Early Years Practitioner

**Key information**
- **Closing Date**:1st June 2025
- **Interview Date(s)**:TBC
- **Job Start Date**: September 2025
- **Contract/Hours**:Permanent
- **Salary Type**:Support Staff
- **Salary Details**: Support Staff Grade C - £24, 405- £25, 430 FTE, pro rata
- **Hours of Work**:Full time 7:30am to 5:30pm, over 4 days or 8am to 4pm over 5 days, Monday to Friday, term time
- **Location of Role**:Lanterns Nursery School, Winchester

**Why Lanterns Nursery School?**

Lanterns Nursery School is a special place and making a difference to children and families is in our DNA. Don’t just take our word for it - check out our website to see the glowing feedback we receive from families and read our latest (April 2023) ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted report. Our staff are our number one asset and if you join our wonderful team, you will see how our approach rewards the whole team by developing children who thrive and have an enthusiasm for life that is infectious

**We are different and diverse**

Everyone is welcome at Lanterns Nursery School and our children naturally accept this diversity and the differences they are surrounded with. Our families embrace this important feature of our nursery school. We believe that by working together we can help each other with the challenges we face, overcome barriers, and succeed.

**There’s no getting around it - some days will be harder than others**

Every day is different and the challenge and evolving environment offers an exciting pace of work that isn't for everybody. Each day you will need to think on your feet and find solutions. You will ask questions, share your ideas and will work as part of a team to best support children. In turn we will support your development and help you build the knowledge, skills and experiences that will enable you to flourish. You’ll be part of a team who are passionate about getting things right for everybody. People who recognise how important it is to look after each other, knowing that this enables us to work for the benefit our children and families. Your colleagues will be some of the most amazing people you will ever work with. They are passionate, determined and know what to do to make a real difference.

**What you’ll do**
- You will work as an EYP in one of our early years classes (including our new baby class opening September 2025)
- You will be responsible for a group of key children. You will know them well and be able to adapt the curriculum to reflect their interests and ensure that the curriculum is developmentally appropriate
- You will use a range of approaches, strategies and interventions to ensure that all children can access a developmentally appropriate curriculum
- You will work with others to find solutions to challenges and to ensure that children thrive in our school
- You will support senior staff with planning and implementing an exciting child-led curriculum and learning experiences both inside and out
- Build strong relationships with children and families and attend to personal care needs where appropriate
- Be reflective in order to grow, adapt and have the most impact on children
- Develop your expertise and experience of working with children with SEND, enjoying the opportunity to expand your current skills with bespoke induction and ongoing training.

**What you’ll need**
- A passion for early years and a love of working with young children. Experience of working with children 0 - 2 years is desirable.
- To be motivated and playful, using your own initiative in order to engage and inspire children
- Good communication skills, an open mind and an ability to work effectively with a variety of people holding a range of perspectives
- To be adaptable, able to work within a large nursery team and a desire to join a forward-thinking school, showing willingness to actively participate in improvement
- An active interest in professional development and a developing knowledge of how young children learn.
- Qualification in Level 3 Childcare.

**What more can we offer you?**
- **A Headteacher led OFSTED Outstanding (April 23) Maintained Nursery School - one of 3 in Hampshire**
- **Local authority pay conditions and local government pension**
- **Term time working**
- **Core hour working day - Full time hours of 7:30am to 5:30pm, over 4 days or 8am to 4pm over 5 days, Monday to Friday, term time**
- **Inclusive Nursery with resourced SEND provision including autism, global developmental delay and profound multiple learning difficulties**
- **Thorough induction and fantastic CPD opportunities including the Lanterns approach to teaching and learning in the early years, Makaton, Attention Autism, communication and visuals, trauma informed practice, sensory processing**
- **Forward thinking approach to teaching and learning following current theory and the most up to date research and practice**
- **Opportunities to gain qualifications if desired**
- **Employee support including confidential counselling and health advice**
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