Senior Nursery Practitioner

**Requirements**:
We are looking for a Level 3 Senior practitioner full time to join our friendly team at Merlin House, Haywards Heath. Our full-time hours are 40 hours per week wit the option to work over 4 or 5 days per week.

Kiddie Capers, Merlin House Nursery provides stimulating and enabling environments for children aged 0-5 years old. Conveniently located near Haywards Heath train station, Kiddie Capers offers ease of access for commuting parents. With opening hours from 7:00 am to 6:30 pm, we provide flexibility to accommodate the needs of busy families.

At Kiddie Capers, we pride ourselves on our engaging and educational outings. We believe that hands-on experiences outside the nursery walls enhance children's learning and development. Through regular outings to local parks, libraries, and other educational venues, we expose children to new environments, fostering their curiosity and broadening their knowledge.

At Kiddie Capers, we understand the importance of active play, which is why we have a dedicated soft play room. This space offers a safe and fun environment for children to engage in physical activity, fostering their motor skills, coordination, and imagination. Our nursery boasts a large garden where children can explore, discover nature, and enjoy outdoor play. The expansive outdoor space provides ample room for physical activities, gardening projects, and nature-based learning experiences.

**Key Benefits**:

- 28 days annual holiday (inclusive of Bank Holidays)
- Attendance bonus paid monthly
- Increased holiday allowance with length of service
- Sick Pay
- Great discounts across retail, leisure and utilities
- Paid Birthday day off after 1 years’ service
- Discounted childcare across our sites of 50%
- Free on-site parking

**The Company**

Kiddie Capers Childcare is a growing, Mid-Sussex company, operating multiple Nurseries & Preschools. We offer warm and friendly environments, where children feel safe and secure. At Kiddie Capers we give our children a safe, happy, and creative environment where they are inspired and encouraged to develop new ideas and interests. We value their uniqueness and recognise their individual learning needs, so that they can grow in confidence and independence in preparation not only for school, but for life. Our stimulating learning conditions and challenging curriculum ensures each child achieves their full potential. We create a caring ethos, where we encourage respect for each other and for the environment, whilst adding to the life and well-being of our local community. Our strong partnerships with families and the wider local community, creates an open and welcoming surrounding that promotes equality and values diversity.

**Our Values**
- Celebrating Diversity
- Respect & Empathy for the Individual
- Quality of Care
- A Passion for Integrity
- Teamwork

**Main Duties**
- Ensuring that high standards of care and education are provided to the children. This includes ensuring that the following policies and procedures are upheld:

- Staff effectively deployed throughout the nursery.
- Fire equipment checks including smoke alarm testing.
- Daily fire escape route checks.
- Ensure food hygiene standards are being maintained.
- Ensure security of the children and premises are upheld.
- Liaising with parents/carers as appropriate.
- Accurately maintain the nursery’s database, registers and documentation concerning health and safety and child protection.
- Uphold the nursery’s confidentiality policy.
- Ensure that the nursery’s planning for the individual needs of each child is maintained to a high standard.
- Any other task that could be reasonably expected of a manager.
- Deputise for the Nursery Manager in their absence.
- Understand and fully implement the nursery’s policies and procedures.
- Oversee the implementation and delivery of the EYFS.
- Participate in professional development and training.
- Mentor staff to ensure the policies and values of the nursery management are understood and implemented.
- Share good childcare practice with colleagues, display exemplary behaviour and act as a role model to junior staff.
- Provide high quality care and activities for children which recognise both individual and group requirements in a secure, safe and stimulating environment.
- Organise activities, both inside and outside the nursery, which encourages creativity, development, co-ordination, independence, self-expression, and learning through play.
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the EYFS framework (including the Safeguarding & Welfare Requirements), for guidance in your practice.
- Work in partnership with parents and carers, recognising that parents are their children’s first educators, and encourage parental involvement in the nursery.
- Be aware of Safeguarding issues and follow the nursery’s Safeguarding procedures.
- Ensure close monitoring of children about whom there are concerns.
- Work in partnership with other early ye