Nursery Practitioner - Lunch Cover

Bright Horizons Family Solutions, LLC.; Canterbury; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 33,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Childcare discount 50% (first child)

Enhanced parental leave

Annual leave + bank holidays

Additional leave option

Pension

Wellbeing benefits & 24/7 virtual GP

Career development access

Flexible shift options

Job summary

Bright Horizons Canterbury Day Nursery and Preschool is seeking a part-time Early Years Practitioner in Canterbury. You will plan and deliver engaging activities tailored to individual children, supporting their development within a caring, safe setting.

You will work 20 hours per week, meet EYFS requirements, maintain safeguarding standards, and build strong partnerships with parents and colleagues to support a lifelong love of learning.

Qualifications

• Requires Level 3 Early Years qualification.
• Demonstrates passion for inclusive learning.
• Good knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
• Strong safeguarding and child-protection knowledge.
• Ability to build trust and partnerships with colleagues and parents/carers.

Responsibilities

• Plan, create, implement and reflect on engaging activities tailored to each child to support development towards milestones.
• Create a safe environment that allows children to express themselves, engage their minds and foster a love of learning.

Skills

Passion for inclusive learning

EYFS knowledge

Safeguarding knowledge

Trusting relationships with parents

Education

Level 3 Early Years qualification

Job description

Nursery: Bright Horizons Canterbury Day Nursery and Preschool

Salary: £28,072 - £33,020 per annum pro rata (depending on qualification and experience). Location: Canterbury.

Benefits

• Childcare discount of 50% for first child* (subject to T&Cs).


• Enhanced parental leave.


• 20 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and paid Christmas closure.


• Ability to also purchase additional leave*.


• Pension.


• Financial and wellbeing benefits including 24/7 virtual GP appointments, early access to wages, and more.


• Professional development programme access for every stage of your career, including access to a careers coach.


• Shift options: 40 hours over 4 or 5 days, 24 hours over 3 days, or 16 hours over 2 days (subject to T&Cs).

The Role

As an Early Years Practitioner, you will plan, create, implement and reflect on engaging activities, tailored to each of your key children, to encourage their development towards key milestones.

You will create a safe environment that allows children the freedom to express themselves, engage their minds, and help to foster a lifelong love of learning.

What we’re looking for

• Full and relevant Level 3 or above Early Years qualification


• Passion for creating fun and inclusive learning environments


• Strong understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)


• Strong knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and child protection


• Ability to develop trust and strong working partnerships with both colleagues and parents/ carers

Inclusive Employer

We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds to apply.

We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants.

Culture and Values

We’re looking for a part time, lunch cover Early Years Practitioner to join our Canterbury Nursery working 20 hours per week. This nursery offers a friendly, experienced, long serving team, easy access to local transport with plenty of parking available, flexible working patterns and refurbished rooms!

Our HEART principles – Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork – drive our culture. Wherever you can be yourself, feel supported, and help to make a difference to the next generation. Somewhere you can say: "I did that."

Bright Horizons is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This post is subject to safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, which will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

We have many ways to acknowledge and celebrate our people, including our very popular "employee appreciation month". This is a chance for everyone to share their gratitude to one another, across the whole company.

At Bright Horizons, our culture is built on our commitment to Keeping Everyone Safe and providing world-class care and education, delivered by a world‑class workforce. We believe our people’s potential is endless and with this in mind, we aspire to create an environment where our colleagues can thrive and accomplish the things they thought impossible.

We are passionate about our people’s ongoing learning and development. Our learning and leading with HEART framework supports each Bright Horizons colleague on the first steps of their leadership journey, whether that includes our ‘World‑Class Welcome’ induction or our extensive ongoing training programme. Either way we want you to feel valued and invested in!

Celebrating in the accomplishments of our people is an essential part of our culture. We believe in the power of "thank you" and throughout the year, in ways big and small, formal and informal, we show our appreciation for employees at all levels.

Each year, we have our annual 'Awards of Excellence' events; whether you are an award winner or cheering on a fellow team member, these formal award occasions are opportunities to come together and celebrate one another.