Relief Nursery Practitioner

Busy Bees Nurseries; St Albans; On-site; GBP 1,449,063 - 2,063,817; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Ongoing professional development

Up to 28 days holiday per year

Your birthday off

Enhanced family leave

Financial support through Salary Finance

Discounted Private Medical Insurance

Job summary

Busy Bees Nurseries is looking for an Early Years Assistant at our St Albans location. This role involves assisting in the preparation and delivery of educational activities while ensuring a safe and nurturing environment for children. Ideal candidates are passionate about working with children and will enjoy ongoing professional development.

We offer a competitive salary of £12.75 for those aged 21 and above, along with extensive benefits including holidays, mental health support, and employee discounts. If you want to thrive in early childhood education, apply today!

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

Empathy and understanding

Passion for working with children

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 St Albans Glenalmond, rated Good by Ofsted, has a capacity of 116 children and features a centre with extensive history, including original paneling in the main foyer and beautiful high ceilings, as well as stunning stained glass windows throughout the setting. Our nursery consists of seven base rooms spread across three floors, thoughtfully divided into different age ranges and stages to cater to the diverse needs of our children. Conveniently located within easy distance of the M25 and M1, we also offer complimentary lunches and free parking for staff. Additional features include a soft play area and a sensory room, as well as an exclusive preschool programme, enhancing our nurturing environment for early childhood development.

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)

You'll also enjoy access to our Benefits and Wellbeing platform, Hive – offering a wide 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 shares 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.

Get started in early years education with Busy Bees—apply now!