Early Years Educator

NHS; Exeter; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Exeter is seeking an Early Years Educator to lead activities and support children's growth in a nurturing environment. Join a dedicated team focusing on children's development through play and learning in a purpose-built facility. The position offers opportunities for professional growth and a family-friendly working atmosphere within the NHS, including competitive benefits and support for personal well-being.

Benefits

27 days paid annual leave plus bank holidays

Access to NHS Pension scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Staff discounts on shopping, fitness, and leisure

Qualifications

• Experience in a Room Lead role or similar.
• Passionate about children’s development through fun and play.
• Willingness to undergo a DBS check.

Responsibilities

• Create and implement inclusive learning activities.
• Support the development of the team within the room.
• Maintain high standards of care and education.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication with children

Team collaboration

Education

Qualified Early Years Educator

Job description

Go back Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Early Years Educator

The closing date is 28 January 2026

Our nursery provides childcare provision only to colleagues working at the Royal Devon.

Its set on our Wonford site in a purpose built, spacious building and generous outdoorspaces a perfect setting for fun, play, and learning! Which is reflected in our Ofsted Outstanding Provider rating and the happy children who attend from 3 months to 5 years old.

Our mission is to ensure that childrens wellbeing and development is central to all that we do.

We promote learning in a fun, stimulating, language-rich environment, nurtured through play and meaningful interactions; following childrens interests to motivate and inspire them to become active learners.

We recognise the importance of the roles that our parents have in supporting the NHS,so it is important to us that our parents can attend their place of work, knowing that their child’s individual needs are met, and that they are being cared and supported to learn and develop to meet their full potential, in a way that is unique to them.

We care for up to 129 children a day in

Main duties of the job

For more detail about the main duties of this role, please see the job description section below. As a key member of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, you will be joining an exceptional team working together to help our patients to stay healthy, when they need it most.

About us

Stretching across Northern, Eastern and Mid Devon, we have a workforce of over 15,000 staff, making us the largest employer in Devon. Our core services, which we provide to more than 615,000 people, cover more than 2,000 square miles across Devon, while some of our specialist services cover the whole of the peninsula, extending our reach as far as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

We deliver a wide range of emergency, specialist and general medical services through North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford).

Alongside our two acute hospitals, we provide integrated health and social care services across a variety of settings, including community inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and within peoples own homes. We also offer primary care services, a range of specialist community services, and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC).

Our state-of-the-art equipment, leading technologies and strong links to local universities put us at the forefront of research and innovations, enabling us to provide world-class care to our local communities.

Its never been a more exciting time to join the Royal Devon, as you’ll help to shape our services as we continue along our integration journey.

Job responsibilities

As a Room Lead, Early Years Educator, you’ll use your creative flare and organisation skills to support your team to deliver a brilliant programme of fun, inclusive, learning activities for the children around their interests and care needs.

Drawing upon your knowledge of the Foundation Stage curriculum to develop the skills of the team within your room. You’ll encourage the use of our fantastic outdoor spaces to benefit the children by experiencing different environments and developing their sense of the world and themselves.

The working day is extremely rewarding and involves both child and adult led learning opportunities with the children. Examples of these activities including sharing stories, dressing up, messy play, games, and above all, instilling a sense of fun!

• Be part of the team that creates a nurturing environment and delivers high standards of care and education
• Plan, implement, and evaluate activities to support the care and development of children attending our nursery
• Regularly update records regarding children’s progress and care, feeding back to parents/carers
• Encourage best practices and the development of staff knowledge and skills
• Ensure safeguarding standards are maintained
• Support to all other Childcare Services provision as required

About you

We love to hear from experienced, organised, and passionate qualified Early Years Educators, looking to progress or already in a Room Lead role.

You’re great with people of all ages but especially the children in your care, helping them to develop and grow through fun and play. Professional development is something you are keen to pursue as well as supporting your colleagues develop their skills.

A DBS check will be required, well cover the costs now and for renewals in the future.

Working Pattern: 37.5 hours per week. 08:00 - 18:00 across 4 days per week (Monday to Friday). We welcome applicants looking to work full days on either a full or part-time basis.

Interview Date: To be confirmed

For further information please contact: Rachel Berriman, Nursery Manager on 01392 405858

As an inclusive employer, the Royal Devon values diversity and is committed to creating a culture of inclusivity where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. We recognise the advantages of having a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Preference will be given to staff with Priority and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reserves the right to close vacancy when sufficient applications have been received.

We will work together to maintain a culture that develops and supports you and your team.

Looking after you is important to us.

We strive to help our staff create a healthy work-life balance through flexible working schemes and our family friendly policies.

If you’re starting out in the NHS, you’ll start with 27 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 33 days plus bank holidays.

You’ll benefit from access to our own comprehensive occupational health services, including counselling, onsite wellbeing activities and groups.

Salary is not the only financial benefit

You will have access to an extensive range of staff discounts on shopping, fitness and leisure options and you can spread the cost of technology and home appliance purchases from major retailers.

You will also have access to other benefits including:

National discount services such as the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts.

Salary sacrifice options including our OFSTED rated outstanding nursery onsite at Exeter

Car lease schemes.

The NHS Pension scheme (one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK).

Cycle to work scheme

These are just a few of the benefits available if the role is something you are interested in, we'd love to hear from you.

Person Specification

General Requirements

• See job description text above, and (where applicable) you can download a copy of the full job description
• See job description text above, and (where applicable) you can download a copy of the full job description

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust