Little Learners Nursery is based on the beautiful University of Reading Whiteknights Campus. Our current location was purpose built in 2009 to provide more childcare places for students and staff of the University of Reading and Reading Students' Union. The nursery is available for 100 children aged from three months to five years and is staffed by a team of experienced and professional childcare practitioners who strive to go the extra mile to put our Little Learners first.

Job Purpose:

• To assist the Nursery Manager to ensure the efficient and effective running of all areas of the Nursery in accordance with high standards of customer service, nursery policies and procedures, health and safety requirements, and equal opportunities. A fundamental aspect of the role is adherence to safeguarding good practices and ensuring the overall welfare of the children.

• To implement the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to help young children achieve their full potential.

• To work as part of a team in caring for all children in our care
  

Key Details:

Role Title: Early Years Practitioner

Department: Little Learners Nursery, University of Reading Students Union

Hours: Full time (35 hours over 4 days or 40 hours over 4.5 days)

Salary: £ 26,858.16/year (35 hours per week) or £30,618.30/year (40 hours per week)

What you’ll get from us:
We know how important it is to feel supported both at work and at home. That’s why we offer:

· 35 days holiday a year, including bank holidays and nursery closure days

· 50% discounted childcare for our team

· Access to Perkbox for everyday discounts and wellbeing perks

· A TOTUM card for even more savings on things you love

Key Responsibilities:

Learning, Development and Care

• To maintain a welcoming atmosphere where children have the opportunity to explore and develop in a safe environment, supporting learning and development through child-initiated play

• Establish and develop a good relationship with parents and carers, providing feedback on daily activities and undertaking regular 'watch me grow' meetings

• Plan activities to support the children’s individual learning needs based on observational evidence

• Maintain a learning journey for key children, reviewing current levels of development and planning for next stages in accordance with EYFS guidance

• Ensure children’s individual personal hygiene needs are met

• Encourage good table manners and independence during mealtimes

• Provide consistent methods of behaviour management are implemented as per the nursery's guidance and policies

• Responsible for the day to day housekeeping and maintenance of nursery equipment

Health and Safety

• To ensure safety for staff, students, children and visitors at all times

• To take an active role in emergency evacuation situations

• To take a lead role in First Aid provision when required

• To ensure high standards of Nursery hygiene

Staff Development

• To attend and contribute to meetings/team briefs to ensure effective communication

• To adhere to Little Learners and Reading Students’ Union’s policies and procedures

• To maintain and enhance current childcare knowledge and skills through active participation in training sessions and external training

To take on this role you’ll have a NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) in childcare and have experience of working in a childcare setting. We'd love for you to bring your ideas along with an inclusive and collaborative approach to teamwork. In return, we provide a truly exciting and varied working environment. If you're excited to be part of a charity that makes a real difference, we'd love to hear from you.

Reading SU strives to be an equal opportunities employer. We champion diversity and remove barriers to inclusion, and are committed to ensuring that our workforce is an inclusive community that celebrates difference. We develop positive policies in all aspects of our work that promote equal opportunities for everyone, irrespective of their age, disability, ethnic background, gender or gender identity, home country, sexuality, race or religious beliefs. 

If you think you have what it takes to join are dedicated team, but don't necessarily meet every point above, please get in touch. We'd love to have a chat and see if you could help us to achieve great things for Reading SU and our community.