Senior Practitioner (Pre-School)

Role Summary

• Position: Senior Early Years Practitioner
  

• Reports To: Nursery Manager / Deputy Nursery Manager
  

• Grade: Senior Level
  

• Hours: 38 hours per week (Monday–Friday, 4-day shift pattern at 9.5 hours/day)
  

• Yearly Salary: £28,118.48 per annum (£14.23 per hour)
  

• Holiday Entitlement: 213 hours per year (includes bank holidays and Christmas shutdown)
  

• Key Benefits: Health Benefit Scheme, Discount & Perk Scheme, Discounted Childcare
  

Core Purpose

To work as a professional Senior Early Years Practitioner, providing high-quality care and education while taking daily responsibility for children's safety and well-being. This role involves room-level supervisory duties, leading staff, delegating daily tasks, and ensuring full compliance with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and child welfare standards.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

1. Leadership & Room Management

• Daily Operations: Manage and lead the room on a day-to-day basis, maintaining high standards of practice and creating a stimulating, attractive environment.
  

• Staff Supervision: Delegate tasks and responsibilities within the room, mentor colleagues, and act as a positive role model for staff, students, and children.
  

• Management Cover: Step up in the absence of the Nursery Manager or Deputy Manager to ensure safety procedures are met, make operational decisions, and communicate diplomatically with staff and parents.
  

• Premises Security: Act as a keyholder when required to open or lock up nursery sites, ensuring full security of the premises.
  

2. Safeguarding & Child Welfare

• Child Protection: Demonstrate full knowledge of child protection policies and actively follow all safeguarding procedures to protect children's physical, emotional, social, and intellectual well-being.
  

• Health & Safety: Maintain health and safety standards across indoor and outdoor areas by conducting regular risk assessments and daily checks.
  

• Accident & Injury Care: Administer care for injured children, monitor them throughout the day, complete accurate accident forms, and obtain parent signatures at collection.
  

3. Curriculum, Learning & Assessment

• EYFS Planning: Plan and prepare age-appropriate, engaging activities aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage framework.
  

• Progress Tracking: Act as a key worker, maintaining accurate child profile records and developmental tracking on digital platforms (e.g., Famly), while assisting other staff with their tracking responsibilities.
  

• Behavior Management: Positively manage children's behavior in line with nursery policy.
  

4. Communication & Daily Operations

• Parent Partnerships: Maintain clear, proactive communication with parents and carers regarding their child's progress. Participate in parents' evenings, nursery promotion, fundraising events, and children's outings.
  

• Equal Opportunities: Promote anti-discriminatory practice and ensure equal opportunities for all children, families, and staff members.
  

• Hygiene & Meal Prep: Maintain high standards of hygiene and cleanliness. Prepare meals and baby bottles following strict hygiene procedures when required.
  

Requirements: Must hold a Level 3 Early Years / Childcare qualification

Benefits

• Hours: 38 hours per week (Monday–Friday, 4-day shift pattern at 9.5 hours/day)
  

• Yearly Salary: £28,118.48 per annum (£14.23 per hour)
  

• Holiday Entitlement: 213 hours per year (includes bank holidays and Christmas shutdown)
  

• Key Benefits: Health Benefit Scheme, Discount & Perk Scheme, Discounted Childcare