Nursery Practitioner (Lunch Cover)

Childbase Partnership; Aylesbury; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 22,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

23 days annual leave (pro-rata)

28 days with length of service

paid bank holidays

Partnership Reward Days

Childcare savings 40% for parents, 21%

Long-service rewards

Qualification bonuses

Retail discounts

Free meals

Mental health support

Occupational health support

Flu jabs

Eye care vouchers

Free will-writing service

Access to online training and Apprent

Job summary

Childbase Partnership invites applications for a Nursery Practitioner (Lunch Cover) at Grasshoppers Day Nursery, Aylesbury. This permanent, part-time role is 20 hours per week, 10:00-14:00, Monday to Friday, with an hourly salary of £12.87–£16.22.

The successful candidate will support babies and under-5s, follow EYFS guidelines, and contribute to a nurturing, safe environment while working as part of our inclusive team.

Qualifications

• Experience of caring for babies and children aged five and under.
• EYFS knowledge is beneficial.
• DfE approved early years qualification level 2 or above is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Deliver engaging play-based activities planned by the Key Person.
• Support children's welfare and development during lunch cover hours.
• Collaborate with colleagues to ensure a safe, welcoming environment.
• Attend to children's daily routines and observations for learning journeys.

Skills

Caring for young children

Child development knowledge

Safeguarding awareness

Education

DfE approved early years qualification (level 2+)

Job description

Join Childbase Partnership and be part of something extraordinary. Role: Nursery Practitioner (Lunch Cover). Location: Grasshoppers Day Nursery | Aylesbury | HP21 9PD. Contract: Permanent | 20 hours/week | 52 weeks/year. Working pattern: 10:00-14:00 Monday-Friday. Salary: £12.87-£16.22 per hour.

We've been delivering childcare excellence since 1989. Within our 44-day nurseries, Head Office, and Training Academy, EduBase, our ethos is simple: we all belong, we all matter, and we all contribute. We believe in ' careers, not jobs' , supporting one another to grow and succeed.

Why join us?

• Generous annual leave : 23 days paid leave per annum (pro-rata), rising to 28 days with length of service, plus paid bank holidays.
• Work-life balance: Up to a further 20 paid days off each year through our Partnership Reward Days incentive; take your leave or sell the days you accrue, tax-free.
• Family childcare savings: If you have children or grandchildren, there's the potential for you to benefit from generously discounted childcare at Childbase Partnership nurseries, with savings of 40% for parents, and 21% for grandparents.
• Exclusive partner benefits : Long-service rewards, qualification bonuses and retail discounts.
• Wellbeing support: Free meals, mental health and occupational health support, flu jabs, eye care vouchers and a free will-writing service.
• Career development : Team inset days, access to online training and apprenticeships through our academy.

About us

We are employee-owned: Every colleague is a partner with a voice, who helps drive our success; when we do well, we each receive an annual tax-free dividend.

We are number 1: Ranked top of the Nursery World league tables for our Ofsted outcomes.

We are community driven : Supporting causes close to our hearts, we've raised more than £3.5 million for charity.

We are environmentally responsible : Building a greener tomorrow our nurseries all hold Green Flag awards and are powered by 100% renewable energy.

About you

You are a naturally nurturing person : You have some experience of caring for babies and children aged five and under, ideally in an early years environment; holding a DfE approved early years qualification at level 2 or above is advantageous though not essential.

You are passionate about inspiring children: Your knowledge of child development, and ideally your EYFS knowledge, will enable you to implement engaging activities that have been planned by the Key Person to empower children to learn through play and exploration; you will contribute to observations for the children's learning journeys.

You are an advocate for safeguarding: You will ensure every child feels safe, valued, and happy and their well-being is promoted.

You are collaborative: You enjoy working in partnership with others, and can effectively communicate and build strong and positive relationships with children, parents and colleagues.

We are an inclusive employer and we welcome applicants of all ages and backgrounds. We're committed to FREDIE ( fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion, and engagement) and will consider any reasonable adjustments required. If you meet the essential criteria for this role, your application will be automatically shortlisted for review by our Recruitment Team who will determine if an interview is the next step.

Applicants must currently reside within a commutable distance of the nursery and hold suitable Right to Work in the UK; VISA sponsorship is not available. Safer recruitment checks apply, which include an Enhanced DBS check.