Nursery Practitioner

JOB TITLE: Nursery Practitioner

REPORTING TO: Room Leader

Salary: £13.32 per hour equivalent to £26,040 per annum pro rata,

Hours: up to 32.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, term time only

Annual Leave: 36 days per year including public holidays. Holiday entitlement is calculated pro rata for term time only and part time contracts. For term time only posts, leave must not be taken during term time.

Location: The Vinery Centre, 20 Vinery Terrace, Leeds LS9 9LU.

We are recruiting Level 3 Nursery Practitioners.

Rated Outstanding by OFSTED, Jimbo’s Community Nursery offers something truly special: high quality mainstream and specialist early years education right in the heart of East Leeds with great transport links from the city centre.

We are looking forward to welcoming Level 3 Nursery Practitioners to join our outstanding team.

We have a range of hours to suit - see our website for further details.

You’ll be part of a strong, experienced team, surrounded by colleagues who support one another and backed by specialist training tailored to your role.

As part of Leeds Mencap, a respected local charity, our nursery is based in a modern, air conditioned, purpose built centre with excellent facilities and resources including sensory rooms and a soft play area with a ball pool. You’ll be joining a setting that’s expertly led by our highly skilled and supportive Childcare Manager, giving you the guidance and confidence to grow in your career.

We want to be able to offer places to the many children who want to start coming to the nursery. This is why we’re now recruiting Level 3 Nursery Practitioners to join team.

We’re proud to be the only nursery in the city with a dedicated specialist playroom designed to support children with additional needs.

“Working for a local charity nursery is incredibly rewarding, every day we see the difference we are making in children’s lives – helping them grow, learn and thrive. I am proud to be part of such a brilliant, dedicated team that truly puts children at the heart of everything we do.” Nursery Practitioner

“All the staff at Jimbos are fantastic I cannot fault one member of staff, they are like a big family and treat my child like one of their own children.” - Jimbo’s parent

Alongside the nursery Leeds Mencap also offers services to children and young people with a learning disability, their families and carers. The nursery and Family Services often work together to support children and their families, and the support we offer is long-term and meaningful.

Main duties and responsibilities:

Overall:

• Work under the guidance of the Childcare Manager and Deputy Managers.
• Deliver high quality childcare and education.
• Establish positive working relationships with your colleagues and any other professionals that work with the children and their families.
• Work in partnership with other childcare providers and schools to promote the successful transition of children into other settings.
• Support the on-going development of services.

High Standards of Care and Education for the Children:

· Effectively implement the setting’s policies and procedures.

· Encourage working practices that positively promote children’s health, safety and general wellbeing.

· Protect children from danger.

· Liaise with parents/carers to help ensure that the particular needs of children are met and that parental choice is considered in terms of care given.

· Sustain a safe, welcoming, purposeful, stimulating and encouraging environment.

· Promote the use of informed observation and other strategies to monitor children’s activity, development and progress systematically and carefully, and to use this information to inform, plan and improve practice and provision.

· Support the process of effective assessment, by accurately recording the children’s developmental progress.

· Plan and provide safe, appropriate, child-led and adult initiated experiences, activities and play opportunities in indoor, outdoor and in out-of-setting contexts, which enable children to develop and learn.

· Select, prepare and use a range of resources suitable for children’s ages, interests and abilities, taking account of diversity and promoting equality and inclusion.

· Actively support the development of children’s language and communication skills.

· Promote positive behaviour, self-control and independence through using effective behaviour management strategies and developing children’s social, emotional and behavioural skills.

· Work in partnership with parents, colleagues and other professionals to ensure co-ordinated support for children with additional needs.

Relationships with children and families:

• Establish fair, respectful, trusting, supportive and constructive relationships with children, by communicating sensitively and effectively with children.
• Listen to children, pay attention to what they say and respect their views.
• Establish fair, respectful, trusting and constructive relationships with families and parents/carers and communicate sensitively and effectively with them.

· Work in partnership with parents/carers and other family members, providing formal and informal opportunities through which information about children’s well-being, development and learning can be shared to improve outcomes.

• To ensure effective means of communication to families using the centre regarding the provision, including through letters home, notice boards, etc.

Staff and Team Development:

· Complete a staff induction programme.

· Attend and positively contribute to staff meetings.

· Attend relevant training courses.

General Operational:

• Ensure that all Ofsted requirements are met.
• Ensure the safety and wellbeing of children in your care working within safeguarding policy and procedures.
• Ensure the efficient and hygienic upkeep of the rooms and facilities.
• Ensure the confidentiality of information about families accessing the setting, complying with Data Protection Act.
• Assess the safety of equipment and resources within the setting.
• Keep up to date with the nutritional needs of the children, so that that specialist diets are adhered to and to ensure individual feeding programmes are implemented.
• To provide cover to deliver within the setting as needed.

· To provide child development reports as required.

· Any other duties and tasks as requested, to support organisational activities, such as fundraising events and staff meetings.

Person Specification for Nursery Practitioners

In order to fulfil the requirements of the post, applicants must meet the following criteria. Candidates will only be short listed for interview if they can demonstrate in their application that they can, or have the potential, to meet these criteria (essential criteria are marked (E) and desirable criteria are marked (D)).

· Essential Criteria - E. Desirable Criteria - D

· Experience of working in an early years setting. D

· Experience of working with children in the 0-5 age range and their families. E

· Experience of working as a member of a team E

· Experience of planning and carrying out activities in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage D

· Experience of working to safeguard and protect children. E

· Experience of working with parents and carers from a range of backgrounds. D

· Clear communication skills with both adults and children, in writing and verbally. E Creative in approach to children’s learning and development. D

· Responsive to change and can adapt to new systems and flexible working patterns. E Able to plan and prioritise in a flexible way. D

· Able to plan enjoyable and challenging activities across the different areas of learning and development. E

· Clear commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. E

· Able to work collaboratively with colleagues and other professionals. E

· Able to produce good quality observations and reports. D

· Able to use various computer programmes, such as word and iConnect. D

· Level 3 childcare qualification or above E

· GCSE Maths and English at Grade C/4 or above or evidence of equivalent aptitude. E

· Knowledge of the EYFS requirements ideally E

· EYFS Observation, Assessment and Planning training. D

· Knowledge of how children develop and learn E

· Paediatric First Aid Certificate. D

· Able to demonstrate a commitment to ongoing personal and professional development. E

· Knowledge of the Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs. D

· Knowledge of data protection/ability to respect confidentiality E

· Knowledge of child protection issues and policies and relevant Safeguarding Children Board procedures. D

· Working knowledge of relevant Health and Safety requirements. D

· Working knowledge of Food Hygiene requirements. D

Leeds Mencap is committed to safeguarding all children, young people and adults at risk of harm. We expect all staff and volunteers to fully share and demonstrate this commitment. All posts are subject to an enhanced DBS check.

We aim for our team to reflect the diversity of people in Leeds and welcome applications from all communities.

If you share our passion about all children getting the very best start in life, whatever their background and ability, we would love to hear from you.

To apply please download application pack from our website https://www.leedsmencap.org.uk/jobs or contact [email protected]

Please note we do not accept CVs.

For more information please contact Abigail Cunningham on 0113 467 3050 or e-mail [email protected]

We would also ask you to complete our Equality and Diversity monitoring form. This form is for monitoring purposes only and will not be treated as part of your application.

• Please send completed forms to [email protected].

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent

Pay: £13.32 per hour

Benefits:

• Discounted or free food
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Sick pay
• Transport links

Application question(s):

• Only candidates with a valid Level 3 childcare qualification will be considered.

Experience:

• working with 0-5 age children and their families: 1 year (required)

Licence/Certification:

• Level 3 childcare qualification (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person