Relief Nursery Practitioner

Busy Bees; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Join Busy Bees as an Early Years Assistant (Unqualified) in Chelmsford, an Ofsted-rated Outstanding nursery. This role offers the chance to support children's growth and development in a nurturing environment with opportunities for progression and professional development. Enjoy a four-day working week with a supportive team.

Benefits

Ongoing professional development and career progression

Up to 28 days holiday per year (including bank holidays)

Your birthday off – it’s our gift to you!

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

Discounted Private Medical Insurance (PMI)

Access to wellbeing resources

Qualifications

• No formal qualifications required, prior experience in early years settings is beneficial.
• A passion for working with children and supporting their development.
• Empathy and understanding – each child is unique.

Responsibilities

• Assist in preparing and delivering educational activities for children.
• Support the team in maintaining a safe and nurturing environment.
• Help children develop socially, emotionally, and physically through engaging play-based learning.

Skills

Empathy

Understanding

Passion for working with children

Job description

Role Overview:

Join Our Team at Busy Bees – Leading Nursery Group in the UK

Are you passionate about working with children and eager to start your career in early childhood education? As an Early Years Assistant (Unqualified) at Busy Bees, you’ll gain valuable experience in a dynamic environment while helping children grow and develop. This role is perfect for anyone eager to learn and grow in their professional journey, with ongoing support and training to help you succeed in the early years sector.

About our Nursery
Join our outstanding team at Busy Bees in Chelmsford, an Ofsted-rated Outstanding nursery with a capacity of 99 children. Our longstanding staff, along with new team members, foster a collaborative environment that values growth and development. We offer excellent progression potential, including apprenticeship opportunities, to help you advance your career. Our staff room is equipped with tea and coffee facilities, along with a kettle and microwave for your convenience. Enjoy regular outings to local parks, including Central Park and the duck pond, enhancing children's learning experiences. Located just a five-minute walk from Chelmsford Town, the train station, and the bus station, our nursery is also next to local shops and Virgin Gym. We provide free parking for our staff and offer a flexible four-day working week with 40 hours, making this a fantastic opportunity to thrive in early childhood education within a supportive and vibrant community.

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.

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!
• 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)

But wait, there’s more! You'll also enjoy access to our Benefits and Wellbeing platform, Hive - offering huge array huge 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. Plus, a dedicated Grow with Us area sharing the exciting development opportunities and training designed to support you to thrive and grow at Busy Bees.

Role Responsibilities:

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in preparing and delivering educational activities for children.
• Support the team in maintaining a safe and nurturing environment.
• Help children develop socially, emotionally, and physically through engaging play-based learning.
• Ensure the welfare and safety of all children is maintained.

Required Qualifications:

Ideal Candidate

• No formal qualifications required, although prior experience in early years settings is beneficial.
• A passion for working with children and supporting their development.
• Empathy and understanding – each child is unique.

Get started in early years education with Busy Bees—apply now!