Early Year Practitioners

TORMEAD SCHOOL; Fairlands; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Professional development opportunities

Free lunch during term

Breakfast provided once per month

Pension scheme

Job summary

Rydes Hill Pre-Prep and Nursery, part of the Tormead family, seeks enthusiastic Early Years Practitioners to support nursery life and deliver high-quality care and learning for babies from 6 months. The role collaborates with Room Leaders to implement the EYFS curriculum and acts as a Key Person for a group of children.

Candidates should hold a Level 3 qualification in childcare, demonstrate warmth and a passion for early years education, and be prepared for safeguarding checks.

Qualifications

• EYFS-focused care and learning experience for babies and toddlers.
• Willingness to work in partnership with parents and professionals.
• Commitment to safeguarding and DBS checks as part of due diligence.

Responsibilities

• Support nursery life and work with Room Leaders to deliver care and learning.
• Promote the well-being of children and implement EYFS activities.
• Act as Key Person for an allocated group of children and liaise with families.

Skills

Nurturing

Enthusiastic

Teamwork

Education

Level 3 childcare qualification

Job description

Required for October 2026 or as soon as possible

Full-time or Part-time considered, Permanent.

Part of the Tormead family, Rydes Hill Pre‑Prep and Nursery is a nurturing, home-from-home school where children are carefully guided through each stage of their early development, supported to flourish both academically and personally. At the heart of learning at Rydes Hill are the Five Cs: Courage, Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, and Curiosity. These values are embedded in every lesson, equipping children with essential life skills that extend far beyond the classroom and into adulthood. Teachers carefully capture children’s interests and imagination, fostering confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning.

From September 2026, we are excited to be building upon the success of our current nursery classes by extending our provision to welcome babies from 6 months. We inspire imaginations, creating and nurturing capable, curious learners, preparing each child for a positive and happy transition to the next stage of their school journey. The Nursery operates for 48 weeks per year, from 7.30am to 6pm, in a bright, spacious, and inspirational learning environment with dedicated outside areas.

We are seeking enthusiastic, nurturing and highly motivated Early Years Practitioners to join our friendly team in delivering high-quality care, teaching and learning experiences for all children. This is an excellent opportunity to become part of a vibrant and caring independent school community that values every child’s unique potential. The successful candidates will work closely with Room Leaders to support all aspects of nursery life, fostering a safe, stimulating, and nurturing learning environment to allow our pupils to thrive. Daily responsibilities include working in partnership with parents, carers and professionals to promote the well-being of the children, implementing the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum and acting as a Key Person for an allocated group of children.

Candidates will have a genuine love and passion for early years education, creating a sense of fun, joy and creativity for the children, ensuring a warm, happy home-from-home environment for our youngest learners. Candidates will hold a minimum of a Level 3 qualification in childcare and will have a warm and caring attitude and a genuine desire to make a positive difference to children’s learning.

This is in all-year round position but both full-time and part-time hours are considered. We offer a friendly and inclusive working environment, and our benefits package includes a competitive salary of £27,248 to £31,200 per annum (depending on qualifications and experience), 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays, professional development opportunities, and free lunch when Nursery is in session.

Rydes Hill School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and an enhanced DBS check. We conduct online searches for all shortlisted candidatesas part of our due diligence checks. including checks with past employers and an enhanced DBS check.

Pay

Competitive remuneration package and pay progression

Pension

Generous contributory pension schemes with life assurance and income protection benefits

Electric car scheme

Access to a salary sacrifice scheme to provide you with the opportunity to lease a new electric vehicle

Medicash plan

A non contributory scheme to provide you with some cash reimbursement for a range of relevant everyday healthcare bills

Food & Refreshments

Lunch is provided free of charge during term time, and a complimentary cooked breakfast is provided once per month. Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided in staff rooms free of charge

CPD

Supportive staff induction to help you settle into your new work environment. Extensive professional development opportunities for all levels of staff

Wellbeing

24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, access to free on-site counselling and other wellbeing support

Sports

Access to on-site sports facilities

School fees

Remission of fees for teaching staff, in line with the School Fee Discount Policy

Join Our Team

At Tormead, we take pride in employing talented individuals who love what they do and can bring that passion to our vibrant and progressive family of schools. We value the expertise, energy and commitment of our excellent team of academic and business staff, who work together in partnership to provide an outstanding educational experience for our students.

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff to ensure they THRIVE .We providestaff with ample opportunities for high quality training and development for every stage of their career. We encourage staff to get involved and to further their aspirations and progression. At Tormead, you will have access to excellent facilities and resources, andyou willreceive the guidance and support you need to excel in your role and to contribute your best.

We are proud to be a caring and inclusive community, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We are dedicated to creating and sustaining an environment that values individuality and celebrates the diversity of both staff and students. Whether you are at the start of your career or highly experienced, if you have passion and expertise in your chosen field, then we want to hear from you!

Set in the beautiful Surrey countryside, Tormead is a short stroll from the historic town centre of Guildford, just 40 minutes by train to London, with excellent transport links by road and rail.

Our People

• Megan
• Marketing & Events Officer

"Theculture is very positive, and people-focused - the staff here enjoywhat they do!"

• MFL Teacher

"I feel supported in my department with great colleagues, and I find my teaching has become fun again."

• Noreen
• Head of Learning Support

"I am proud to be part of a school that values inclusivity and innovation in learning support."