Early Years Practitioner

**A rare and exciting opportunity has arisen to join Puddleducks Nursery, Ryedale's purpose built, thriving Children's Day Nursery. Puddleducks is an unrivalled, multi-award winning setting and the nursery of choice for parents across Ryedale. With competitive salaries and huge investment in staff training, Puddleducks boasts a long-standing and committed team of early years professionals.**

Offering 60% discount off fees for childcare places at the nursery, Puddleducks is an attractive employer for parents with young children.

Person Specification

Essential requirements of the post
- A relevant level 2 or 3 qualification is desirable but not essential as full training towards the qualification can be provided, (e.g. B-tec, NNEB Diploma, NVQ level 3, etc.)
- The ability to work positively and effectively both individually and as part of a team, cooperation and respect are essential.
- Respect for all others within the setting, both adults and children.
- Effective interpersonal skills, enabling positive communication with other members or staff, children, parents and visitors.
- The ability to act flexibly adapting to changes within the setting, children and nursery.
- Awareness of the importance of confidentiality enabling relevant information to be handled appropriately.
- An awareness and understanding of all nursery policies, procedures and documentation with the ability to follow and comply without question.
- An awareness and understanding of how to keep children safe from harm; recognising signs and symptoms of abuse and reporting concerns to the DSO.

**Specific Duties include -**:
1. Providing a safe and stimulating environment for children, ensuring the nursery room is fully appropriate for your key children dependant on their age and ability. This includes displaying children’s work and providing attractive, informative displays.

2. To ensure all plans are completed and carried out appropriately within the given time, whilst evidence and evaluation must be documented. Practitioners must provide suitable activities and play opportunities both indoors and outdoors in order that children develop to their full potential; children should be scaffolded within their free-play enabling individuality of learning.

3. To act as a key worker to a given group of children, ensuring full awareness of each child’s personal and educational needs, which should be met at all times. This will include completing written developmental records, observations, reviews, ILPP’s, personal details and planning, and thorough assessments of children’s learning.

4. To follow all relevant guidance regarding child care and development, including the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice, (directed by the SENCo); the Early Years Foundation Stage, Working together to Safeguard Children (2015).

5. To be actively involved with staff meetings and the review of nursery policies, procedures, self-evaluation and action planning.

6. Documentation such as medicine, accident and health and safety forms must be completed accurately and immediately ensuring all such documentation is signed by a parent / carer on the same day.

7. To be prepared for constant professional development, attend training, meetings and conferences.

8. All staff has a duty to safeguard and protect ALL children from harm, neglect, and abuse; every person working with children must continually update their training and awareness of current practice. Practitioners must have a full understanding of the safeguarding children practices with an awareness of how any child protection issues would be approached.

9. In connection with child protection all nursery staff are responsible for the continuous supervision of all children; children must be supervised at all times in order to ensure their complete safety.

10. All staff members must follow and comply with nursery documentation which includes all policies, procedures, health and safety documentation and the prospectus. Furthermore, any additional information or instructions given by a senior member of staff must be followed.

11. Equality of opportunity for all within the setting is essential. All staff members must conduct themselves in a non-discriminatory manner; whilst any form of prejudiced behaviour will not be tolerated.

12. Good time keeping and attendance is essential.

13. Room registers must be completed accurately and handed in to the manager at the end of each week; they must also be collected and used as evidence regarding the current children within the building during a fire/evacuation drill.

14. Staff members must positively communicate within both their own team of key workers and within the whole team; whilst any concerns, queries or problems should be immediately reported to the manager or deputy-manager.

15. Practitioners are expected to provide positive role-modelling for both the children and other adults.

**Job Types**: Full-time, Part-time
Part-time hours: 30-40 per wee