Nursery Assistant

Childbase Partnership; Cambourne; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Partnership Reward Days – extra days

Childcare savings/dis...count

Wellbeing support

Career development

Job summary

Childbase Partnership is hiring a Nursery Assistant/Unqualified Nursery Practitioner at West Cambridge Day Nursery, Cambridge CB3 0FZ, on University campus. Permanent role with 27–40 hours/week across 52 weeks/year. Salary £27,976 per annum (pro‑rata) or £13.45/hour.

The role supports care and early learning for children under five, with opportunities for development, training and progression within our worker-owned group.

Qualifications

• Experience caring for babies and children aged five and under, ideally in an early years setting.
• Knowledge of child development and EYFS to plan high‑quality activities.
• Commitment to safeguarding and the wellbeing of children.
• Ability to collaborate with colleagues and communicate with parents.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver engaging activities that promote learning through play.
• Observe, assess and record children's progress.
• Support safeguarding and the wellbeing of every child.
• Communicate with parents and colleagues to build strong relationships.

Skills

Child development knowledge

Experience with babies and under‑5s

Learning through play

Safeguarding

Communication with parents and teams

Job description

Job Introduction

Join Childbase Partnership and be part of something extraordinary.

Role: Nursery Assistant/Unqualified Nursery Practitioner.
Location: West Cambridge Day Nursery | Cambridge | CB3 0FZ (on the University campus).
Contract: Permanent | 27-40 hours/week | 52 weeks/year.
Working pattern: Full and part-time options available of 3-5 full days a week | Varied shifts Monday-Friday between 07:45-18:15.
Salary: £27,976 per annum (pro-rata) | £13.45 per hour.

We’ve been delivering childcare excellence since 1989. Within our 44-day nurseries, Head Office, and Training Academy, EduBase, our ethos is simple: we all belong, we all matter, and we all contribute. We believe in ‘careers, not jobs’, supporting one another to grow and succeed.

Why join us?

• Generous annual leave: 23 days paid leave per annum (pro-rata), rising to 28 days with length of service, plus paid bank holidays*.
• Work-life balance: Up to a further 20 paid days off each year through our Partnership Reward Days incentive; take your leave or sell the days you accrue, tax-free.
• Family childcare savings: If you have children or grandchildren, there's the potential for you to benefit from generously discounted childcare at Childbase Partnership nurseries, with savings of up to 75% for parents, and 40% for grandparents, depending on your contracted hours.
• Exclusive partner benefits: Long-service rewards, qualification bonuses and retail discounts.
• Wellbeing support: Free meals, mental health and occupational health support, flu jabs, eye care vouchers and a free will-writing service.
• Career development: Team inset days, access to online training and apprenticeships through our academy.

About us

• We are employee-owned: Every colleague is a partner with a voice, who helps drive our success; when we do well, we each receive an annual tax-free dividend.
• We are number 1: Ranked top of the Nursery World league tables for our Ofsted outcomes.
• We are community driven: Supporting causes close to our hearts, we’ve raised more than £3.5 million for charity.
• We are environmentally responsible: Building a greener tomorrow our nurseries all hold Green Flag awards and are powered by 100% renewable energy.

About you

• You are passionate about inspiring children: You have some experience of caring for babies and children aged five and under, ideally in an early years environment.
• You are skilled in creating opportunities for learning: Your knowledge of child development, and ideally your EYFS knowledge, will enable you to work as a Key Person, planning and implementing high quality, engaging activities that promote learning through play; observing, assessing and recording children’s progress.
• You are an advocate for safeguarding: You will ensure every child feels safe, valued, and happy and their well-being is promoted.
• You are collaborative: You enjoy working in partnership with others, and will effectively communicate with children, parents and colleagues, building strong and positive relationships.

We are an inclusive employer and we welcome applicants of all ages and backgrounds. We’re committed to FREDIE (fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion, and engagement) and will consider any reasonable adjustments required. If you meet the essential criteria for this role, your application will be automatically shortlisted for review by our Recruitment Team who will determine if an interview is the next step.

Applicants must currently reside within a commutable distance of the nursery and hold suitable Right to Work in the UK; VISA sponsorship is not available. Safer recruitment checks apply, which include an Enhanced DBS check.

*This nursery is open on the May bank holidays; if Monday is a standard working day for you, you will be required to work as normal on these dates. Paid time off will be awarded in lieu for you to take on another day.