Childcare Officer (Maternity Cover)

First Steps Childcare; England; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A childcare organization is seeking a full-time Childcare Officer at their Worthing campus. This role involves ensuring children's safety and well-being, leading a team, and promoting high-quality learning experiences. Ideal candidates will have a Level 3 qualification in Early Childhood Studies and experience in a childcare setting. The position covers maternity leave for up to one year.

Qualifications

• Required Level 3 qualification in Early Childhood Studies or equivalent.
• Experience in leading a team in a childcare setting.
• Understanding of current Early Years regulations.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the safety and well-being of children.
• Lead the team to provide high-quality experiences for children.
• Support documentation and planning for children's learning.

Skills

Early Childhood Studies Level 3

Team leadership

Experience in childcare setting

Knowledge of Early Years regulations

Education

Level 3 qualification in Early Childhood Studies

Job description

Overview

First Steps Nursery have an exciting opportunity for you to join us as a Childcare Officer at our Worthing campus. You will join us on a full time, maternity cover basis, and in return, we will offer a competitive salary of £25,708 - £26,101 per annum.

This role is for a fixed term period of maternity cover for a maximum of one year, or until the return, resignation or replacement of the current post holder, whichever is sooner.

Are you a happy, supportive and fun loving individual who dreams of a job where no two days are the same? An exciting opportunity has arisen to work as a Childcare Officer at our First Steps Nursery based at Worthing College.

Working with young babies through to children ready to start school, you will share your love for learning and make a real difference in children s development and learning journeys. Together with our dedicated team, you will be a part of ensuring the children are learning, socialising, exploring and having fun.

Responsibilities

• Ensuring the safety, happiness and well-being of children, ensuring that all children are supported to reach their potential and that individual needs are met.
• Effectively leading the team to be delivering high quality opportunities, through modelling the expected standards and having high expectations of the team, and ensuring that the day to day experience for children is outstanding.
• Ensuring that there is effective, open and meaningful communication within the team and with parents.
• Supporting children through the implementation of our nursery intent, annual calendar and the delivery of our pre-school curriculum, ensuring that all opportunities for teachable moments are utilised.
• Supporting staff with documentation including (but not limited to) planning, observations and assessments, and reviewing and moderating these to ensure their accuracy and effectiveness.
• Being reflective and reactive to cohort needs/organisational needs/sector updates and to actively aim to solve problems and proactively make a difference through striving for improvement.
• Contributing to and work towards targeted action plans in conjunction with the Childcare Manager.

Qualifications and experience

• Level 3 qualification in Early Childhood Studies (or equivalent)
• A period of post qualifying experience working in a childcare setting
• Experience of leading a team
• Experience of planning and delivering high quality opportunities for children to support children to reach their potential
• Working knowledge of current Early Years regulations (including Early Years Foundation Stage, Development Matters and Ofsted frameworks/guidance)
• Motivates and passionate about the sector, keeping your knowledge up to date

Closing date: 29th September 2025

Suitable candidates may be invited to interview prior to the closing date and we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should sufficient applications be received. This is a CV only application process. You may be asked to complete an application form as part of the recruitment process.

If you would like to learn more about our Childcare Officer role, then please click apply today!

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The Chichester College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All posts are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, which may include a check of the barred lists and any relevant overseas checks. We vigorously pursue all references and safeguarding checks to ensure applicants are suitable to work with young people.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role.

We are an equal opportunities employer.