Early Years Assistant Practitioner

Transformation Unit; West of England; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an Early Years Assistant Practitioner (Band 2) to join a dedicated team at Southmead Hospital, Bristol. The role involves supporting qualified practitioners to provide high‑quality care for children aged 0-5 in a safe, stimulating setting, and building strong relationships with families.

We offer flexible working discussions and the opportunity to grow within a large NHS Trust, with emphasis on work‑life balance and inclusive practice.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children aged 0-5 in a childcare setting.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with parents and carers.
• Ability to work as part of a team under supervision.

Responsibilities

• To work as part of an early years team providing high quality care.
• Support qualified Practitioners and help maintain a safe, stimulating environment.
• Maintain records of learning and development and communicate with parents.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Team player

Enthusiasm

Ability to work with families

Education

Formal education

NHS experience

Job description

Main area Facilities Grade Band 2 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (7.30-6.00 x 3 8.00-6.00 x 1 - 1 day off a week, 1 hour lunch break) Job ref 339-FD6860-LMH

Employer Bristol NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Southmead Hospital Town Bristol Salary £25,272 pa pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 25/11/2026 23:59

Early Years Assistant Practitioner

Band 2

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1 st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This will create an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people. Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust. Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Job overview

To work as part of an early years team helping to providing a high quality of care for the children aged 0-5 years in a safe, caring and stimulating environment.

Main duties of the job

Interpersonal and communication skills

• To work alongside qualified Early Years Practitioners to help provide a safe, stimulating environment to encourage children to reach their full potential
• To build good relationships with parents and ensure all relevant information is available to parents and communicate with them daily as regards their child’s welfare
• To work as part of the team under the guidance of qualified Early Years Practitioners, usually in one room but being flexible about working in other rooms with different age groups and occasionally, working at other locations within North Bristol Trust

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol citycentre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To help ensure the health and safety of the children in your care
• To work alongside qualified Early Years Practitioners to help provide a safe, stimulating environment to encourage children to reach their full potential
• To ensure that the setting remains a welcoming place for children and their parents
• To contribute to both individual and group activities for the children
• To be a key person, ensuring that every child’s individual needs are catered for, to help the child to settle within the nursery, building relationships with both the child and their parent/carers, and maintaining accurate records of their learning and development under the guidance and support of the Early Year Practitioners.
• To work closely and build a good relationship with parents and ensure all relevant information is available to parents and communicate with them daily as regards their child’s welfare
• To work as part of the team under the guidance of qualified Early Years Practitioners, usually in one room but being flexible about working in other rooms with different age groups and occasionally, working at other locations within North Bristol Trust
• To attend staff training, feeding back information to colleagues and to keep up to date with childcare information
• To be aware of and understand the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage including the Welfare Requirements which is implemented and led by the manager
• To follow North Bristol Trust’s and the Childcare Services Dept. policies and procedures
• To work towards and contribute to a quality assurance scheme
• To attend parents’ evenings to provide parents with their child’s progress and developmental files and discuss any issues they feel relevant with full support from qualified early years practitioners when required
• To attend and contribute to staff meetings on a regular basis
• To maintain professional relationships, build on team work and share ideas
• To promote equal opportunities and follow the Valuing Diversity and Promoting Equality policy within the setting and ensure that a culturally sensitive environment is maintained
• To adhere to the settings dress code at all times
• To attend staff appraisals where performing and training needs are monitored
• To be aware of data protection and the importance of confidentiality

Shortlisting criteria

• Formal education
• Experience of children under 5
• Experience in a childcare setting
• NHS experience
• Basic knowledge and understanding of children’s’ needs
• Able to show initiative
• To show a responsible attitude
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Team player
• Enthusiasm for the role

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

• As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
• The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
• BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
• If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
• By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
• Please be aware of scams – unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.

IMPORTANT:

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is 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.

If you have problems applying, contact

Address People & Transformation Division
North Bristol NHS Trust
Southmead Hospital
BS10 5NB
Telephone [phone]