Nursery Practitioner

Caring Kindergartens Ltd; England; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

60% nursery fee discount

Employee app for rosters and policies

Christmas and New Year time off

Training and career development

Inclusive team culture

Job summary

Caring Kindergartens Ltd is seeking a proactive Senior Nursery Practitioner to lead and inspire a dedicated team in our English early years setting. You will model high-quality practice, support colleagues and foster strong relationships with children and families.

You'll work to maintain excellent safeguarding, plan meaningful observations and learning experiences, and develop routines that reflect each child's interests while supporting professional development across the team.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in an Early Years setting.
• Strong knowledge of EYFS and child development.
• Excellent communication and team-building skills.
• Commitment to safeguarding and high standards of care.

Responsibilities

• Lead by example with warm, responsive interactions.
• Support and develop colleagues, provide constructive feedback.
• Foster teamwork and effective daily routines.
• Support induction and ongoing professional development.
• Ensure high standards of observation, assessment and planning.
• Build strong partnerships with families.

Skills

Leadership experience

Team development

Strong communication

Knowledge of EYFS

Observation & assessment

Education

Level 3 childcare qualification recognised by the Department for Education

Job description

Key aspects of the role

• Develop your team - share your knowledge, encourage reflective practice and help colleagues recognise their strengths and develop their skills.
• Bring ideas to life - contribute to exciting learning experiences, effective routines and an environment that reflects children's individual interests and needs.
• Make your voice count - contribute ideas, share good practice and work collaboratively to make our nursery even better.
• Keep growing - continue developing your own leadership skills, professional knowledge and career opportunities within Early Years.

What will your role look like?

No two days are the same in Early Years, and that's part of what makes the role so rewarding. You'll remain actively involved in children's learning, play and care, building meaningful relationships and helping each child develop their confidence, independence and curiosity. Alongside this, you'll take a lead role in supporting your team, helping to create a positive, organised and engaging nursery environment where children and colleagues can thrive. You'll be responsible for helping to turn good intentions into great everyday practice. This will include:

• Lead by example, modelling warm, responsive interactions and high-quality Early Years practice.
• Support colleagues with their daily responsibilities, helping them feel confident, informed and equipped to do their jobs well.
• Encourage teamwork, open communication, shared responsibility and a positive approach to challenges.
• Support the induction and ongoing development of team members, sharing feedback constructively and identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Help maintain consistent standards and effective routines throughout the day.

Putting children at the heart of everything

• Support the delivery of engaging, purposeful play experiences that reflect children's interests, individual needs and developmental next steps.
• Promote high-quality interactions that extend children's thinking, language, communication and learning.
• Help ensure observations and assessments are meaningful and inform planning in line with the EYFS.
• Champion inclusion, celebrating every child's individuality, achievements and progress.
• Build positive, trusting relationships with families and work in partnership to support children's development.

Creating a safe and secure environment

• Promote a strong safeguarding culture and ensure policies and procedures are followed consistently.
• Support colleagues to maintain safe, stimulating and well‑organised learning environments.
• Remain alert to children's needs, identify concerns and ensure these are escalated appropriately.
• Help maintain high standards of care, hygiene, health and safety.
• Contribute to continuous improvement by reflecting on practice, identifying concerns and helping the team find effective solutions.

Working together to make a difference

• Work collaboratively with the Nursery Manager and wider team to support the smooth running of the nursery.
• Communicate clearly, share relevant information and help ensure that important tasks and responsibilities are completed.
• Encourage colleagues to reflect on their practice, share ideas and learn from one another.
• Support the implementation of Caring Kindergartens' values, policies and expectations through your everyday actions.

We're looking for someone who combines professional knowledge with the people skills needed to bring a team together.

You'll ideally have:

• A Level 3 childcare qualification recognised by the Department for Education, meeting the requirements of the role.
• Substantial experience working within an early years setting and a sound understanding of the EYFS.
• Experience supporting, guiding or leading colleagues, or the confidence and motivation to take that next step.
• A good understanding of safeguarding, child protection and safer working practices.
• The ability to support high-quality observations, assessments, planning and children' individual learning journeys.
• Strong communication and relationship‑building skills.
• The ability to organise priorities, manage competing demands and remain calm under pressure.
• A reflective approach, a willingness to learn and the confidence to give and receive constructive feedback.

Most importantly, you'll be someone who understands that leadership isn't just about having responsibility. It's about the example you set, the relationships you build and the way you help others succeed. You'll be approachable but confident, supportive but consistent, and willing to have constructive conversations when needed. You'll recognise that every member of the team has something to contribute, while ensuring that children's safety, wellbeing and learning always remain the priority. You'll also need to meet our safer recruitment requirements, including satisfactory references and the appropriate DBS checks.

Ready to take the next step? Perhaps you're already supporting colleagues and are ready to take on a more formal leadership role. Perhaps you're an experienced practitioner who enjoys helping others develop. Or perhaps you're already a team leader looking for an opportunity to bring your experience, ideas and enthusiasm to a new setting. Whatever your next step looks like, if you're passionate about high-quality childcare and excited by the opportunity to help a team grow together, we'd love to hear from you.

Caring Kindergartens | Where little moments make a big difference. Are you ready to take the next step in your Early Years career and help others shine along the way? At Caring Kindergartens, we believe that exceptional childcare starts with people who care. People who see the potential in every child, bring out the best in their colleagues and understand that the smallest moments can make the biggest difference. From supporting a child's first steps towards independence to helping a colleague develop their confidence, every day brings opportunities to make a lasting impact. We're looking for an enthusiastic, experienced and motivated Senior Nursery Practitioner to lead and inspire a team, combining a passion for working directly with children with the confidence to support colleagues and drive high-quality practice. This is an opportunity for someone who wants to do more than simply get through the day. We want someone who takes pride in their work, leads by example and understands that a great team is built through encouragement, communication, consistency and a shared commitment to doing the very best for our children.

At CK, children are at the heart of everything we do. We want every child to feel safe, included, valued and supported to reach their potential. But we also know that great teams don't happen by accident. They grow when people feel supported, listened to and confident in their roles. As a Senior Nursery Practitioner, you'll have the opportunity to:

• Make a lasting difference - help create an environment where children feel secure, curious, confident and excited to learn.
• Lead by example - inspire colleagues through your own practice, positive attitude and commitment to high standards.

At Caring Kindergartens, we believe that when we support our people, they are better equipped to support our children.

Why choose Caring Kindergartens?

At Caring Kindergartens, we believe that when our people feel valued, supported and inspired, they can do their very best work for our children. We're proud to be one big team, where everyone's contribution matters, achievements are celebrated and people are encouraged to grow. We want you to feel that CK is somewhere you belong, where your voice is heard and where you can build a career you're proud of.

Here's what you can look forward to when you join us:

• A team that celebrates you ‑ We recognise achievements, celebrate successes and value the contribution every individual makes. We want you to feel welcomed, included and appreciated as part of our team.
• Exclusive discounts and everyday savings ‑ Enjoy access to a wide range of discounts across high street brands, travel, utilities, days out and more, helping you make your money go further.
• A helping hand with childcare costs ‑ If your child attends a Caring Kindergartens nursery, you can benefit from a generous 60% discount on nursery fees, helping to make balancing work and family life a little easier.
• Christmas with the people who matter ‑ We understand how important time with family and friends can be, particularly over the festive season, so we guarantee time off over the Christmas and New Year period.
• Support to help you succeed ‑ From the training and resources you need to do your job confidently to regular check‑ins and opportunities to share your thoughts, we want you to feel supported, listened to and comfortable asking questions.
• A career that can grow with you ‑ Whether you're starting your Early Years journey or looking to take your next step, we'll work with you to explore your ambitions and development opportunities across our nurseries.
• Our NURTURE programme ‑ We want to help you reach your potential. Our NURTURE programme supports your development and helps prepare you for future opportunities and progression within Early Years.
• Your wellbeing matters ‑ Your health and wellbeing are important to us. You'll have access to ongoing internal support and our Employee Assistance Programme, providing additional support when you need it.
• Everything you need in one place ‑ Our employee app makes it easier to manage your work life, with access to rotas, annual leave, policies and documents, alongside an internal social platform where colleagues share ideas, activities and team challenges.
• Inclusion from day one ‑ We believe everyone deserves to feel welcomed, respected and included from the moment they join CK. Our Day One Inclusion approach reflects our commitment to treating every member of the team fairly and making sure everyone has the opportunity to contribute and belong.

At Caring Kindergartens, you're more than the role you do. You're part of a team that cares about children, supports one another and believes in helping people grow. Come and be part of something special.