Early Years Educator

Job overview

Early Years Educator – Nursery (Level 2/3 Qualified) Part Time – 25.5 Hours per Week (Wednesday–Friday) Additional flexible hours may be available

Salary: Band 3 Location: Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton

Are you passionate about supporting young children to learn, grow, and thrive? We are looking for a caring, enthusiastic, and motivated Early Years Educator to join our friendly and experienced nursery team.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work in a nurturing, child-centred environment where every day brings new opportunities to make a difference to children and families within the NHS community.

Sussex House Nursery is an NHS workplace nursery based at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, caring for babies and young children of NHS employees. Our experienced team is committed to providing high quality childcare and early years education in a safe, stimulating, and inclusive environment.

Following our latest Ofsted inspection in January 2024, we were proud to achieve a rating of ‘Good’. We value excellent parent partnerships and understand the importance of providing flexible childcare within an NHS setting.

The nursery is open from 07:00–18:00 and staff work a variety of shifts. Flexibility is essential.

• Excellent annual leave entitlement
• NHS Pension Scheme
• Opportunities for training and development
• Supportive and experienced nursery team
• NHS staff benefits

Main duties of the job

You will be based within our older toddler room, supporting children aged 2–3 years by providing a safe, caring, stimulating, and nurturing environment where they can explore, develop, and thrive.

The role involves building strong attachments with children, delivering age-appropriate activities, and working closely with parents and carers to ensure continuity of care, routines, and individual developmental needs. You will also contribute to maintaining a safe, clean, and welcoming nursery environment at all times.

This is a qualified Early Years position and the successful candidate will be responsible for supporting a designated Key Group of children, helping to meet both their care and educational needs.

A good knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum is essential. You will be involved in planning and delivering activities, undertaking observations, and completing individual assessments to support each child’s learning and development journey.

The successful candidate must be flexible, adaptable, and able to use their initiative, as no two days are the same within a busy nursery environment. The ability to retain and apply information effectively, work creatively, and respond positively to children’s individual needs is essential.

The role will also involve spending time outdoors as part of supporting children’s play, learning, and development within the nursery’s outdoor environment.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please note: This role does not meet the minimum criteria for visa sponsorship under the current UK immigration rules, which set specific salary and skill thresholds. As such, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. Applicants will therefore need to already have the right to work in the UK to be considered. We include this information at the outset to provide clarity and avoid unnecessary inconvenience for applicants.

If you do not meet the sponsorship requirements, and you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application.

• To work alongside colleagues to  provide a high-quality childcare service by creating a safe and stimulating atmosphere for children to play, learn and develop.
• To work alongside colleagues in the delivery of an effective EYFS curriculum that supports the children’s interest and stage of development.
• To work with the nursery daily routine; working within the indoors/outdoors learning areas and local community.
• To engage with children in creative and sensory play
• To be a 'Key Worker' to a small group of children support and develop  their care and educational needs.
• Provide caring support and good communication with parents/carers and children, understanding and appreciating diversity.

Please note: This role does not meet the minimum criteria for visa sponsorship under the current UK immigration rules, which set specific salary and skill thresholds. As such, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. Applicants will therefore need to already have the right to work in the UK to be considered. We include this information at the outset to provide clarity and avoid unnecessary inconvenience for applicants.

Please note that if you currently work for another NHS Trust or UHSussex and you are applying to accept this position as a secondment opportunity, before applying you must seek agreement and authorisation from your current Trust/Manager. Secondments can’t be agreed without this approval. If you are unable to gain approval, you should refrain from applying unless you wish to take this role as a fixed term position.