Nursery Assistant

Childbase Partnership Ltd; Leighton Buzzard; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 23 days pro-rata

28 days with length of service

Paid bank holidays

Partnership Reward Days

Childcare savings up to 20%

Wellbeing support

Free meals

Online training and apprenticeships

Job summary

Childbase Partnership's Cedars Day Nursery in Leighton Buzzard is seeking a Nursery Assistant/Unqualified Nursery Practitioner for a permanent, part‑time role.

Working 16:00–18:30, Monday to Friday, 12.5 hours per week, 52 weeks a year, the role offers a pro‑rata salary of £26,769.60 per annum (£12.87 per hour). You will support learning through play, apply EYFS knowledge, observe and record progress, and collaborate with parents and colleagues while ensuring every child feels safe and happy.

Qualifications

• You have some experience of caring for babies and children aged five and under, ideally in an early years environment.
• 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.

Skills

Caring for babies and children aged 5

EYFS knowledge

Planning engaging activities

Observing and recording progress

Safeguarding awareness

Collaborative with families and staff

Job description

Job Introduction

Join Childbase Partnership and be part of something extraordinary.

Role: Nursery Assistant/Unqualified Nursery Practitioner.

Location: Cedars Day Nursery | Leighton Buzzard | LU7 2PA.

Contract: Permanent | 12.5 hours/week | 52 weeks/year.

Working pattern: Varied shifts Monday-Friday between 16:00-18:30.

Salary: £26,769.60 per annum (pro-rata) | £12.87 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 20% for parents, and 11% 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.