Nursery Practitioner Level 3

Responsible To

Room Leader, Nursery Managers and Responsible Individual (RI)

Location

Appletree Day Nursery
North Row, Redwick, Caldicot, Monmouthshire, NP26 3DX

Hours

Full-time – 40hrs

The nursery operates 52 weeks per year, Monday to Friday, and staff are required to work all year round, excluding annual leave and bank holidays (unless otherwise contracted).

Job Purpose

To provide high-quality care, learning and development opportunities for children aged 0–4 years, ensuring every child feels safe, valued and supported to reach their full potential.

The Level 3 Practitioner will work as part of a professional team to deliver outstanding childcare in accordance with:

• The National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare in Wales
• Child Minding and Day Care (Wales) Regulations
• Curriculum for Wales
• Development Pathway 0–3
• Flying Start requirements
• Early Education Funding requirements
• CIW expectations
• Nursery policies and procedures

The successful candidate will promote children's wellbeing, safeguard children at all times and build positive relationships with families.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Childcare and Learning

• Provide warm, responsive and nurturing care to all children.
• Plan and provide stimulating experiences that promote children's learning and development.
• Observe, assess and record children's progress using the nursery's online learning journal.
• Support children's emotional wellbeing and independence.
• Promote children's language, communication and social development.
• Ensure activities are inclusive and meet individual needs.
• Support children with Additional Learning Needs (ALN) where appropriate.
• Encourage children's curiosity through play-based learning.

Key Person Responsibilities

• Act as a Key Person for an allocated group of children.
• Build strong partnerships with parents and carers.
• Complete observations and assessments.
• Monitor children's development.
• Complete progress reviews and contribute to transition reports.
• Identify concerns early and follow nursery procedures.

Safeguarding

• Safeguard and promote the welfare of all children.
• Follow safeguarding procedures at all times.
• Report any concerns immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Person.
• Maintain professional boundaries.
• Ensure children's dignity and privacy are respected.

Health and Safety

• Maintain a safe, clean and stimulating environment.
• Carry out daily risk assessments.
• Follow infection prevention and control procedures.
• Administer medication in line with nursery policy (where trained).
• Promote healthy eating and good hygiene.
• Supervise meal and snack times.
• Ensure children are always appropriately supervised.

Flying Start and Education Funding

Where applicable:

• Deliver high-quality Flying Start childcare.
• Support Flying Start developmental targets.
• Work alongside professionals including Health Visitors, Speech and Language Therapists and other agencies.
• Contribute towards funded childcare documentation.
• Support children accessing Early Education Funding.
• Deliver learning experiences in line with Curriculum for Wales.

Working with Families

• Develop positive, respectful relationships with parents.
• Share information about children's development.
• Support settling-in sessions.
• Promote the nursery's values and ethos.
• Maintain confidentiality.

Teamwork

• Work collaboratively with colleagues.
• Attend staff meetings and training.
• Support students, apprentices and new staff where appropriate.
• Communicate effectively with the management team.
• Be flexible and willing to work across rooms when required.

Professional Practice

• Maintain a professional appearance and attitude.
• Follow all nursery policies and procedures.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Demonstrate excellent timekeeping and attendance.
• Undertake continuous professional development.
• Keep mandatory training up to date.

General Responsibilities

Practitioners are expected to:

• Prepare activities and learning environments.
• Support children's personal care, including nappy changing and toileting.
• Assist with sleep routines.
• Prepare and tidy play areas.
• Complete cleaning duties as part of the daily routine.
• Promote outdoor learning in all weather.
• Support outings and visits.
• Complete accident, incident and medication records accurately.
• Assist during inspections and quality assurance visits.
• Contribute ideas to improve practice.

Person Specification

Essential

• Level 3 qualification in Childcare recognised by Social Care Wales.
• Good understanding of child development.
• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively within a team.
• Reliable and flexible.
• Passionate about providing outstanding childcare.
• Good literacy and numeracy skills.
• Able to use digital systems for recording observations.

Desirable

• Paediatric First Aid qualification.
• Food Hygiene certificate.
• Experience working within Flying Start.
• Experience of Curriculum for Wales.
• Experience supporting children with Additional Learning Needs.
• Welsh language skills or willingness to develop Welsh language abilities.
• Knowledge of the Development Pathway 0–3.

Skills and Qualities

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• A caring and nurturing approach.
• Professionalism and integrity.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Patience and empathy.
• Initiative and problem-solving ability.
• Creativity and enthusiasm.
• Strong communication skills.
• Commitment to safeguarding.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure.
• High standards of cleanliness and organisation.

Physical Requirements

The role is physically active and includes:

• Lifting and carrying children where appropriate.
• Sitting on the floor and engaging in play.
• Working outdoors throughout the year.
• Assisting with manual handling tasks in accordance with training.
• Maintaining high levels of supervision throughout the day.

Safeguarding Statement

Appletree Day Nursery is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments are subject to:

• An enhanced DBS check.
• Satisfactory references.
• Verification of qualifications.
• Right to work checks.
• Social Care Wales registration (where required).
• A probationary period.

Equal Opportunities

Appletree Day Nursery is committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone is treated fairly and with respect. We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic.

Other Duties

This job description outlines the main duties of the post and is not intended to be an exhaustive list. The post holder may be required to undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the role to meet the changing needs of the nursery.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: From £30,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Childcare
• Company pension
• On-site parking

Experience:

• Childcare: 1 year (preferred)

Work Location: In person