Nursery Assistant | Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Reading; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

27 days’ annual leave rising with time

Excellent learning and career developm

Cycle to Work scheme

Free parking across Trust sites

Job summary

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Level 2/3 Nursery Assistant to join a part-time team in Reading. You will care for babies and young children, delivering developmentally appropriate activities under EYFS guidelines and maintaining records.

The role emphasizes safeguarding, inclusion, and close collaboration with parents and colleagues. The Trust offers flexible working options, significant annual leave, learning and development opportunities, and supportive staff networks.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 in childcare or equivalent qualification.
• Understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
• Knowledge of safeguarding children and child protection.

Responsibilities

• You will be responsible for a group of children, providing daily care, activities, and completing developmental reviews.
• You will support children from 6 months to reception age, ensuring high standards of care and learning in a safe, stimulating environment, in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage.
• You will support and inspire children to become independent, creative, and confident individuals.
• Planning engaging and stimulating activities to help children achieve their full potential.
• Building strong relationships with parents is essential.
• Compiling and maintaining development records on children and reporting to the Team Leader at agreed intervals.
• Providing a stimulating, friendly and caring environment at all times.
• Demonstrating good practice with regards to special needs and inclusion, working with the nursery and area SENCO as appropriate.

Education

NVQ Level 3 in childcare

Job description

Nursery Assistant | Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Company: Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

We are looking for a qualified Level 2 Nursery Assistant to join our team.

Who are we: We are located at 57-59 Bath Road, Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. We pride ourselves on nurturing a positive and supportive environment for our children, and we are looking for a part-time Nursery Nurse, Level 3 qualified to join us on a part-time basis.

Working hours

• Our shifts are 8 hours a day i.e. 7.30am – 3.30pm, 8am – 4pm, 9am – 5pm, 10am – 6pm – Closed weekends, Bank holidays and the week at Christmas.
• Shifts tend to be different each day, and we have a 30 minute lunch break.

Job type

Part-time

Your role

• You will be responsible for a group of children, providing daily care, activities, and completing developmental reviews.
• You will support children from 6 months to reception age, ensuring high standards of care and learning in a safe, stimulating environment, in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage.
• You will support and inspire children to become independent, creative, and confident individuals. By planning engaging and stimulating activities, you will help children achieve their full potential. Also building strong relationships with parents is essential.
• Encouraging all areas of the children's development within Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) with the appropriate activities, play opportunities and actions through imaginative play and innovative programming.
• Compiling and maintaining development records on children and report to the Team Leader at agreed intervals.
• Providing a stimulating, friendly and caring environment at all times.
• Demonstrating good practice with regards to special needs and inclusion, working with the nursery and area SENCO as appropriate.
• Being a key carer carrying out all related responsibilities in building relationships with a small group of children and their families.
• Working with Early Years and other professional teams to continuously improve the quality of childcare and education and to learn about current developments in childcare practice and policy.

Applications for this role will be considered on a first come first serve basis and we may close the vacancy early if the right candidate is found.

About the Trust

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated "outstanding" by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Benefits

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• "Cycle to Work" and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites

The "must haves" for this role

• NVQ level 3 in childcare or equivalent qualification in line with those listed on the 'qualification finder' section of www.education.gov.uk
• An understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage
• A knowledge of safeguarding children and child protection.

Salary and location

• Salary: £25,272 per annum
• Location: Reading, RG30 2BA
• Job type: Permanent

Application information

Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role. We recognise that AI tools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants. However, it's important that examples and responses given in your supporting statement genuinely reflect your own experience and abilities, as these will be explored further during the selection process. AI must not be used to provide misleading or false information during any stage of the application journey.

In addition to explaining how you meet the person specification, you must complete your employment history for at least the last five years. Any experience, skills or responsibilities referenced in your supporting statement should be evidenced within your employment history. Applications that do not include sufficient employment history to support the experience claimed may not be shortlisted.

We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Stonewall Proud Employer, Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Rebecca Croft, Nursery Manager on 0118 9044638 or contact her at [e-mail] who'll be delighted to help.

Please note: This role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship under current UK immigration rules. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK.

This advert closes on Wednesday 14 Oct 2026.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme.