the EYFS, report observations and achievements and continually look for progression and continuity.
* To support the team fully to provide an inclusive room that reflects cultural, religious, ethical or personal preference that relates to religion or cultural beliefs.
* Ensure that the learning environment you provide for the children in your care is attractive, stimulating and a safe environment for the children both inside and outside.
* Be vigilant and diplomatic if you feel that there is a safeguarding or protection issue pertinent to a child, their family or a staff member. Following safeguarding procedures if there is any doubt.
* Follow the room risk assessments and other areas within the setting, be aware and input into and significant changes.
* To always ensure the room is kept tidy and organised to allow for the efficient use of time and to maintain the high-quality standards that are set as our ongoing objective.
* To have sound knowledge and understanding of all policies and procedures.
* Actively work the Key Worker system and allocate key children to all staff in your room.
* Consideration should be made to EAL children.
* Maintain accurate records for all children including attendance registers. Update the nursery software of any child absences and inform the SMT of any concerns or patterns that could be emerging.
* Work in partnership with parents/carers, recognising that parents are their children's first educators. Encourage parental involvement in nursery life as much as possible.
* To support the junior staff ensuring they always provide high quality childcare which is modelled by you.
* To ensure that you input into your staff 6 weekly supervisions. Be proactive in contributing to effective team working and foster open and honest communication amongst all the team within the setting.
* Commit to on-going personal learning and development and attend on and off the job training when appropriate.
* Work in partnership with Early Years professionals, for example, the Local Authority and SENCo.
* To comply with requests to work outside normal working hours, within reason, for example to attend monthly staff meetings and nursery events.
* To also cover if staff are unexpectedly unavailable to work or are on holiday.
* Ensure your team adhere to the nursery policies regarding personal health, hygiene, dress code, punctuality, sickness and absence and general appearance.
* Ensure that your base room jobs are performed in line with the demands of the start and end of the day.
* Where appropriate support the children in serving their own food, milk, water and snacks. Encourage good nutrition and social eating with their peers.
* Assist children with personal care, including changing nappies, assisting with toileting and other associated welfare duties.
* Ensure children have adequate access to the outdoor learning areas.
* Assist and attend regular parents' meetings and open days to promote the setting. Ensure that parents are familiar with the security procedures surrounding drop off and collection (passwords etc)
* Providing comprehensive daily feedback to parents about their child's day.
* If you will not be present during the handover, ensure that you have given any relevant information about your key child to a member of your team.
* Notify parents, alongside nursery procedures, if their child is unwell or sick.
* Being aware of situations outside of the setting that may influence a child's behaviour.
* To assist the Manager and Senior Management Team (SMT) in ensuring that resources for the room are ordered in a timely fashion and in accordance with the nursery budget and are age appropriate.
* To ensure the resources, toys and equipment are organised, stored correctly, cleaned weekly and any breakages are reported to the office.
* Working with your team to have an ongoing resource plan.
* To clean obvious marks or spillages (doors, floors, walls etc) as soon as reasonably practical.
* To ensure the room cleaning is carried out daily.
* To make sure any signs, pictures or displays that are fixed to the wall are tidy, appropriate and in keeping with nursery standards. To change displays regularly and in line with the long-term plan and aspirations.
* To ensure that all storage containers available to children are labelled correctly and the correct resources are in the relevant container.
* Messy play needs to be cleared away and all resources cleaned immediately after the activity has finished.
* To make sure that the room, toilets and corridor are left tidy and cleared away at the end of every day. This is to include children's clothing, shoes, resources, cups, plates and utensils. The room is to be set up ready for the next morning.
* To answer the phone when required appropriately and with a professional manner.
Values
* Be a role model for your colleagues as well as the children in your care.
* Be trustworthy and honest and to reflect the values of the nursery.
* Reflect on your own practice and look for ways to improve. Act with integrity and trust.
* Have respect for each other. Everyone matters regardless of race, gender, culture, age, capability, orientation or religion.
* Parents are our partners in the outcomes for their children. Always be safety conscious. Do not procrastinate, deal with important issues straight away.
* Consult with colleagues and management in a positive and meaningful manner.
* Have a positive attitude towards others and your work. Keep your sense of humour even when times are difficult.
* Think about what you are saying and the consequences that can arise from what is said.
* To treat others how you, yourself would like to be treated. Be sensitive about what you say in front of the children.
* Always remember you are part of a team. Make time to acknowledge children, parents, visitors and your colleagues.
* Be respectful of other people's property. Always ask before borrowing resources from another room and return them, complete, in a timely manner.
* There will always be time to talk to your colleagues but please be mindful that the needs of the children must always come first.
* Be imaginative and proactive in the outdoor learning areas when setting out activities for the children.
Health & Safety Responsibilities
* Help to maintain the safety and security of the children, colleagues and visitors to the setting.
* Understand and abide by the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.
* Ensure electronic child registers are correctly updated.
* To responsible alongside your colleagues for the cleanliness of the children.
Paperwork required
The following is a summary of the paperwork used to correctly manage a room which relates to the activities detailed above. Much of this paperwork is statutory, so is an essential part of a nursery practitioners' role. Please ensure paperwork is up to date, neat and tidy, correctly spelt and well written. If you have any reservations about your abilities with paperwork (such as Dyslexia) then please have your work checked by the SMT.
* Logging a concern (safeguarding)
* SENCo Strength and difficulties questionnaire.
* Child profiles, observations and notes.
* Risk Assessments.
* Accident or incident forms.
* Head injury forms.
* Dietary witness forms.
* Planning sheets.
* Consent forms.
* Allergy forms.
* Display information.
* Cleaning rotas.
* Toys, bins etc
* Room temperature forms.
* Daily environmental checks.
* Closing checks.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time
Pay: Up to 25,875.20 per year
Expected hours: 40 per week
Benefits:
* Childcare
* Free parking
* On-site parking
Work Location: In person
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