Outdoor Early Years Practitoner

Job summary

Pay: £26,000.00 - £29,000.00 per year

Job description:

LEVEL 3 EARLY YEARS OUTDOOR PRACTITIONER
The World Outside Kindergarten – Kidderminster

Full Time | 37.5 Hours Per Week

£26,000–£29,000 depending on skills and experience

ABOUT US

We’re not a traditional nursery.

The World Outside is a specialist outdoor kindergarten set within secure woodland on a secondary school site in Kidderminster. We are rated Good by Ofsted and work with families who actively choose independence, resilience and a childhood rooted in real experiences

We don’t spend our days indoors.
We don’t rely on plastic provision.
We don’t follow rigid timetables.

We climb trees.
We light fires.
We build dens.
We follow children’s curiosity.

We take safeguarding, child development and professional standards seriously.

And we work hard.

THIS IS NOT A DESK JOB

You will work in rain, mud, frost, sunshine and wind.

If that excites you, keep reading.

If you prefer being indoors most of the day, this role won’t be the right fit — and that’s okay.

WHAT MAKES THIS ROLE DIFFERENT

• Daily woodland learning in a secure site
• Small cohort and strong family relationships
• Rated Good by Ofsted
• High professional standards and reflective practice
• Animals and food growing on site
• Fire circle cooking
• Dedicated planning time within working hours
• Uniform and outdoor kit provided
• Additional paid birthday leave
• Genuine opportunities for progression (Level 5 Lead, SENCO, Forest School training and beyond)
• A close-knit team where your ideas genuinely matter

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING

• Delivering high-quality outdoor early years provision in line with the EYFS.
• Observing, assessing and planning responsively.
• Supporting children’s independence, resilience and confidence.
• Leading purposeful small group learning in woodland environments.
• Providing high-quality personal care, including nappies and toileting.
• Caring for animals and maintaining the environment.
• Building strong, professional relationships with families.
• Contributing to safeguarding and reflective team practice.
• Every day is different.
• Plans adapt.
• Children lead.
• The weather changes.

THE PERSON WE ARE LOOKING FOR

You will:

• Hold a full and relevant Level 3 qualification.
• Genuinely love working outdoors (in all seasons, not just the sunny ones).
• Be physically capable of an active woodland day.
• Be warm, confident and professional with families.
• Have a strong understanding of safeguarding and child development.
• Be organised, reflective and proactive.
• Work well within a close-knit team where everyone pulls their weight.

?

If you hold (or are working towards) a SENCO, DSL or Forest School Leader qualification, that would be a significant advantage.

If you bring additional strengths in SEND, behavior support, ecology or outdoor leadership — we absolutely want to hear about them.

Passion for outdoor childhood is essential.

SALARY AND HOURS

This is a full-time position, 37.5 hours per week.

Salary range: £25,500–£26,500 per year depending on experience, confidence and contribution.

We believe skilled outdoor practitioners should be valued appropriately.

WHAT A TYPICAL DAY LOOKS LIKE

• Morning woodland checks and a thorough daily risk assessment.
• Team check-in. Tea. Review the weather. Adjust the plan.
• Welcoming children and families with warmth and professionalism.
• Delivering personal care, including nappy changing and toileting — because this is early years, not just outdoor adventure.
• Supporting animal feeding and garden care alongside the children.
• Observing interests closely and adapting plans responsively.
• Facilitating child-led exploration and purposeful small group learning in the woodland.
• Fire circle and shared cooking whenever we can.
• Snack and conversation outdoors.
• Recording observations. Reflecting as a team. Planning next steps.
• Resetting the woodland and ensuring the site is ready for tomorrow.

You will go home physically tired.
You will go home muddy.
You will go home knowing your work matters.

NEXT STEPS

Think this might be the role you’ve been waiting for?

Brilliant.

Complete our using the link in the email. It won’t take long — but it will tell us far more about you than a CV ever could.

If shortlisted, you will complete our formal safer recruitment application form (because safeguarding matters here).

And if everything aligns, we’ll invite you into the woodland to meet the team and spend time with us properly — because choosing the right person works both ways.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Benefits:

• Free parking
• On-site parking

Application question(s):

• Are you ready to spend your days adventuring in nature—come rain, shine, or snow?
• Are you able to commute daily to our woodland base in Kidderminster?
• Would you like a full time or part time position?
• Do you hold a Level 3 in Early Years/ Early years educator/Early years practitioner or similar qualification that is recognised in the Early years qualifications Checklist?

Work Location: In person