Relief Nursery Practitioner

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

Job summary

A leading childcare provider in Harlow is seeking an Early Years Assistant (Unqualified) to join their dedicated team. This role offers valuable experience in a nurturing environment, assisting with educational activities and supporting children's development. Ideal candidates are passionate about working with children and have an understanding nature. The position provides flexible shifts and numerous benefits, including up to 28 days holiday and ongoing professional development.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Up to 28 days holiday per year

Your birthday off

Enhanced family leave

Employee Assistance Programme

Discounted Private Medical Insurance

Qualifications

• 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.

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.

Skills

Passion for working with children

Empathy

Job description

Overview

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 Busy Bees

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. You’ll be introduced to our unique Bee Curious curriculum, designed to foster curiosity and confidence in young learners.

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

Join our friendly team at Busy Bees in Harlow, an Ofsted-rated Good nursery with a capacity of 105 children. Our longstanding staff is dedicated to providing quality childcare in a nurturing environment, and we’re excited to welcome new team members as we continue to grow. Located in a business park, we offer free parking for our staff, making it convenient to access our nursery. Enjoy flexible shifts and staff lunch two days a week, enhancing your work-life balance. This is a fantastic opportunity to advance your career in early childhood education within a supportive and collaborative team.

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)

You'll also enjoy access to our Benefits and Wellbeing platform, Hive - offering a huge array of retail discounts to help your money go further, along with a Wellbeing Hub featuring resources to support your physical and mental health. A Celebrating You section showcases 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.

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.

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!