Early Years Nursery Practitioner

Job summary

Join Our Team at Bunny Run Nursery!

Rated Ofsted Good | Family-Run for Over 30 Years | Set in 5 Acres of Woodland

Who We Are

Bunny Run is one of the largest independent nurseries in East Sussex. We're a family-run setting based in beautiful rural Hellingly, operating for over 30 years and currently rated Good by Ofsted.

Set in 5 acres of private woodland, our 140-place nursery includes dedicated baby, nursery, and preschool areas, each with their own gardens and outdoor learning environments — including our very own Forest School. We’re proud of our strong community ties and our nurturing, child-led approach to early years care.

The Role

We’re looking for an enthusiastic, active, and caring Early Years Practitioner to join our busy, nature-based setting. If you love being outdoors, keeping busy, and supporting young children to thrive — this is the role for you.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Supporting the learning and development of children aged 6 months to 4 years in line with the EYFS framework
• Acting as a key person to a small group of children — building strong relationships with children and their families
• Carrying out high-quality observations and updating online learning journals
• Recognising when additional support or early intervention is required
• Maintaining a nurturing and safe environment at all times
• Following safeguarding and child protection procedures confidently

What We’re Looking For

• Previous experience working in a nursery setting with children aged 6 months – 4 years
• A Level 2 or 3 qualification in Early Years (or equivalent)
• Strong knowledge of the EYFS and safeguarding practices
• A positive, proactive, and kind attitude
• A love for the outdoors and child-led play

Why Join Us?

We truly value our staff and strive to create a supportive, fun, and rewarding work environment. Some of our staff perks include:

• Competitive salary and company pension
• Hot lunch provided daily and free uniform
• Detached staff room for relaxing breaks
• Weekly treats and birthday celebrations with cake!
• Staff of the Month prize
• Six-weekly staff meetings with Domino’s pizza
• All-expenses-paid Christmas party
• Discounted Wave Active gym membership
• Ongoing training and development opportunities (internal and external)

Additional Info

• This role is subject to an enhanced DBS check (unless on the update service)
• References will be required prior to starting
• The nursery operates Monday–Friday, 7:30am–6:00pm, 51 weeks per year (closed between Christmas and New Year)