Senior Nursery Practitioner

**Job Title**: SeniorNursery Practitioner***

**Location**: YMCACarters Green Day Nursery, West Bromwich, B70 9LG

**Responsible to**: NurseryManager / Deputy Nursery Manager

**Working Hours**: 40hours a week, flexible.

**Hourly Rate**: £12.47 per hour

**Background**:
YMCA BlackCountry Group is a group of YMCA charitable companies & associated tradingsubsidiaries (the Association) operating in the Black Country and SouthStaffordshire area. The charity employs around 200 staff across several sites,delivering a wide range of community services including support & advice,accommodation, family work, health & well-being, training & education.

YMCA enablespeople to develop their full potential in mind, body and spirit. Inspired by,and faithful to, our Christian values, we create supportive, inclusive andenergizing communities, where young people can truly belong, contribute andthrive.

**Job Role**:
**1. Motivatedby the desire to help children develop, you will be part of a team providingand maintaining high qualityeducation and care for children from birth to 5 years.**:
**2. Thepost holder will provide a warm and welcoming environment within the Nurserywhere young children and their families can feel valued and obtain positivehelp and support.**:
3. Part ofthe Nursery Senior Team you will provide leadership within the room on a dailybasis. Setting a positive example tochildcare practitioners, and working closely with the Nursery Manager and DeputyNursery Manager to ensure good practice.

**Duties andResponsibilities**:

- To offer support and guidance to parents/carers enabling them to extend their own skills, and by boosting their confidence and self-esteem, ensure the emotional well being of their child.
- To share responsibility for the display and maintenance of a safe, stimulating, interactive, learning environment in the Nursery.
- To work within the guidelines of the Birth to five years and Nursery curriculum and assist in the planning, preparation and delivery of an effective programme of age-appropriate activities to help babies and young children to develop as individual learners.
- To provide stimulating learning experiences enabling young children to grow in confidence and independence.
- To share responsibility for the observation, assessment, monitoring and record keeping of childrens learning and development using a variety of methods.
- To record these observations and produce individual profiles for each child in your care.
- To share responsibility for providing full access to an effective programme of activities for children identified as requiring additional support.
- To participate in staff meetings.
- To liaise with Nursery parents and carers, maintaining a professional demeanour at all times, and inspiring confidence in the Nursery.
- To work in partnership with other professionals involved with the children and their families, i.e. health visitors, teachers, social workers, speech therapists etc.
- To assist with the supervision and training of students and junior staff.
- To care for sick children and those suffering minor injury.
- To be familiar with the fire drill and procedures for the safety of the children.
- To assist with checking equipment for safety and suitability to use and preparing resources as appropriate.
- Responsible for ensuring the room and the nursery is cleaned during and at the end of each day.
- To follow the Associations Child Safeguarding Policy and Procedure in reporting any child protection issues and concerns that may arise within the nursery setting.
- To undertake duties in such a way that ensures a positive multi-cultural approval and with full regard for the principles and policies in place at the YMCA and comply with the Equal Opportunities & Diversity Policy and Child Protection Procedures within the organisation.
- Operate within YMCA policies and procedures, ensuring that the health & safety of colleagues, parents/carers and yourself is maintained at all times.
- Operate within Nursery policies and procedures.
- Ensure all work practice is inclusive, expressed through a wholehearted commitment to welcome those of all faiths and none.
- Undertake any other related duties that are consistent with the job.

**Person Specification**
**Senior Nursery Practitioner**

**Essential**

**Desirable**

**Qualification**

Level three childcare qualification NNEB, BTEC, NVQ3, or similar

**Experience**

At least 24 months post-qualifying experience in a day care setting.

Evidence of success in a leadership position within a childcare setting.

Experience of working in a culturally diverse area and a commitment to equal opportunities in the workplace, which creates a welcoming environment for people of all faiths and of none.

**Skills**

Detailed knowledge and understanding of OFSTED Standards.

Detailed knowledge and clear understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Ability to plan, implement and evaluation age appropriate learning opportunities