Relief Nursery Practitioner

Childbase Partnership; Northampton; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading childcare provider in Northampton is seeking a Relief Nursery Practitioner to support varied shifts in nurturing children aged five and under. Ideal candidates are passionate about child development and inspiring learning through play while ensuring a safe environment. They offer flexible working conditions, career development opportunities, and exclusive partner benefits. Successful applicants must reside within a commutable distance and hold suitable UK Right to Work.

Benefits

Flexible work options

Exclusive partner benefits

Wellbeing support

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in an early years environment is advantageous.
• Passion for inspiring children through engaging activities.
• Advocacy for safeguarding and well-being of children.

Responsibilities

• Implement engaging activities planned by the Key Person.
• Contribute to observations for learning journeys.
• Ensure every child feels safe, valued, and happy.

Skills

Experience caring for children aged five and under

Knowledge of child development

Effective communication

Collaborative working

Education

DfE approved early years qualification (level 2 or above)

Job description

Job Introduction

Join Childbase Partnership and be part of something extraordinary.

Role

Relief Nursery Practitioner.

Location

Nene Valley Day Nursery | Northampton | NN1 5BD.

Contract

Permanent | 0 hours / week | 52 weeks / year.

Working pattern

Varied, ad-hoc shifts between 07:30-18:30, Monday-Friday.

Salary

£12.36-£13.77 per hour.

Why join us?

• Flexible work option : Work varied relief shifts on a week-to-week basis according to the nursery’s cover requirements, at just this nursery or across as many of our other nurseries as you would like to.
• Exclusive partner benefits : Long-service rewards, qualification bonuses and retail discounts.
• Wellbeing support : Free meals, mental health and occupational health support, flu jabs, eye care vouchers and a free will-writing service.
• Career development : Team inset days, access to online training and apprenticeships through our academy.

About us

• We are employee‑owned : Every colleague is a partner with a voice, who helps drive our success; when we do well, we each receive an annual tax‑free dividend.
• We are number 1 : Ranked top of the Nursery World league tables for our Ofsted outcomes.
• We are community driven : Supporting causes close to our hearts, we’ve raised more than £3.5 million for charity.
• We are environmentally responsible : Building a greener tomorrow our nurseries all hold Green Flag awards and are powered by 100% renewable energy.

About you

• You are a naturally nurturing person : You have some experience of caring for babies and children aged five and under, ideally in an early years environment; holding a DfE approved early years qualification at level 2 or above is advantageous though not essential.
• You are passionate about inspiring children : Your knowledge of child development, and ideally your EYFS knowledge, will enable you to implement engaging activities that have been planned by the Key Person to empower children to learn through play and exploration; you will contribute to observations for the children’s learning journeys.
• You are an advocate for safeguarding : You will ensure every child feels safe, valued, and happy and their well‑being is promoted.
• You are collaborative : You enjoy working in partnership with others, and can effectively communicate and build strong and positive relationships with children, parents and colleagues.

We are an inclusive employer and we welcome applicants of all ages (17+ due to Ofsted rules) and backgrounds. We’re committed to FREDIE (fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion and engagement) and will consider any reasonable adjustments required. If you meet the essential criteria for this role, your application will be automatically shortlisted for review by our Recruitment Team who will determine if an interview is the next step.

Applicants must currently reside within a commutable distance of the nursery and hold suitable Right to Work in the UK; VISA sponsorship is not available. Safer recruitment checks apply, which include an Enhanced DBS check.

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