Early Years SEN Keyworker - Fixed Term 1 year Contract - Term time Only

YMCA Fairthorne Group; Andover; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free childcare

Holiday entitlement

Celebration leave day

Health plan

Wellbeing support

Discounts

Career development

Camp savings

Cycle to Work

Job summary

YMCA Fairthorne Group in Andover is seeking an experienced SEN Keyworker to provide dedicated 1:1 support for a child with additional needs, helping them participate fully in nursery life.

You will work to build confidence, adapt activities, and foster communication while maintaining close contact with families and Early Years colleagues. A Level 3 Early Years/Childcare qualification and safeguarding experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Level 3 Early Years or Childcare qualification.
• Experience supporting children with disabilities or additional needs on a 1:1 basis.
• Good safeguarding knowledge and experience in supporting behaviour.
• Experience with SEND from babies to age five is desirable.
• Paediatric First Aid and personal care experience would be helpful.

Responsibilities

• Provide dedicated 1:1 support for a designated child.
• Help the child engage with activities and play alongside peers.
• Adapt experiences so they can participate as fully as possible.
• Encourage communication, confidence and independence.
• Build a strong, trusting relationship with the child.
• Collaborate with Early Years colleagues to provide consistent support.
• Maintain clear communication with parents and carers.

Skills

Patience

Calm demeanor

Caring

Dependable

Observant

Communication with families

Trust-building

Adaptability

Positive mindset

Child engagement

Education

Level 3 Early Years or Childcare qualification

Job description

One child. The right support. A world of difference.

Every child deserves to feel included.

To take part.

To make friends.

To explore.

To be understood.

And to have someone alongside them who notices what they need and helps remove the barriers in their way.

As a SEN Keyworker at the YMCA Andover, you’ll provide dedicated 1:1 support to a child with additional needs, helping them participate fully in nursery life and get the most from every day.

This is a role built around relationships, patience, consistency and trust.

Because sometimes the difference between a child being present and a child truly belonging is having the right person beside them.

What the role is really about

You’ll be paired with a child who may have physical, learning, sensory, emotional or behavioural needs.

Your job isn’t to separate them from the rest of the nursery.

It’s the opposite.

You’ll help them join in.

Take part in activities.

Build relationships with other children.

Develop confidence and independence.

Communicate their needs.

And experience nursery in a way that works for them.

You may also sometimes support a wider group of children where additional supervision or support is needed.

What you’ll do

You’ll:

• provide consistent 1:1 support for a designated child
• help them engage with activities and play alongside their peers
• adapt experiences so they can participate as fully as possible
• encourage communication, confidence and independence
• champion the child’s individual needs
• build a strong and trusting relationship with them
• work closely with Early Years colleagues to provide consistent support
• maintain clear communication with parents and carers
• complete appropriate daily handovers and records
• support agreed behaviour strategies
• follow individual care and support plans
• support personal or intimate care where required
• support with medication where appropriate and in line with agreed procedures
• use appropriate manual handling techniques where needed
• raise safeguarding, health and safety or wellbeing concerns promptly.

At the end of each day, you’ll help make sure families know how their child has been, what they’ve enjoyed and anything they need to know.

Because good SEND support depends on strong communication between everyone around the child.

Inclusion isn’t about doing everything for a child

It’s about helping them do as much as possible for themselves.

That might mean giving them extra time.

Breaking something into smaller steps.

Changing how an activity is presented.

Helping other children understand how to include them.

Recognising when the environment has become overwhelming.

Or simply knowing when to step back and let them try.

The goal isn’t to create dependence.

It’s to build confidence, participation and independence in a way that is right for that individual child.

Part of something bigger

Across the YMCA Fairthorne Group, we create opportunities for children and young people to participate, build confidence, experience new things and feel that they belong.

For the child you support, that might start with something as simple as joining an activity for the first time.

Making a friend.

Communicating a need.

Trying something independently.

Or finishing the day feeling successful.

Those moments matter.

And they’re part of our wider ambition to help children, young people and families:

Belong. Contribute. Thrive.

Could this be you?

If you’re an experienced SEND Early Years Practitioner, 1:1 Early Years Practitioner or Level 3 Nursery Practitioner in Andover, and you want a role where your support can have a genuinely meaningful impact on one child’s experience of nursery, we’d love to hear from you.

Safeguarding

YMCA Fairthorne Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Successful applicants will be required to complete appropriate safer recruitment and pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced Disclosure through the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

YMCA Fairthorne Group is committed to creating an inclusive organisation where everyone is treated fairly, with dignity and respect.

We welcome applications from people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

The person we’re looking for

For this role, you’ll need a Level 3 Early Years or Childcare qualification and experience of supporting children with disabilities or additional needs on a 1:1 basis.

You’ll also need a good understanding of safeguarding and experience of supporting behaviour.

Experience of working with children with SEND from babies to age five, Paediatric First Aid and previous personal care experience would be helpful.

But beyond the experience on your CV, we’re looking for somebody who is:

• patient and calm
• caring and dependable
• observant
• comfortable adapting their approach
• confident communicating with families and colleagues
• able to build trust with a child over time
• respectful of dignity and individual needs
• able to stay positive when progress happens in very small steps
• committed to helping children participate rather than simply supervising them.

Some of the biggest achievements in this role may look very small to somebody else.

You’ll know exactly how important they are.

Up to £30,047 FTE (Dependent on experience)

We want you to thrive at work and beyond. That’s why you’ll enjoy:

• Enjoy free childcare for the hours you work, with 50% discount on any additional days required
• Up to 30 days’ holiday, plus bank holidays and the option to buy 10 additional days
• A celebration leave day — an extra day off to celebrate whatever matters to you
• Health Cash Plan and access to a wellbeing assistance programme
• Retail discounts, discounted gym membership and Blue Light Card eligibility
• Career development opportunities to help you learn, progress and achieve your goals
• Fantastic day-camp savings — one free week and one week at 50% off per child, every year
• Discounts at YMCA Fairthorne Manor, including camping, activities, river hire and day camps
• Cycle to Work scheme
• High-quality resources and a modern working environment
• Most importantly, a warm, caring and supportive culture where you’ll feel welcomed and valued