Nursery Practitioner

Job overview

Are you passionate about giving children the best start in life?

Would you like a job where you can make a difference that could last a lifetime?

A job where you can watch children learn, grow and flourish?

If this sounds like you please apply to join our friendly team.

At Honey Bees the children’s learning and interests are our priority. You’ll find us encouraging the children’s curiosity by exploring the outdoor environment, getting messy and creative, making and baking, inventing and imagining…and after all that some of our little ones may have a snooze in the garden!

Every day is different with unlimited possibilities that can make a day magical.

Please note: To be successful in the role you will need to be qualified to a minimum level 3 in Childcare or equivalent.

Shifts and Accessibility:

• You will work either a 7.00am to 3.15pm shift OR a 9.15am to 5.30pm shift on alternating days. This is a 7.5-hour shift, totaling only 37.5 hours per week.
• We have excellent transport links. Norbiton Station is at the end of the road & there are numerous buses that stop on the hospital site or at the end of the road.

Main duties of the job

We currently have 3, level 3 qualified Nursery Practitioner roles advertised.

One is with our toddlers, who are aged under 2 years old, maintaining Ofsted ratios in groups of no more than 9 per room, alongside other qualified staff members. You will have key children in this room and be responsible for promoting and encouraging  children's  developmental milestones, providing personal care, plan for their individual learning and development,  as well as ensuring  the relevant paperwork is up to date.

We also have two level 3 qualified Practitioner / float roles available where you will cover staff  annual leave in different rooms as required.

All Practitioners are expected to -

• Maintain a high standard of care for every child.
• To be aware of all needs of the children who attend the nursery and encourage their development in every area.
• To be aware of local and government safeguarding legislation and be aware of how to escalate any concerns as necessary.
• Plan activities using Birth to Five Matters curriculum as guidance to ensure your key children have effective Individual Development Maps that link to planning and provide observations recording their development.
• To ensure key children’s Learning Journeys are kept up to date and regularly reviewed. In conjunction with this work with the parent to ensure they understand the relevance of the Learning Journey and the importance of the input they have in them.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Our fantastic Staff Day Nursery is based in the grounds of Kingston Hospital and provides day care for children, aged 3 months to 4 years, whose parents/carers are employed by Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Please ensure that you have read the job description and person specification and that your supporting statement reflects these, as your application will be assessed and scored against these criteria.

If this raises a smile and you can say yes to most of these questions, you might be just the person we are looking for!

Do you possess the magic and sparkle that makes every child feel special?

Can you pretend to be a cat or a Prince at the drop of a hat, while eating a birthday cake made of mud?

Can you read a story and sing in front of a varied audience – big or small?

Can you wipe a nose, give a cuddle and clean a table whilst helping a little person put on their slippers?

Would you be happy to be seen in public wearing playdough, lunch, slime, cornflour, paint, mud or the “unknown” on your uniform?

Do you enjoy reading “The Gruffalo” with the assistance of numerous little people who quiz you about every sentence?

Would you enjoy exploring our local environment with the children, which may include getting wet and muddy?

Do you have a heightened sense of smell that can seek out a smelly nappy at 20 paces and a cast iron tummy that can manage the whiff when changing it?

Do you have the ability to count small, fast moving little people?

If this sounds like the perfect job for you, we look forward to receiving your application.