Early Years Practitioner

Job summary

Early Years Practitioner

Acorn Early Years – Kents Hill 

If you are offered an EYP role, you will received a £500 recruitment bonus after successfully completing your 3 month probation period. 

Acorn Early Years is looking for a caring, enthusiastic and dedicated Early Years Practitioner to join our friendly and supportive team at Kents Hill Nursery. This is a fantastic opportunity for an early years professional who is passionate about delivering high?quality care and education in a nurturing, child?centred environment.

Our nursery building at Kents Hill has been designed in an innovative octagonal shape with a central atrium and light and spacious rooms. The nursery benefits from large garden areas which can be accessed from each of the rooms; this gives the children the opportunity to free-flow indoors and outdoors to access a full range of activities. The nursery have pet chickens who roam freely in part of the garden throughout the day, enabling the children to collect eggs and then take turns to take eggs home.

We offer full and part-time care for up to 60 children from the age of four months to four years, and are open from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round.

About the Role

As an Early Years Practitioner, you will play an important role in supporting children’s learning, development and wellbeing. You will work as part of a committed team to create engaging learning environments, deliver high?quality interactions and ensure every child feels safe, valued and supported to reach their full potential.

Key Responsibilities

Quality of Care & Practice

• Support a holistic approach to the EYFS curriculum
• Meet the individual care and learning needs of children
• Deliver high?quality interactions that support children’s development
• Promote positive behaviour in line with Acorn policies and procedures
• Follow and extend children’s interests through appropriate teaching methods
• Support planning in the moment and contribute to observations and assessments
• Promote children’s independence and physical development
• Monitor children’s progress and support next steps in learning

Environment & Resources

• Help create rich, stimulating learning environments indoors and outdoors
• Ensure resources and equipment are accessible, safe and well maintained
• Support first?hand learning experiences that meet the needs of all children

Key Person & Partnerships

• Act as an effective key person, building strong relationships with children and families
• Value parents as partners and communicate professionally and positively
• Complete accurate and timely documentation, including observations, care plans, accident forms, transitions and two?year checks (where applicable)

Teamwork & Professional Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively as part of a supportive team
• Support colleagues when needed, including less experienced practitioners
• Share relevant information with room teams and senior staff
• Reflect Acorn’s ethos, values, policies and procedures in daily practice
• Safeguard all children and follow safeguarding procedures at all times
• Support the smooth running of the room in the absence of senior staff when required

What We’re Looking For

• A good working knowledge of the EYFS and safeguarding requirements
• A warm, calm and child?centred approach
• Strong communication skills with children, parents and colleagues
• A genuine passion for early years care and education
• Confidence to role model positive behaviour and best practice
• Ability to work flexibly as part of a team

Why Join Acorn Early Years?

At Acorn, we are passionate about creating inclusive, nurturing environments where children and staff thrive. We value our teams and actively support professional development and progression.

We are proud to be an inclusive employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments will be considered throughout the recruitment process.

Safeguarding & Compliance

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK, be able to provide two satisfactory references, and all roles are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

Benefits

If you are offered a EYP role, you will receive a £500 recruitment bonus after successfully completing your 3 month probation period.

We are looking for inspirational Level 2 and 3 qualified Early Years Practitioners to join our Ofsted "Outstanding" nursery in Kents Hill, Milton Keynes.

Our nursery building at Kents Hill has been designed in an innovative octagonal shape with a central atrium and light and spacious rooms. The nursery benefits from large garden areas which can be accessed from each of the rooms; this gives the children the opportunity to free-flow indoors and outdoors to access a full range of activities. The nursery have pet chickens who roam freely in part of the garden throughout the day, enabling the children to collect eggs and then take turns to take eggs home.

The Nursery is currently being expanded with custom buildings which will enable us to offer a further 20 places.

We offer full and part-time care for up to 60 children from the age of four months to four years, and are open from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round.

The role will be 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday working between 0730 and 18.15.

We’re proud to be one of the leading childcare providers in Milton Keynes, Northampton and Bedford with over 35 years’ experience who specialise in nature pedagogy and promoting the professional development of our employees. We believe that childcare needs a personal touch, and our nurseries and out-of-school clubs offer flexibility and individuality with a homely feel. As a not-for-profit organisation, we place our children’s well-being at the heart of our work.

We very much welcome candidates that are looking to progress their personal career development due to future opportunities in the pipeline within the location of MK.

The ideal candidate will be passionate, motivated and enthusiastic about outdoor learning and creative play, as well as a good working knowledge and practice of the EYFS and safeguarding procedures.

At Acorn, we’re committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where everyone feels they belong and can thrive. We value diverse perspectives and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. As an inclusive employer, we’re happy to consider any reasonable adjustments needed during the recruitment process. You must have the right to work in the UK, be able to provide two satisfactory references, and, due to the nature of our sector, all roles are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

As a thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to making Acorn a safe, nurturing and fun place for our children to be, we offer:

• Payscales that are competitive, transparent and reviewed annually
• 65% Childcare discount - Pro Rata according to contracted hours
• Generous family leave
• Christmas closure
• 25 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays (and the option to buy more)
• 4 dedicated training days and individual development plans
• Enhanced pension scheme
• Cyclescheme
• Techscheme
• Length of Service awards
• Summer and Christmas parties
• Pay advances
• Employee assistance wellbeing programme

Posted via: eyrecruit