Job: Nursery Practitioner Level 3 (Term-time only)

Give Openshaw's youngest children the best start in life

We're a community charity with one purpose: creating stronger communities together. Our nursery is at the heart of that. As an Early Years Educator, you'll be a key person for a small group of children, helping them grow in confidence, curiosity and readiness for school.

Same job you love. Every school holiday off.

At Manchester Settlement, our nursery runs on a term-time only contract. You'll do the work you love for 38 weeks a year and have the school holidays to rest, recharge and enjoy life outside work.

40 Hours per week, 38 weeks per year contract (term time only)

Between hours of 7.30am-6pm

Usual shift 9.30am – 6pm Monday to Friday

The role and key responsibilities:

• Contribute to a programme of activities that meet the individual needs and interests of children
• Plan for the EYFS curriculum areas and ensure rich indoor and outdoor experiences are available, to keep your own planning up to date.
• Keep records of your key children’s development, learning journeys and assessments and share these with parents, carers and other key adults in the child’s life
• Follow the nursery safeguarding procedures to ensure all children are kept safe, well and secure
• Engage in good team working
• Liaise with and support parents and other family members
• Attend out of working hours activities, e.g. training, staff meetings, parents’ evening, fundraising events etc.
• Be flexible within working practices of the nursery. Be prepared to help where needed, including undertaking certain domestic jobs within the nursery, e.g. preparation of snack meals, cleansing of equipment etc.
• Provide cover for the Room Leader when required, including taking responsibility for their line management duties and ensuring the effective day-to-day management of the team.
• Work alongside the Manager and staff team to ensure that the nursery’s philosophy is fulfilled
• Read, understand and adhere to all policies, procedures and developments relevant to your role as deemed appropriate by the Manager
• Keep accurate records, recording daily diary events, accidents, incidents, medication, safeguarding concerns and ensuring these are reported and shared where needed.
• Ensure someone known and agreed by the nursery and parent collects the child
• Respect the confidentiality of all information received.
• Follow at all times the Curriculum and welfare requirements of the EYFS
• Contribute to maintaining and improving nursery OFSTED standards

Specific childcare tasks

• Planning, preparation ,completion and review of activities to suit each individual child's stage of development and interests in your key group
• Develop your role within the team especially with regard as a key person
• Ensure that children’s nutritional needs are met and meal times are a time of pleasant social sharing
• Personal care- washing and changing children as required supporting with toilet training
• Ensure good standards of safety, hygiene and cleanliness are maintained at all times
• Ensuring a poorly child is kept calm and warm and management is notified immediately
• Develop and maintain strong partnerships and communications with parents/carers to facilitate day-to-day caring and early learning needs
• Ensure the provision of a safe high-quality environment to meet the needs of individual children regardless of any disabilities, family backgrounds or medical history
• Carry out observations on children, maintain records and update learning journeys as required.
• Be aware of the high profile of the nursery and to uphold its high standards at all times, both within work hours and outside.
• Provide cover for the Room Leader when required, undertaking delegated line management responsibilities, supporting staff, addressing day-to-day issues, and helping to ensure the room operates effectively in the Room Leader’s absence.

Our ideal candidate...

• is passionate about children having ‘the best start in life’
• is patient
• has a nurturing and caring nature
• is creative and imaginative
• has previous experience working with children, preferably in a similar setting
• Has a good understanding of the EYFS and child development

Essential Qualifications and Characteristics

• A relevant Level 3 qualification in childcare or education
• Able to plan and deliver creative activities for children to meet their needs and interests
• Able to demonstrate excellent communication skills, have good spoken and written English and the ability to interact well with adults and children.
• Able to demonstrate the ability to work as part of a team
• Able to demonstrate a passion for childcareAble to demonstrate an excellent work ethic.
• Able to work in a team setting
• Able to commit to learning and development opportunities around supporting children
• Knowledge of the requirements to safeguard children

Desirable:

• Able to use Microsoft computer packages and other software
• Able to demonstrate good organisational and time management skills
• Knowledge and understanding of equal opportunities good practice with children and families
• Able to demonstrate functional skills in maths and English
• Ability to communicate in languages other than English
• Experience following risk assessments to ensure the delivery of safe activities