Forest School Practitioner

Grandir UK Limited; Colchester; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Maternity leave 100% for 12 weeks

Paternity leave 100% for 4 weeks

Parental bereavement leave 4 weeks

Wellbeing day

Annual leave enhancement - Grand Event

Retail discounts

24h remote GP

Dental/physiotherapy cashback

Job summary

Pippins Montessori Day Nursery and Forest School in Colchester is seeking a Forest School Practitioner to join our welcoming team. You will support outdoor learning, mentor peers and help deliver high‑quality early years experiences for children aged 3 months to 5 years.

Part of Grandir UK, this role offers flexible working, regular pay reviews, and enhanced family and wellbeing benefits as part of a supportive, child‑focused environment that values development and progression.

Responsibilities

• Promote high standards of quality in the nursery environments, resources and experiences offered to children
• Assume key carer responsibilities for designated children
• Ensure that all children attending the nursery receive rich and stimulating experiences appropriate to their age and stage of development
• Prepare and support children’s activities
• In the absence of the Team/Room Leader maintain effective day-to-day management of the environment
• Contribute to ensuring that practice and provision in the nursery meets the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage
• Support and mentor students and un-qualified staff to ensure delivery of high-quality childcare practice and maintain friendly, professional relationships with parents and carers

Job description

Whites Farm, Station Rd, Colchester CO6 2QF, UK

Job Description

Posted Friday, 16 October 2026 at 05:00

Forest School Practitioner
Pippins Montessori Day Nursery and Forest School in Colchester
Part of Grandir UK
Salary £26,666 to £28,288 per year (depending on experience and qualifications with
regular pay reviews)

Join a supportive, child focused nursery offering strong benefits, flexible working and genuine career progression.

Why You’ll Love Working Pippins Montessori Day Nursery and Forest School in Colchester

At Pippins Montessori Day Nursery and Forest School in Colchester , you will be part of a welcoming and supportive team who genuinely care about one another. We create a positive working environment where everyone feels valued, respected and supported to grow.

About Our Nursery

Set on a working farm in White Colne, our Montessori nursery and Forest School offers a unique, nature-inspired environment for children aged 3 months to 5 years, supporting independence and a love of discovery.

Ofsted
Rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted, we provide high-quality early years education in carefully designed spaces, including a cosy under-2s room and Montessori classroom. Our small, homely setting is loved by families.

Outdoor Learning
Outdoor learning is central to our approach, with two accessible outdoor areas and a dedicated Forest School in nearby meadow and woodland, offering hands-on experiences in all weathers.

Location
Located in the village of White Colne near Colchester, we are easily accessible, with nearby train stations at Marks Tey and Chappel & Wakes Colne.

What will you be doing

• Promotehigh standards of qualitywithin the nursery in respect of the environment, resources and experiences offered to children
• Assumekey carerresponsibilities for designated children
• Ensure that all children attending the nursery receiverich and stimulating experiencesappropriate to their age and stage of development
• Prepare andsupportchildren’s activities
• In the absence of the Team/Room Leader maintaineffective day-to-day managementof the environment
• Contribute to ensuring that practice and provision in the nursery meets the requirements of theEarly Years Foundation Stage
• Support and mentor students and un-qualified staff to ensure deliveryofhigh-quality childcare practice and maintain friendly, professional relationships with parents and carers

Enhanced Family and Wellbeing Benefits

• Maternity and adoption leave paid at 100 percent for the first 12 weeks
• Paternity leave paid at 100 percent for 4 weeks
• Parental bereavement leave up to 4 weeks paid
• Compassionate leave up to 2 weeks paid
• Miscarriage leave up to 2 weeks paid
• Wellbeing Day, an extra day off just for you
• The Grand Event, up to an additional week of annual leave to attend a significant life event after 2 years’ service

Even More Benefits

• Employee benefits portal with hundreds of retail discounts including ASOS, gym memberships, cinema, M and S and major supermarkets
• 24 hour remote GP appointments
• Medical cashback for dental treatment, physiotherapy and alternative therapies
• Recognition, rewards and team celebrations throughout the year, with May dedicated to celebrating our teams
• Tailored in house training and genuine progression opportunities
• Sustainability focus with Carbon Literacy trained teams and Eco Schools accreditation

Grandir UK is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. An enhanced DBS check is required for this role.

We are an equal opportunity employer and recruit based on merit. To support our recruitment process, we may use AI-assisted tools for tasks such as application screening and reference checks. These tools help us manage applications efficiently, and all hiring decisions are made by our team.

Whites Farm, Station Rd, Colchester CO6 2QF, UK