Nursery Early Years Practitioner

YMCA FAIRTHORNE HOUSING; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% childcare discount at our nursery

Up to 30 days’ holiday

A celebration leave day

Health Cash Plan

Retail discounts

Career development opportunities

Fantastic day-camp savings

Discounts at YMCA Fairthorne Manor

Cycle to Work scheme

High-quality resources

Warm, caring and supportive culture

Job summary

YMCA Fairthorne Group Portsmouth Nursery is seeking a friendly Early Years Practitioner to support learning through play in a welcoming setting on Whale Island. The role focuses on developing children’s confidence, independence and emotional growth while maintaining a safe, inclusive environment.

You’ll build strong relationships with children, parents and carers, enable exploration, and support learning through structured and spontaneous activities aligned with EYFS principles.

Qualifications

• Hold a Level 2 or Level 3 Early Years qualification, are working towards one, or have relevant transferable experience
• Caring, patient, dependable and enthusiastic about helping children thrive
• Can build positive relationships with children, parents, carers and colleagues
• Committed to inclusive, play-based learning and outdoor experiences
• Understand the importance of safeguarding and safe Early Years practice
• Are willing to follow the EYFS framework and complete observations and records
• Can support children with different needs, experiences and starting points
• Are willing to undertake all required safer-recruitment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check

Responsibilities

• build warm and secure relationships with children
• help every child feel that they belong
• support children’s confidence, independence and emotional development
• create engaging opportunities to learn through play
• follow children’s interests and turn everyday experiences into opportunities for discovery
• support communication, language and social development
• encourage creativity, curiosity and problem-solving
• provide exciting indoor and outdoor experiences
• observe children’s development and use what you learn to support what comes next
• build positive relationships with parents and carers
• support children with different needs, experiences and starting points
• work closely with colleagues and share ideas and good practice
• maintain a safe, welcoming and inclusive nursery environment
• keep children safe through excellent safeguarding and Early Years practice.

Skills

Caring

Patient

Dependable

Enthusiastic

Education

Level 2 Early Years qualification

Level 3 Early Years qualification

Job description

Description

A place where children thrive. A career where you can too.

There aren't many careers where the moments you create today can shape a child's future.

You could be there for a child's first friendship, their growing confidence, or the discovery that sparks a lifelong love of learning. You might help a child solve a problem, ask their hundredth question, or achieve something they've spent weeks trying to master.

That's the impact of Early Years education.

At a YMCA Fairthorne Group Nursery, we're looking for warm, patient, curious and caring people who want to help children learn, grow and thrive through play-based learning.

Whether you're an experienced Early Years Practitioner, hold a Level 2 or Level 3 Childcare qualification, are working towards one, or are considering a career change, we'd love to hear from you.

Because while qualifications matter, the person behind them matters even more.

A working week with more room for life

Our full-time Early Years Practitioners work 40 hours across four days, giving you:

4 working days, 3 days off every week.

More time for family, friends, hobbies and life outside work. Part-time and job-share opportunities may also be available.

Welcome to YMCA Fairthorne Group Portsmouth Nursery

YMCA Fairthorne Group Portsmouth is a fantastic nursery based within the unique facilities of Whale Island, the Royal Navy base of HMC Excellence.

The nursery is bright, spacious and designed to give children plenty of opportunities to explore, discover and learn through play, with large secure outdoor areas for everyday adventure.

And because the nursery sits within a wider YMCA Fairthorne Group community setting, there is a real sense that children and families are part of something beyond the nursery room.

We want children to feel secure enough to explore, confident enough to try and supported enough to develop at their own pace.

A place to play, learn, make friends and feel that they belong.

Children learn best when they're actively engaged, curious and having fun. Learning might look like:

• exploring nature outdoors
• building, creating and problem-solving
• investigating how things work
• storytelling, role play and imaginative play
• developing independence, resilience and social skills

Sometimes the best learning starts with a carefully planned activity. Sometimes it starts with a cardboard box. Both can be equally valuable.

As an Early Years Practitioner, you'll:

• build warm and secure relationships with children
• help every child feel that they belong
• support children’s confidence, independence and emotional development
• create engaging opportunities to learn through play
• follow children’s interests and turn everyday experiences into opportunities for discovery
• support communication, language and social development
• encourage creativity, curiosity and problem-solving
• provide exciting indoor and outdoor experiences
• observe children’s development and use what you learn to support what comes next
• build positive relationships with parents and carers
• support children with different needs, experiences and starting points
• work closely with colleagues and share ideas and good practice
• maintain a safe, welcoming and inclusive nursery environment
• keep children safe through excellent safeguarding and Early Years practice.

While you'll work within the EYFS framework and complete observations and records, your focus will always be the children.

We welcome applications from:

• qualified Level 2 or Level 3 Early Years Practitioners
• those studying towards an Early Years qualification
• people with experience in education, SEND, youth work, healthcare, coaching, community services or care

Most importantly, we're looking for people who are caring, dependable, curious and committed to helping children grow in confidence, independence and curiosity.

If you have the right values, we can support your development through training and apprenticeship pathways.

More than your next childcare job

Joining a YMCA Fairthorne Group Nursery is more than finding your next childcare job.

It's an opportunity to shape children's earliest experiences, develop your career in Early Years education, and be part of an organisation dedicated to helping children, young people and families belong, contribute and thrive.

If you're looking for an Early Years Practitioner or Nursery Practitioner role in Portsmouth, or you're considering your first step into childcare and Early Years education, we'd love to hear from you.

Safeguarding

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We welcome applications from people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

Requirements

We welcome applications from candidates who:

• Hold a Level 2 or Level 3 Early Years qualification, are working towards one, or have relevant transferable experience
• Are caring, patient, dependable and enthusiastic about helping children thrive
• Can build positive relationships with children, parents, carers and colleagues
• Are committed to inclusive, play-based learning and outdoor experiences
• Understand the importance of safeguarding and safe Early Years practice
• Are willing to follow the EYFS framework and complete observations and records
• Can support children with different needs, experiences and starting points
• Are willing to undertake all required safer-recruitment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check

Applications are also encouraged from career changers with experience in education, SEND, youth work, healthcare, coaching, community services or care. Training and apprenticeship pathways may be available for candidates with the right values and attitude.

Up to £30,368 per annum

Benefits

We want you to thrive at work and beyond. That’s why you’ll enjoy:

• 100% childcare discount at our nursery— saving you up to£16,000 a year
• Up to 30 days’ holiday, plus bank holidays and the option to buy 10 additional days
• A celebration leave day— an extra day off to celebrate whatever matters to you
• Health Cash Planand access to a wellbeing assistance programme
• Retail discounts, discounted gym membership and Blue Light Card eligibility
• Career development opportunitiesto help you learn, progress and achieve your goals
• Fantastic day-camp savings— one free week and one week at 50% off per child, every year
• Discounts at YMCA Fairthorne Manor, including camping, activities, river hire and day camps
• Cycle to Work scheme
• High-quality resourcesand a modern working environment
• Most importantly, a warm, caring and supportive culturewhere you’ll feel welcomed and valued