Senior Nursery Practitioner/3rd In charge

We are looking for an experienced senior practitioner and 3rd in charge at our Emberton Day Nursery. We are located in what was the old school in the lovely village of Emberton, near Olney. We have adapted the building to younger children and added our Acorn touch, whilst retaining the character of the original architecture. We have developed the expansive outside area into an outdoor learning centre, which we offer a nature kindergarten during term-time for 3-4 year olds, and an outdoor playscheme in school holidays, for school aged children.

 

This is a full time position, 40 hours per week between the hours of 07:30 - 18:15.

Role:

  • To work in partnership with the nursery manager and deputy to ensure effective running of the nursery.

  • To lead/manage the staff in your designated room/area

          To oversee a holistic approach to the curriculum

  • To lead/manage the nursery on occasions when the manager or deputy are absent

  • To be held accountable for your designated room/area

  • To have a good understanding of compliance and ensure it is maintained at all times

               To ensure basic care needs of individual children are met

  • To ensure a high level of well-being among children

  • To have a good understanding of Acorn’s ethos, values, policies and procedures and that they are reflected in daily practice

  • A good working knowledge and practice of the EYFS and safeguarding procedures

  • To ensure in the smooth day to day running of your group or setting in the absence of your Deputy or Manager

  • To carry out  tasks requested

 

Responsibility

  • To ensure the staff team`s interactions with children are high quality and based on individual need/stage of development

  • To demonstrate a positive approach to children’s behaviour working in-line with our policy and procedure

  • To ensure we are adhering to compliance documentation

  • To ensure complaints, concerns, queries and compliments are managed effectively

  • To ensure there are professional, positive relationships demonstrated with parents across the entire staff teams

  • To support the staff team to understand and implement planning in the moment

  • To ensure the environment offers rich, first hand learning opportunities for all children which accommodates a holistic approach to the curriculum

  • To ensure resources and equipment are readily available, accessible and replenished both inside and outside

  •  To ensure children’s interests are being met and appropriate teaching methods are being used to extend children’s thinking and learning.

  • To ensure all children are making progress to their full potential

  • To  understand and implement planning in the moment

  • To carry out observations regularly that are of high quality and in-line with Acorn’s recommendations for planning in the moment

  • To ensure all children are given the opportunity to be independent

  • To ensure all children have the opportunity to be physically challenged

  • To ensure the correct paperwork in relation to the child, for example care plans, all about me forms, medicine forms, transition forms and two-year progress check (where appropriate) etc

  • To ensure there is a robust and effective key person approach adopted

  • To use strategies such as mentoring and coaching practices to support your staff understanding, knowledge and practice

  • To undertake regular peer on peer observations

  • To undertake staff supervisions

  • To provide information to the manager for annual appraisals

  • To be approachable and supportive to staff using constructive advice when developing practice

  • To cascade any information or updates to the management and your staff team

  • To keep abreast and adhere with changes in accordance to Acorn’s policies and procedures

  • Ensure that you oversee that all children are having regular observations on Famly and these are reviewed and submitted by senior staff on a regular basis (Should part of this be included within the senior as to make them aware of their role)

  • Work in partnership with the manager to understand the overall analysis of the assessment and understand how you are going to support progress moving forward

  • To support the nursery manager with supervisions of some staff members

  • To carry out observations regularly and are of high quality and in-line with Acorn’s recommendations for planning in the moment

  • To provide information to the manager for annual appraisals

  • To safeguard all children in our care

 

 

Expectations

 

  • To have a good understanding of Acorn’s core values, ethos and policies and ensure these are reflected in practice

  • A high-quality provision to support children’s learning across the curriculum

  • To value parents as partners

  • For all children to be happy, confident, self-assured and independent

  • Effective communication with management, staff, children and parents

  • To role model outstanding practice and positive behaviour management

  • To be confident to talk to external agencies, including Ofsted

  • To have a full knowledge and understanding of each staff member and how to individually support them

  • To have a good understanding of staff development and how to help them achieve their targets and full potential

  • To be held accountable for your designated room/area.

  •  To manage the whole Nursery when required.

  • To work in partnership with the nursery manager to ensure a smooth and effective running of the nursery

  • To contribute effectively to the leadership and management of the nursery

 

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.

Benefits:

  • Payscales that are competitive, transparent and reviewed annually
  • 65% Childcare discount - Pro rata depending on 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 for when times are tough
  • Employee assistance wellbeing programme