Early Years Practitioner

Monday to Friday – 9:00am to 3:00pm | Term Time Only

Are you passionate about giving children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) the best start in life?
Are you ambitious, committed, and ready to make a real impact on early years provision across West Berkshire?

If this sounds like you – we’d love to hear from you!

At Dingley’s Promise, our centres provide a welcoming and inclusive space where children aged 0–5 with SEND can develop essential skills through play. We also support families with practical advice and training, and work with mainstream settings to promote inclusive practice.

As an Early Years Practitioner, you will work under the guidance of the Centre Manager/Deputy Centre Manager as part of a collaborative team, ensuring the day-to-day delivery of high-quality care and learning opportunities for our children. This role is key to delivering our charity’s vision and values.

Key Responsibilities

General Duties:

• Maintain a safe, clean, and stimulating environment in the playrooms.
• Plan and set up activities tailored to individual children's needs.
• Build strong relationships with families and professionals involved in your Key Children’s development.
• Act as a Key Person for a group of children, observing, assessing, and planning to support their progress.

Early Years Practice:

• Observe children during sessions, identifying their interests and developmental needs.
• Record and share observations with the team and families.
• Engage in ‘shared play’ or reflective interaction to support learning.
• Apply appropriate teaching strategies and be responsive to children’s emotional needs.
• Guide parents/carers in understanding and meeting their child’s play and development needs.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Work flexibly as a team member and independently when required.
• Promote inclusive and developmentally appropriate play experiences, including music, stories, and movement (training provided).
• Commit to ongoing professional development by attending relevant training and sharing learning with colleagues.
• Support other Dingley’s Promise centres when needed, by mutual agreement.
• Participate in up to 4 voluntary fundraising events annually (events beyond this will be paid).

Key Person Role

As a Key Person, you will:

• Maintain detailed developmental records for your Key Children.
• Collaborate with parents/carers to set next steps and contribute to EHCPs and annual review reports.
• Take the lead in preparing reports for Education, Health, and Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA) requests.

Person Specification

You will be:

• Approachable, friendly, and empathetic to parents, including in times of distress.
• Committed to making every parent feel welcomed, supported, and involved.
• Comfortable working collaboratively with a team and attending regular staff meetings.

You will have:

• A Level 3 qualification in Children’s Care, Learning and Development (or equivalent), or be working towards it.
• The ability to plan and coordinate play activities that support each child’s stage of development.
• Strong communication skills with children of varying abilities and backgrounds.
• Understanding of inclusive play practices and how to adapt materials and activities accordingly.
• Awareness of health and safety regulations relevant to children’s play environments.
• Some specialist knowledge from training or courses, and a willingness to share this with your team.

Join us and be part of a supportive, forward-thinking team making a real difference to children with SEND and their families.

Apply today to help us build brighter futures, together.

“Dingley’s Promise are committed to the safety and wellbeing of the children in our care, as such the successful post holder will be required to undergo a robust vetting process, including an enhanced DBS Check and Reference History Checks”

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We value diversity and inclusion, selecting staff based solely on skills, experience, and qualifications. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, or belief, and are committed to maintaining a respectful and inclusive workplace.

Ref: DINGLEY1

Pay: £13.15 per hour

Expected hours: 27.5 per week

Work Location: In person