Early Years Practitioner (Fixed Term)

University of Nottingham; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave + bank holidays

Generous pension scheme

Discounted childcare

Employee Assistance Programme

Professional development opportunities

Career progression

Benefits package and staff discounts

Job summary

University of Nottingham Day Nursery is seeking enthusiastic Early Years Practitioners to join the team at University Park. You will care for children of staff and students in a safe, inclusive environment, fostering curiosity and development.

As a key person, you will build strong relationships with families, plan play-based learning, and support wellbeing and safeguarding within a collaborative nursery team. 39 hours per week with a fixed-term contract to 31 July 2027.

Qualifications

• Holds a full and relevant Level 3 (or above) Early Years qualification recognised by the Department for Education (DfE).
• Is passionate about providing outstanding care and learning experiences for young children.
• Builds positive, professional relationships with children, families and colleagues.
• Has a good understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework.
• Enjoys working collaboratively as part of a supportive team.
• Is committed to creating an inclusive environment where every child feels valued and can thrive.

Responsibilities

• Build trusting relationships with children and their families.
• Plan and deliver engaging play-based learning experiences that support children's individual development.
• Create a safe, stimulating and inclusive environment, both indoors and outdoors.
• Observe, assess and monitor children's progress, maintaining accurate records.
• Promote children's health, wellbeing and safeguarding by following all relevant policies and procedures.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to continuously improve the quality of education and care provided within the nursery.

Skills

Passion for care

Teamwork

Observation & recording

Relationship building

Education

Level 3 Early Years qualification (DfE recognised)

Job description

Salary

£27,277 to £28,372 per annum based on a 39 hour per week contract. Posts are initially offered at the minimum salary point with progression to the higher salary point gained through an annual incremental pay rise

Area

Student Experience and EDI - Child Care

Location

University Park

Closing Date

Friday 04 September 2026

Reference

REG2118526

Are you passionate about giving children the best start in life? Join a nurturing, creative environment where every day is an opportunity to inspire young minds. We are looking for enthusiastic and caring Early Years Practitioners to join our friendly and supportive team at the University of Nottingham Day Nursery. Working with the children of our staff and students, you will create a safe, inclusive and inspiring environment where every child can thrive.

Based on our beautiful University Park campus, you'll make the most of exceptional indoor and outdoor learning spaces, including our Forest School, to deliver engaging, child-centred experiences that spark curiosity and support every child's development.

As a key person, you'll build positive relationships with children and their families, helping each child achieve the best possible outcomes while working alongside a collaborative team committed to delivering exceptional early years education and care.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Build trusting relationships with children and their families.
• Plan and deliver engaging play-based learning experiences that support children's individual development.
• Create a safe, stimulating and inclusive environment, both indoors and outdoors.
• Observe, assess and monitor children's progress, maintaining accurate records
• Promote children's health, wellbeing and safeguarding by following all relevant policies and procedures.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to continuously improve the quality of education and care provided within the nursery.

About You

• Holds a full and relevant Level 3 (or above) Early Years qualification recognised by the Department for Education (DfE).
• Is passionate about providing outstanding care and learning experiences for young children.
• Builds positive, professional relationships with children, families and colleagues.
• Has a good understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework.
• Enjoys working collaboratively as part of a supportive team.
• Is committed to creating an inclusive environment where every child feels valued and can thrive.

Before applying, please check that your qualification is recognised by the Department for Education using the qualification checker: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-qualifications-achieved-in-england

What we offer

• Excellent holiday allowance 27 days annual leave allowance plus additional university closure days (5 days) and bank holidays (8 days) ((pro rata for part-time colleagues).
• A generous pension scheme.
• Discounted childcare.
• Employee Assistance Programme/Counselling Service- 24/7 support.
• Comprehensive induction and ongoing professional development.
• Excellent opportunities for career progression and further training.
• Access to all range of benefits and rewards, including fitness and health facilities, staff discounts, travel schemes and many more. To find out more see our benefits website

It is a requirement of the post that a satisfactory enhanced disclosure is obtained and that all employment checks are met prior to employment.

Hours of work are 39 hours per week worked mainly Monday to Friday between 7.45am and 6.00pm. Flexibility will be required.

Further information on the benefits available can be found at the link below. https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/jobs/home.aspx

This post will be offered on a fixed term contract until 31 July 2027.

It is a condition of this post that satisfactory enhanced disclosure is obtained from the 'Disclosure and Barring Service'.

Further details

• Job Description/Role Profile

Our university is a supportive, inclusive, caring and positive community. We welcome those of different cultures, ethnicities and beliefs – indeed this very diversity is vital to our success, it is fundamental to our values and enriches life on campus. Visit our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion website.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) employer . Increasing the diversity of our community is extremely important to us and we are committed to the aims of Disability Confident Scheme.

We are the first university to have achieved Athena Swan Gold Award .

To help you succeed, we published Candidate Guidance to provide support on the application and interview process.

Discover our benefits, visit Your Benefits website.

We welcome applications from UK, Europe and worldwide and aim to make your move to the UK as smooth as possible. Visit the Moving to Nottingham page for details.

This position does not fulfil the UK Visas & Immigration sponsorship criteria for Skilled Worker, therefore we can only accept applications from candidates who already have the right to work in UK.