Relief Nursery Practitioner

Busy Bees Nurseries; Hitchin; On-site; GBP 16,531 - 19,286; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 28 days holiday per year

Birthday off

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work scheme

Discounted Private Medical Insurance (PMI)

Weekly lunches and treats

Job summary

Join Busy Bees Nurseries in Hitchin as an Early Years Assistant (Unqualified) and start your career in early childhood education. You will gain valuable experience while helping children grow in a nurturing environment. Enjoy competitive pay of £12.75/hr, up to 28 days holiday, and opportunities for professional development.

We offer supportive training and a unique curriculum to foster curiosity in young learners. As part of our team, you'll access numerous benefits including a Wellbeing Hub and regular employee recognition.

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.
• Ensure the welfare and safety of all children is maintained.

Skills

Passion for working with children

Empathy and understanding

Job description

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 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

Join our nurturing team at Busy Bees in Stotfold, an Ofsted-rated Good nursery with a capacity of 64 children. Our smaller team creates a family-like atmosphere, enhanced by our converted house that adds to the homely feel. We collaborate with local authorities for further training opportunities, supporting your professional growth. Located in a small town, we have regular bus services into larger towns and are conveniently situated next to a CO-OP with electric car charging points. We offer free parking and flexible working options, including a four-day work week. To show our appreciation, we provide weekly lunches, breakfasts, or sweet treats, along with an Employee of the Month program. This is an excellent opportunity to develop your career in early childhood education within a supportive and community-oriented environment.

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.

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.

Our hourly rates of pay differ for people under 21 but they are above national minimum wage levels. For employees aged 21 and above, our hourly rate of pay is £12.75.

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.