Early Childhood Practitioner (Fix-Term)

Islington Council; City Of London; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Leave entitlement 31-36 days

Flexible working arrangements

London Living Wage

Pension scheme

Cycle to Work

Gym discounts

Local discounts

Job summary

Islington Council's Bright Start Islington team seeks a Scale 4 Early Childhood Practitioner on a fixed-term basis to plan and deliver stay and play sessions daily, travelling across centres and outdoor spaces with strong EYFS knowledge. The role is full-time, 35 hours per week, with some Saturdays required.

The ideal candidate loves outdoor play, creates engaging activities for young children and families, and is committed to inclusive, high-quality early years provision.

Qualifications

• Strong Early Years Foundation Stage knowledge and ability to plan for creative play activities.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver stay and play sessions daily.
• Travel across Centre locations and outdoor spaces in the Central locality.
• Create engaging, age-appropriate activities for young children and families.

Skills

EYFS knowledge

Job description

About The Role

An exciting fix-term cover role has arisen to join Bright Start Islington, a vibrant multi-agency network of professionals supporting families with children under 5, on a full-time basis, working all year round, 35 hours per week. Some Saturday availability is required for the post.

As children grow, they need many opportunities to play and explore to become more independent and develop their skills. Friendship and support networks help parents to manage the daily challenges of parenthood. Bright Start Islington provides high quality activities, services and stay and play sessions during these critical years.

We are looking for a highly skilled, dedicated and enthusiastic Scale 4 Early Childhood Practitioner to join the Bright Start Central team. As an Early Childhood Practitioner you will be responsible for planning and delivering stay and play sessions daily and travelling across different centres and outdoor spaces in the Central locality, ideally someone who loves the outdoors and has a passion for young children. You will also be a resourceful practitioner with strong Early Years Foundation Stage knowledge that can plan for fun, creative and exciting play activities for young children and their families to participate in.

Working for the team, service and our organisation

Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn't be clearer: we serve. It's in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Together we can change the future.

We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive.

To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out 'CARE', which is what we think public service is all about.

Our offer to you

We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Our staff benefits include:

• Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
• A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a 35-hour working week
• Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
• Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
• Excellent local government pension scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
• Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

Workforce Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination.

We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues.

We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone's identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage.

We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace.

Every one of us has a role to play in making Islington Council a truly inclusive workplace. By living out our CARE (collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering) values every day and embedding the principles of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work, we can all actively contribute to empowering people and creating a more equal Islington.

Pre-Employment Checks

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

• Proof of address
• Evidence of any name changes (if applicable)
• Right to work in the UK
• Overseas criminal record check (if applicable)
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable)

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

The post is subject to a enhanced DBS check with children barred list, qualifications check and 3/5 years referencing.

Disability Confident Scheme

Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.