L3 EY Practitioner/ Nursery lead & Key Person

Job summary

At Little Lions, we believe every child is unique and nurturing their success and growth is at the heart of what we do.

We are seeking a new team member to lead our well-established, and nurturing Butterfly Nursery key group, supporting children aged 3 years 6 months to rising 5 years. A full handover will be provided, including role-modelling, guidance and on-the-job training.

We are looking for applicants that have a positive attitude towards working with children aged from one to rising five years old, whilst providing the key essentials of support, care and high-quality education within the setting environment.

We are a pack away pre-school. As part of this role you will be required to assist with setting up and packing away the pre-school. Heavy lifting and cleaning will be required.

Applicants must:

·  Be qualified in a Level 3 early years education and childcare qualification (or equivalent).

·  Hold a current enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate. 

Preferable skills:

·  Baby training

·  Experience working with children with SEN

·  Safeguarding training up to date

·  Up to date paediatric first aid training

Hours: Monday   08:45 – 15:40

    Tuesday   08:50 – 15:40

    Wednesday    08:50 - 15:40

    Thursday   08:50 – 15:40

    Friday   08:50 – 15:40

The above hours include a 30-minute unpaid lunchbreak Monday-Friday. Your hourly rate is £12.36.(subject to age, and qualification) In April 2026 the hourly rate will increase to £12.86 for this role.

We are a term-time setting. We use the calendar week method to calculate holiday pay. Your holiday entitlement is based on 5.6 weeks statutory holiday pay per year. Your holiday pay will be calculated based on the average paid to you during the previous 52 weeks, discounting any weeks in which you did not receive pay (with a maximum of 104 weeks’ timeframe). If you do not have 52 weeks’ service, the calculation will be based on the number of weeks you have worked for Little Lions Pre-school and Nursery.

Your holiday pay will be displayed on your payslip in addition to hours worked each month using the calendar week method.

Job Role and responsibilities:

·  You must demonstrate a good understanding of all current early years’ legislation.

·  Support the management team in delivering the Early Years foundation stage.

·  Demonstrate a good understanding of all current early years’ legislation.

·  As the Butterfly Nursey class lead, you will be responsible for planning and delivering the daily nursery sessions for children aged 3 years 6 months up to rising 5 years.

·  Lead the structured nursery class routine, ensuring it reflects the needs, interests and development stages of the children.

·  Complete evaluation forms for each nursery class by observing and evidencing learning and development, supporting goals, planning and implementing next steps.

·  Ensure learning journals are kept up to date and accurately reflect each child’s learning, development and experiences at Little Lions Pre-school and Nursery

·  Work in partnership with parents to extend and support children’s learning at home whilst developing and distributing literacy-focussed homework

·  conduct parent consultations twice a year and as required

·  Prepare children and their families for school readiness and support all transition processes.

·  Share key information with parents regarding the nursery class activities/themes

• Help to set up the setting and activities for each day, following the weekly theme, planning and following children’s interests. You will help to tidy up each day and will be on a rota to pack away the setting.

·  support children to settle into nursery and to form crucial attachment relationships.

·  You will adhere to all safe sleeping guidance for children who nap during their session.

·  If not already completed, you are required to complete safeguarding and first aid training.

·  Attend further training required for the role, share new knowledge with team members and plan how to implement it within the setting.

·  You will need to be a reflective practitioner, who is proactive in your approach to daily tasks and situations and be able to adapt to our current cohort.

·  Observe and maintain all cleaning and hygiene practices relating to the setting, in addition to this you will participate in scheduled deep cleaning days.

·  Adhere to food hygiene standards and complete kitchen property checks, whilst preparing snack for the children.

·  Support children whilst they eat their snack and their lunch.

·  Complete 2 years checks where relevant, and complete progress summary reports at the end of each term  

·  Work closely with the SENCo to support children’s individual needs and assist the SENCo in completing assessments such as, IAELD and IEP’s and any other assessment tools on your key children by sharing knowledge, when necessary.

·  Work closely with other keyworkers and SENCo to support all children with Special Educational Needs.

·  Work in partnership with parents to extend and support children’s learning at home.

·  Undertake parent consultations twice a year and on a needs basis and be able to give general feedback information at collection times.

·  Learn and enforce the Little Lions behaviour management strategies in place, and to meet individual children’s needs.

·  Maintain confidentiality at all times regarding information related to children, their families and members of the team.

·  Promote teamwork in conjunction with other team members and work placement students.

·  Attend team meetings and planning sessions, outside of normal working hours (as required)

·  Report in detail all incidents/accidents affecting the welfare of the children within your care.

·  Understand how to respond to safeguarding concerns.

·  Commit to developing and maintaining a multi-cultural, anti-racist and non-sexist environment that respects everyone’s individual difference.

·  Ensure all statutory, legal and setting obligations are followed and met, including all safeguarding measures.

·  Undertake any other reasonable duties as directed by the managers, in accordance with the pre-school business plan/objectives

NB This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Applicants must be prepared to disclose any convictions they may have and any orders that may have been made against them