Nursery Practitioner

NURSERY PRACTITIONER

Location: The Little Leopards Nursery, The Dixie Grammar Junior School, Wellsborough, Leicestershire

Contract: Full-time (40 hours per week) or part-time considered (All-Year-Round, 51 weeks, with a week’s closure at Christmas)

Salary: £27,040 - £28,080 per annum (dependent upon qualifications and experience)

Welcome to the Little Leopards Nursery, a warm and nurturing 'home-from-home' environment where our youngest children feel safe, deeply valued and secure enough to confidently explore the world around them.

As part of the prestigious Dixie Grammar School, a selective, co-educational independent school renowned for its warm, community ethos and beautiful rural settings, our nursery combines family-focused care with exceptional educational foundations.

These newly created roles are based at our beautiful Nursery and Junior site in Wellsborough. We are delighted to be expanding our high-quality provision to care for children from 6 months and up, operating 51 weeks a year from 7.30am to 6pm. This is an exciting, unique opportunity to play a crucial role in the launch of the Little Leopards Nursery as we prepare to open our doors to our youngest children this September.

The Role

As a Nursery Practitioner, you will be a key part of the team driving and delivering the highest standards of care throughout the nursery, ensuring alignment with Ofsted and ISI (“Independent Schools Inspectorate”) requirements. You will create a stimulating environment, build strong relationships with families, and support our young children as they grow, learn, and play.

What We Are Looking For

● Experience working within a similar 0-5 early years setting.

● Candidates should ideally be qualified to NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Childcare/Early Years.

● A passion for early years and a commitment to further development.

● Good knowledge and understanding of the EYFS framework and Ofsted requirements.

● Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

● An empathetic, flexible, and passionate practitioner who thrives in a team environment.

What We Offer

● A friendly, supportive, and prestigious working environment.

● 28 days paid annual leave (including Bank Holidays).

● Complimentary lunches.

● Fee remission for the Dixie Grammar School.

● 5% matched pension contribution on qualifying earnings.

How to Apply

Please send a letter of application and a completed application form (available on our website at www.dixie.org.uk) by email to: [email protected]

● Deadline for applications: 12 noon Friday 2 October 2026.

● Interviews: Week commencing 24 October 2026.

● Start Date: Immediate / Flexible to accommodate notice periods.

To request an application form, please call 01455 292244 (Option 4) or download directly from www.dixie.org.uk. We reserve the right to shortlist and interview qualified candidates early should suitable applications be received.

No Agencies Please.

Safer Recruitment Statement

The School is committed to the safety and well-being of its students and is rigorous in its appointment procedures ensuring that the latest guidance is followed in respect of safer recruitment of staff, including visiting staff and, where required, volunteers. The School has a positive and effective Equal Opportunities Policy, actively promotes equality of opportunity and ensures that all recruitment is undertaken in line with the policy, Keeping Children Safe in Education (Sept 2026), Safer Recruitment principles and the Equality Act 2010. The School will comply with the Disqualification under the Childcare Act 2006 (DUCA), the Prevent Duty Guidance for England and Wales (2023) and any guidance or code of practice published by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

Pay: Up to £28,080.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Discounted or free food
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• On-site parking

Work Location: In person