Nursery Practitioner

Recruit by Nature; Crawley; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Childcare discount

Further education funding

CPD travel opportunities

Christmas bonus

Bonus schemes

Flexible working

Free meals

Joining/long-service bonuses

Outdoor garden and woodland access

The Atelier studio

High staff-to-child ratio

Family-support leads

Job summary

Recruit by Nature is seeking a Level 3 Nursery Practitioner for a full-time, permanent role in the Crawley area of West Sussex. The nursery embraces a Reggio Emilia-inspired approach with woodland and Forest School elements, plus an Atelier studio, delivering child-led, outdoor-friendly early years education.

The successful candidate will work with babies to preschoolers, participate in 40-hour weeks, and benefit from extensive staff development, funded education, and travel for CPD

Qualifications

• Right to work in the UK
• Experience in nursery/early years settings
• Knowledge of early years development and child needs
• Ability to provide safe, nurturing care through purposeful play
• Clear communication with children, families and colleagues

Responsibilities

• Provide warm, responsive care for children from three months to five years
• Plan and support purposeful play and learning experiences
• Observe children and extend learning based on interests
• Encourage creativity, enquiry and self-expression through the Reggio Emilia approach
• Use outdoor learning spaces to support development
• Collaborate with colleagues and families and maintain learning records

Skills

Teamwork

Communication

Observation & Learning

Education

Level 3 Nursery Practitioner qualification

Job description

Level 3 Nursery Practitioner - Crawley, West Sussex, RH10

Join a Reggio Emilia-inspired nursery in Crawley, West Sussex, where children aged three months to five years learn through purposeful play, creativity and outdoor exploration. This full-time permanent Nursery Practitioner position suits an enthusiastic early years professional who wants to contribute to a child-led environment with woodland, Forest School opportunities, a creative Atelier studio and strong investment in staff development.

Employment Type

Full-time, permanent, all-year-round position.

Salary

£27,000 - £30,000 per annum + benefits.

Benefits

• 80% childcare discount.
• Fully funded further education and career development.
• International travel opportunities for CPD.
• Christmas shopping contribution.
• Reward schemes and bonuses.
• Flexible working patterns and annual leave allowance.
• Free hot meals.
• Joiners’ and long-service bonuses.
• Large free-flow outdoor garden and neighbouring woodland.
• Dedicated creative art studio, The Atelier.
• High staff-to-child ratio.
• Dedicated family-support and learning leads across the nursery group.

Working Hours & Shift Pattern

Full-time, permanent, 40 hours per week. Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 area.

• All-year-round nursery position.
• Work with babies, toddlers and preschool-aged children.
• Daily access to indoor, outdoor and woodland learning environments.
• Flexible working patterns are highlighted as part of the staff benefits package.

Job Description

As a Nursery Practitioner, you will deliver nurturing care, teaching and learning within a Reggio Emilia-inspired nursery in Crawley, West Sussex. You will support children from three months to five years across baby, toddler and preschool provision, helping them investigate ideas through purposeful play, creativity and outdoor learning. The setting includes a free-flow garden, neighbouring woodland, Forest School opportunities and The Atelier creative studio, making this a distinctive environment for child-led early years practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide warm, responsive care for children aged three months to five years.
• Plan and support purposeful play and learning experiences appropriate to children’s stages of development.
• Observe children closely and use their interests and ideas to extend learning.
• Encourage creativity, enquiry and self-expression through the Reggio Emilia-inspired approach.
• Use the garden, woodland and Forest School opportunities to support outdoor learning.
• Build secure, respectful relationships with children and respond sensitively to their individual needs.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, family-support leads and learning leads.
• Communicate professionally with families about children’s experiences, progress and wellbeing.
• Maintain accurate observations, records and relevant learning documentation.
• Follow safeguarding, health and safety and nursery policies consistently.

Essential Requirements

• You must already have the right to work in the UK. Sponsorship is not available for this role.
• A Level 2 qualification or higher in childcare or an appropriate early years qualification.
• Experience working with children in a nursery, early years or childcare setting.
• Knowledge of early years development and the needs of babies, toddlers or preschool children.
• Ability to provide safe, nurturing and engaging care through purposeful play.
• Patient, creative and attentive communication with children, families and colleagues.
• Ability to work responsibly as part of a team and contribute to children’s learning records.
• Also suitable for: Early Years Practitioner, Early Years Educator, Level 3 Practitioner, Nursery Nurse

Company Culture

As a Nursery Practitioner, you will be part of a supportive early years team that values curiosity, creativity and thoughtful child-led practice. The nursery invests in professional development and provides access to fully funded further education, CPD travel and dedicated family-support and learning leads. Its carefully designed spaces, outdoor provision and Atelier studio create an environment where children’s ideas can develop into meaningful projects and where practitioners can continue to grow their own skills.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, so early interest is warmly encouraged.