Nursery Practitioner Level 3

Busy Bees Childcare; Gillingham; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading nursery group in the UK is seeking an Early Years Educator to support the development of children in a nurturing environment. The ideal candidate will have a Level 3 qualification in Early Years Education, proven experience with children under 5, and strong communication skills. This role offers competitive salary and comprehensive benefits, along with opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Ongoing professional development

50% childcare discount

Up to 28 days holiday

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work scheme

Qualifications

• Proven experience in working with children under 5.
• Genuine interest in early childhood education.
• Ability to plan and deliver activities aligned with EYFS.

Responsibilities

• Prepare materials and arrange rooms for children's growth.
• Plan and deliver educational activities.
• Oversee children's development and care needs.

Skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Knowledge of child development

Education

Level 3 qualification in Early Years Education

Job description

Join Our Team at Busy Bees

Leading Nursery Group in the UK. As an Early Years Educator, you will play a leading role in fostering the intellectual, social, and emotional development of children at Busy Bees.

About Us

Busy Bees is the UK's leading nursery group, with nearly 400 nurseries across the UK and more overseas. We are dedicated to giving every child the best start in life and are proud to have won awards for our workplace culture. At Busy Bees, we ensure that every member of our team feels heard, valued, and nurtured.

Why Work at Busy Bees?

We offer a supportive environment that empowers you to create engaging, educational spaces where children can thrive. As part of our team, you'll be introduced to our unique Bee Curious curriculum, designed to foster curiosity and confidence in young learners.

Our charitable commitment: Through our partnership with BBC Children in Need, we offer fantastic opportunities for community involvement and fundraising to support children's lives.

About our Nursery

Chatham, rated Outstanding by Ofsted, is a purpose‑built nursery with a capacity of 78 children, featuring a single‑level design that includes three rooms with free flow access. We provide essential items such as nappies and wipes for added convenience. Conveniently located near Gillingham and Brompton, our nursery is situated next to the dockyard, offering a unique community connection. We boast free parking, a large garden for outdoor activities, and a longstanding staff team. Our curriculum includes extracurricular activities such as Spanish and Razz, ensuring a well‑rounded educational experience for all children.

Busy Bees Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Ongoing professional development and career progression
• Our 'Hive' benefits and wellbeing hub, with discounts across a huge range of retailers
• Up to 28 days holiday per year (including bank holidays)
• Your birthday off - it's our gift to you!
• 50% childcare discount
• Enhanced family leave and return to work bonus
• Menopause support through Peppy
• Financial support through Salary Finance
• Employee Assistance Programme and Mental Health First Aiders
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Easy access to your workplace pension through Cushon
• Discounted Private Medical Insurance (PMI)
• Opportunities to travel to other countries, experience different cultures and learn new practices
• Access to our Benefits and Wellbeing platform, Hive – offering huge array of retail discounts helping your money to go further, along with a Wellbeing Hub featuring resources to support your physical and mental health
• A Celebrating You section showcasing the ways we recognise and reward our valued team members
• Dedicated Grow with Us area sharing the exciting development opportunities and training designed to support you to thrive and grow at Busy Bees

What to Expect as a Nursery Practitioner

• Create a Safe, Stimulating Environment: Prepare materials and arrange rooms to encourage children's growth and learning.
• Lead Educational Activities: Plan and deliver activities that support children's physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development, aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
• Key Person Role: Oversee children's development, care needs, and build strong family connections.

What We're Looking For

• Level 3 (or above) qualification in Early Years Education.
• Proven experience in working with children under 5 and a genuine interest in early childhood education.
• Good communication skills; excellent organisational skills; and the ability to apply knowledge of child development to plan and deliver activities.
• Previous experience working with children, ideally as an Early Years Educator, Nursery Practitioner, Nursery Assistant or Nursery Nurse, and a readiness to make a meaningful impact in early childhood education.

If you have previous experience working with children and are ready to make a meaningful impact in early childhood education, we encourage you to apply!