Relief Nursery Practitioner

Busy Bees Nurseries; Micheldever; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Ongoing professional development

Hive discounts and wellbeing hub

Up to 28 days holiday per year

Birthday off

Return to work bonus

Pension access

Mental Health Support

Cycle to Work

Private Medical Insurance discounts

Job summary

Busy Bees Winchester Sutton Scotney is seeking an Early Years Assistant (Unqualified) to join our team. You will help prepare and deliver engaging activities, support a safe learning space, and assist children in their social and physical development.

This role supports ongoing training and development within Busy Bees’ Bee Curious curriculum, offering a welcoming environment in a 69-child capacity nursery, with strong local community links and career progression opportunities.

Qualifications

• No formal qualifications required.
• Passion for working with children and supporting their development.

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.

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

Busy Bees Winchester Sutton Scotney, rated Outstanding by Ofsted, is a charming converted chapel nursery with a capacity of 69 children, conveniently located just a 10-minute drive from both Andover and Winchester. Our longstanding staff team brings a diverse range of skills and passions, creating a rich and supportive learning environment. As a local village nursery, we maintain strong connections with local businesses and frequently take walks around the picturesque area to enhance our children's experience. Sutton Scotney is easily accessible from the A34, A303, and surrounding local villages, ensuring that families can conveniently reach us.

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.