Early Years Educator

NHS; Exeter; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Devon is seeking an Early Years Educator to create a nurturing environment for children. You will plan and implement educational activities while maintaining records of progress. This role offers a full-time, permanent contract with competitive salary and benefits, including generous annual leave and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Extensive annual leave

Occupational health services

Staff discounts

Qualifications

• Experience in early years education.
• Ability to create engaging learning activities.
• Understanding of safeguarding standards.

Responsibilities

• Plan, implement, and evaluate activities for children's development.
• Maintain records of children's progress.
• Create a nurturing environment for children.

Skills

Creativity

Passion for nurturing children

Knowledge of the Foundation Stage

Education

National Diploma in Early Years Childcare

Job description

Go back Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Early Years Educator

The closing date is 16 October 2025

Do you want to work for an Ofsted Outstanding rated provider in a fantastic setting with amazing facilities?

We’d love to hear from Early Years Educators with a passion for nurturing and developing children as they grow. In return, we offer a rewarding career where you can make a difference to the children of NHS colleagues, plus you’ll receive a brilliant package of benefits.

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.

Please read on to learn more about the Early Years Educators role, the team and all of the fun!

Main duties of the job

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 people’s 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.

It’s 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 an Early Years Educator, you’ll use your creative flare and the children’s natural curiosity to optimise learning activities around their interests. 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’d love to hear from creative and passionate Early Years Educators with particular knowledge of the Foundation Stage and hold a National Diploma in Early Years Childcare.

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, we’ll 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

: 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.

This might include funding for a care certificate, a degree or leadership qualifications. Or it might include days off to study, engage in CPD or rotational placements to help you hone your skills. Wherever you are heading in the NHS, we'll help you get there.

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'll 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

Person Specification

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

Address: Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Salary: £24,625 to £25,674 a year pro rata

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 185-63302-11618

Job locations: Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust