We are seeking a new Early Years Practitioner to join our warm, welcoming team at Donington on Bain Preschool.

We pride ourselves on fantastic working relationships with parents and within our small team of practitioners. Many families have had multiple children registered with us over the years and some team members have also been preschool parents, so we are a friendly bunch, who know each other and our children well.

We are seeking someone who is committed to maintaining these excellent working relationships at our setting. You will be working a minimum of 16 hours each week between 7.45am and 5.30pm in school term-time, while being prepared to take additional hours as and when needed. The team are all working mothers at Donington on Bain Preschool, and so we fully appreciate the constant juggling act this involves. We are therefore seeking an outstanding team-player who is willing to step up and support their colleagues when required, safe in the knowledge that they can expect the same to be done for them when needed.

Your main duties as an Early Years Practitioner with us will include:

• providing a high standard of physical, emotional, social and intellectual care for children within our setting.
• working as part of a team and support colleagues in order to provide an enabling environment in which all individual children can play, develop and learn.
• building and maintaining strong partnerships with parents to enable children’s needs to be met.
• effectively delivering the EYFS, ensuring that the individual needs and interests of children in the setting are met (in conjunction with other team members).
• keeping records of your key children’s development and learning journeys and share with parents, carers and other key adults in the child’s life.
• advising manager/deputy of any concerns over, e.g., children, parents, the safety of the environment, preserving confidentiality as necessary.

Person Specification - essential criteria:

1. A friendly and flexible approach at work which facilitates the development of effective working relationships.

2. A minimum Level 3 early years education and childcare qualification.

3. Sound knowledge of child development for children from birth to five years.

4. Knowledge of the current EYFS.

5. Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection procedures and willingness to undertake further training in this.

6. An understanding of play-based approaches to children’s learning and development.

7. A current Paediatric First Aid qualification or a commitment to gaining one immediately upon employment.

8. Willingness to learn and undertake further training.

9. Good communication skills.

10. An Enhanced DBS certificate on the update service, or willingness to obtain one upon being offered the role.

Person specification - desirable criteria:

1. A commitment to obtaining a Level 4 Early Years qualification.

2. At least one year’s experience of working in an educational early years setting.

3. Experience of working with children with additional educational needs.

4. Proficient IT skills.

Your contracted hours will be a minimum of 16 per week between the hours of 7.45 am and 5.30 pm in school term-time but we are likely to require overtime in addition to this.

The successful applicant will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check (including a check of the Barred List).

We are an equal opportunities employer, committed to providing equality of opportunity for all current and potential team members. We encourage and value applications from individuals of all backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, genders, needs and abilities and we will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments where needed.

ANYONE INTERESTED IN APPLYING SHOULD PLEASE SEND THEIR FULL CV AND A COVERING LETTER EXPLAINING HOW THEY FIT THE PERSON SPECIFICATION TO: [email protected]

We look forward to hearing from you!