Nursery Assistant

Acorn Early Years Foundation; Stanwick; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay scales

Childcare discount 65% Pro Rata

Generous family leave

Christmas closure

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Training days and development plans

Job summary

Acorn Early Years Foundation is seeking a dedicated Nursery Assistant for Stanwick Nursery. Join our team to support a holistic curriculum, promote child wellbeing, and help children learn through structured play and outdoor activities.

The role involves teamwork, safeguarding, and building strong relationships with children and families. Open to candidates with a passion for early years; no formal qualifications required as training and development will be provided.

Qualifications

• No formal qualification is required for this role, as training and development will be supported.
• We are looking for candidates who are caring, enthusiastic and reliable, who communicate effectively with children, families and colleagues, and who are keen to learn and progress in early years.

Responsibilities

• Support children’s care, wellbeing and individual needs
• Deliver positive, high-quality interactions based on children’s stages of development
• Promote positive behaviour in line with Acorn’s policies and procedures
• Support rich learning experiences indoors and outdoors
• Encourage children’s independence, confidence and physical development
• Support planning in the moment
• Carry out regular observations in line with Acorn guidance
• Assist with maintaining records such as care plans and progress reviews
• Understand and support the key person approach
• Work flexibly as part of a team and cascade information to colleagues
• Safeguard all children at all times

Skills

Caring

Enthusiastic

Reliable

Communication with families

Job description

We are looking for a Nursery Assistant to join our dedicated team at StanwickNursery. This is a great opportunity for someone who is passionate about working with children and supporting high-quality early years care in a nurturing, child‑centred environment.

This is a full time position, 40 hours per week.

About Stanwick Nursery

Acorn at Stanwick is based in a historic village in Northamptonshire, which offers a homely space for children to relax and have fun whilst learning and socialising with other children. We work closely with the community and often become involved with village events and use the local amenities and surrounding area, including our own raised beds at the local allotment.

We offer full and part-time care for up to 78 children from the age of four months to four years, and are open from 7.30am to 6.15pm, Monday to Friday, all year round.

The children have use of two large outdoor spaces, one being a private garden at the back of the nursery, which offers a woodland area, space for children to be active and a stream. We also have our own forest school field a few minutes’ walk away for children to explore and discover the environment through a range of activities, including the opportunity to learn how to use tools safely and learn about fire, with Lorraine, our in-house forest school leader.

We have a team of qualified, experienced and dedicated staff who provide high quality care and education for all children in a secure and stimulating environment. Children’s learning is facilitated through a carefully designed provision which offers rich first‑hand opportunities that support children to explore, investigate and discover. Key persons use a variety of strategies, such as role modelling, encouraging, demonstrating, and setting challenges to help children to progress through the Early Years Foundation Stage.

About the Role

As a Nursery Assistant, you will support a holistic approach to the curriculum, helping to ensure the wellbeing, development and learning of all children in your care. You will work as part of a team to support the smooth day‑to‑day running of the nursery.

Key Responsibilities

• Support children’s care, wellbeing and individual needs
• Deliver positive, high-quality interactions based on children’s stages of development
• Promote positive behaviour in line with Acorn’s policies and procedures
• Support rich learning experiences indoors and outdoors
• Encourage children’s independence, confidence and physical development
• Support planning in the moment
• Carry out regular observations in line with Acorn guidance
• Assist with maintaining records such as care plans, “All About Me” forms, medication forms and progress reviews (where appropriate)
• Understand and support the key person approach
• Work flexibly as part of a team, adapting responsibilities as required
• Cascade relevant information to colleagues and management
• Safeguard all children at all times

What We’re Looking For

We welcome applications from candidates who:

• Share Acorn’s values and ethos
• Have an interest in early years and child development
• Are caring, enthusiastic and reliable
• Value parents as partners
• Communicate effectively with children, families and colleagues
• Are keen to learn, develop and progress within early years

(No formal qualification is required for this role, as training and development will be supported.)

Equality, Diversity & Safer Recruitment

At Acorn, we are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where everyone feels they belong. We value diversity and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments will be considered during the recruitment process.

Successful applicants must:

• Have the right to work in the UK
• Provide two satisfactory references
• Complete an Enhanced DBS check prior to commencing employment

As a thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to making Acorn a safe, nurturing and fun place for our children to be, we offer:

• Payscales that are competitive, transparent and reviewed annually
• 65% Childcare discount - Pro Rata according to contracted hours
• Generous family leave
• Christmas closure
• 25 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays (and the option to buy more)
• 4 dedicated training days and individual development plans