Nursery Nurse

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; England; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A community health service provider in Reading is seeking a qualified Level 3 Nursery Nurse to provide care and support for children in a nursery environment. Responsibilities include planning activities, maintaining development records, and working collaboratively with parents and team members. The ideal candidate should have an NVQ 3 in childcare and an understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. This is a full-time position with flexible working options.

Benefits

Flexible working options

27 days’ annual leave

Generous NHS pension scheme

Excellent learning and career development opportunities

Cycle to Work scheme

Access to wellbeing tools and services

Discounts at retailers and restaurants

Generous maternity, paternity, adoption leave

Free parking

Qualifications

• Experience of any work which demonstrates the skills required for the post.
• Experience of team work.
• Knowledge of safeguarding children and child protection.

Responsibilities

• Encouraging all areas of the children’s development through appropriate activities.
• Providing a stimulating, friendly and caring environment.
• Being a key carer for a small group of children and their families.

Skills

Good communication skills

Understanding of the role of the Key Person

Knowledge of inclusive practice

Education

NVQ 3 in childcare or equivalent

Understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage

Job description

We are looking for a qualified Level 3 Nursery Nurse to join our team.

Location: Little Dragons, Reading

Salary: £24,937 to £26,598

Who are we: we are Little Dragons Day Nursery located within Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. We pride ourselves on nurturing a positive and supportive environment for our children, and we are looking for a Nursery Nurse, Level 3 qualified to join us on a full-time basis.

Working hours: we are open Monday to Friday, from 7:30am to 6:00pm, closed on Bank Holidays and during the Christmas and New Year period. Our team works on a rota basis, covering 37.5 hours per week typically 7.5 hours per day.

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.

You will also maintain a positive, caring approach, contribute creative ideas, and work collaboratively within the team and bring experience in working with children with special needs, working closely with the nursery team and the area SENCO to provide the best support.

Main duties of the job

• 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.

Working for our organisation

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 at Berkshire Healthcare are:

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

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

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

Belong At Berkshire Healthcare

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The “must haves” for this role:

• NVQ 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

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being 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: 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 on 0118 9585316 or email [e-mail] who’ll be delighted to help.

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.

Please note, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person specification

Education / Qualifications / Training

• NVQ 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

Continuous Professional Development

• As stated in the EYFS, a good standard of written and spoken English. Also able to read and understand English such as to follow instructions or interpret a policy
• A knowledge of safeguarding children and child protection and appropriate protocol

Desirable criteria

• Paediatric First Aid Certificate
• Food Hygiene Certificate

Previous Experience

• Experience of any work which demonstrates the skills required for the post
• Experience of team work
• Previous relevant work in childcare

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Good communication skills
• An understanding of the role of the Key Person
• Knowledge of inclusive practice

Additional Requirements

• Flexible approach to hours which includes a willingness to attend meetings, training and nursery events as appropriate