Nursery Practitioner

The Old Station Nursery Group; Escrick; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free childcare

52% discount on childcare

31 days holiday + birthday off

National College access

Volunteer day

Perkbox discounts and wellbeing tools

Blue Light Card

Employee recognition

Referral bonuses

Job summary

The Old Station Nursery Group is hiring a Nursery Practitioner in the Escrick area. You will join Little Green Rascals Elvington to support children through play, nurture confidence, and provide a safe, caring environment.

No formal Early Years qualification is required, and enthusiasm and kindness are valued as you learn alongside colleagues. As part of the team, you will participate in play-based activities, support routines, and help observe and record children’s progress within safeguarding

Qualifications

• No qualifications are required for this role.
• Previous childcare experience is beneficial but not essential.
• Willingness to learn and be part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Create a warm, inclusive environment where every child feels welcome and valued.
• Help plan and deliver play-based activities that follow children’s interests and support their learning.
• Build your understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and how it shapes everyday practice.
• Notice and celebrate children’s progress, contributing to observations and records with guidance from colleagues.
• Build positive relationships with families and share updates about children’s days.
• Support everyday routines, including meals, personal care, and rest, with patience and kindness.
• Follow safeguarding, safety, and hygiene procedures, asking for guidance whenever you’re unsure.
• Share ideas, lend a hand, and learn alongside your colleagues.

Job description

Join Our Team as a Nursery Practitioner

Bring your curiosity and care - and discover where Early Years could take you

At The Old Station Nursery, we believe everyone is still growing - little humans and big humans alike. As a Nursery Practitioner at Elvington Lane, you’ll help children learn through play, build their confidence, and feel safe and cared for.

You don’t need an Early Years qualification to get started. Bring your enthusiasm, kindness, and willingness to learn, and you’ll find colleagues ready to share their knowledge and help you grow.

Why Join Our Team?

We take care of the people who care for our children and families. Here’s what that means for you:

• Childcare support: Free childcare for your first month, followed by a 52% discount based on your working hours.
• Time to recharge: 31 days of holiday, including national bank holidays, plus your birthday off and an extra day after 3 years of service.
• Space to grow: Access to The National College, with a library of courses and training to develop your practice and leadership.
• Connection to your community: One paid day each year to volunteer and support a cause that matters to you.
• Everyday support: With access to Perkbox, enjoy discounts on shopping, meals out, and everyday essentials, alongside wellbeing tools and online medical services. You’ll also be eligible for a Blue Light Card, helping your money go further with even more discounts.
• Recognition along the way: We celebrate the care and commitment you bring, with Employee of the Month recognition, long-service awards to mark your milestones, and referral bonuses for introducing friends or family to our team.

Pay: Up to £26,436 per nnum based on experience.

Hours: 38 hours over 4 days Monday to Friday

Location

Little Green Rascals Children's Day Nursery Elvington, Dunnington Lodge, York Maze

Elvington Lane

Elvington

North Yorkshire

YO19 5LT

Where You'll Be Working

At Little Green Rascals Elvington, we are pioneers of the Organic Day Nursery concept, which is dedicated to nurturing children naturally. Surrounded by roaming animals and Winn Wood at our doorstep, we create a comforting, home-like environment. Outside, our landscaped gardens provide daily access for our Rascals to ride bicycles and scooters, engage in mud kitchen play, explore willow tunnels, experiment with giant musical instruments, climb wooden play structures, and jump into puddles of all sizes! We’re based between the village of Elvington and York, on the grounds of York Maze.

What You'll Be Doing

Working alongside experienced colleagues, you’ll help create a welcoming nursery day filled with play, discovery, and caring routines.

One moment you might be joining in with imaginative play or helping children explore paint and textures. The next, you could be offering reassurance, helping with lunchtime, or celebrating a new achievement.

With support from your team, you’ll:

• Create a warm, inclusive environment where every child feels welcome and valued
• Help plan and deliver play-based activities that follow children’s interests and support their learning
• Build your understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and how it shapes everyday practice
• Notice and celebrate children’s progress, contributing to observations and records with guidance from colleagues
• Build positive relationships with families and share updates about children’s days
• Support everyday routines, including meals, personal care, and rest, with patience and kindness
• Follow safeguarding, safety, and hygiene procedures, asking for guidance whenever you’re unsure
• Share ideas, lend a hand, and learn alongside your colleagues

Our values are simple: Own it. Be human. Make it happen. In your role, that means being reliable, treating others with care, and getting involved while recognising when to ask for support.

What We’re Looking For

No qualifications are required for this role. Previous experience working in a childcare setting would be beneficial, but isn’t essential.

You’ll bring:

• A genuine interest in working with children and supporting their development
• Kindness, patience, and a willingness to see things from a child’s perspective
• Curiosity and enthusiasm for learning new skills
• A reliable approach and the ability to work closely with others
• Openness to feedback and the confidence to ask questions
• A commitment to keeping children safe and helping them feel included

Whether you’re exploring Early Years for the first time or bringing experience from another childcare setting, we’d love to hear what you could bring to our community.

If you’re ready for work where your care and encouragement can make a difference every day, we’d love to hear from you.

Help little humans discover what they can do - and you might discover something new about yourself too.

If you have any questions about the role, our Recruitment Team will be happy to help at [e-mail].

Please note: we are currently unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

The Old Station Nursery is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all applicants to share this commitment. All roles are subject to enhanced DBS checks, satisfactory references, verification of your right to work in the UK, and any essential qualifications. If successful, our Onboarding Team will guide you through every step of the onboarding process. We are proud to be an inclusive employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments will be considered to support fairness and accessibility for all candidates. This role involves regulated activity with children.