Relief Nursery Practitioner

Childbase Partnership; Peacehaven; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading childcare provider in the UK seeks a Relief Nursery Practitioner for varied, ad-hoc shifts covering care for children aged five and under. Strong communication skills and a passion for child development are essential, along with appropriate early years qualifications. The position offers competitive hourly pay and community-driven benefits, aimed at supporting children's well-being and development.

Benefits

Flexible work options

Qualification bonuses

Health and wellbeing support

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience with caring for babies and children ideally in an early years environment.
• Knowledge of EYFS and ability to implement activities that empower learning.
• Advocacy for child safeguarding ensuring every child's well-being.

Responsibilities

• Work varied relief shifts according to nursery cover requirements.
• Implement and observe engaging activities planned by the Key Person.
• Build positive relationships with children, parents, and colleagues.

Skills

Experience caring for children aged 5 and under

Knowledge of child development

Ability to implement engaging activities

Effective communication

Education

DfE approved early years qualification at level 2 or above

Job description

Join Childbase Partnership and be part of something extraordinary.

Position Details

Role: Relief Nursery Practitioner
Location: Nature Trails Day Nursery | Rugby | CV22 7RY
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.