Nursery Practitioner – Part Time and Term Time

We are looking for a caring, enthusiastic and experienced Nursery Practitioner to join our friendly Sunflowers Nursery team at Staines Preparatory School. Working with children aged 2–4, you will help create a warm, stimulating and nurturing environment where every child is encouraged to explore, develop their confidence and discover a love of learning. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a welcoming and supportive school community where children are known as individuals and staff are genuinely valued.

Thursday & Friday | 8.00am–4.30pm | Term time only

About the role

Sunflowers Nursery is part of Staines Preparatory School, a thriving, co-educational independent school for children aged 2–11 in the heart of Staines-upon-Thames. We are looking for a caring, enthusiastic and committed Nursery Practitioner to join our experienced Early Years team.

Our Nursery provides a warm and stimulating introduction to school life for children aged 2–4. Through a balance of purposeful play, adult-led learning and child-initiated activities, we encourage children to develop their confidence, curiosity and independence while building strong foundations for future learning.

As a Nursery Practitioner, you will work closely with the Nursery Teacher and wider Sunflowers team to provide high-quality care and education within a safe, happy and engaging environment.

Key responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Support the delivery of an engaging and developmentally appropriate Early Years curriculum.
• Help plan, prepare and deliver activities that encourage children to explore, investigate and learn.
• Support children’s individual learning, development and wellbeing.
• Help children develop their confidence, independence, social skills and positive relationships.
• Observe children’s learning and development and maintain accurate records and learning journals using Seesaw.
• Establish positive and supportive relationships with children and their families.
• Provide parents with appropriate feedback about their child’s learning, progress and welfare.
• Work collaboratively with the Nursery Teacher, SENDCo and other professionals to ensure individual children receive the support they need.
• Help maintain an attractive, stimulating, safe and well-resourced Nursery environment.
• Prepare resources and create meaningful classroom displays which celebrate children’s learning.
• Support the Nursery Teacher with our Little Roos community toddler group and Nursery Coffee Mornings.
• Contribute observations and content that help us share Nursery learning and activities with our wider school community.
• Keep up to date with developments within the Early Years Foundation Stage and relevant best practice.
• Attend appropriate training, INSET days, Parents’ Evenings, Open Days and other school events as required.
• Work in accordance with all Staines Preparatory School policies and procedures, particularly those relating to safeguarding, health and safety and the welfare of children.

About you

Above all, we are looking for someone who genuinely enjoys working with young children and understands the importance of creating an environment in which they feel happy, secure and confident.

You will ideally be:

• Caring, patient and nurturing.
• Enthusiastic, cheerful and approachable.
• Confident working as part of a close-knit team.
• Flexible and willing to use your initiative.
• A strong communicator with children, colleagues and parents.
• Knowledgeable about the Early Years Foundation Stage.
• Committed to providing high-quality learning experiences for young children.
• Organised and able to maintain accurate records.
• Comfortable using IT, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and Seesaw.
• Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

Qualifications

Applicants must hold a full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification, recognised by the Department for Education (DfE) as meeting the requirements for working at Level 3 within EYFS staff-to-child ratios.

To Apply

. Please apply as soon as possible as applications will be considered upon receipt; we reserve the right to interview/appoint before the closing date.

Staines Preparatory School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Applicants must undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Please refer to our Safer Recruitment Policy and other employee policies. All applications will be acknowledged by email.