Senior Early Years Educator (Children'S Practitioner)

Sussex Community Nhs Foundation Trust; Crawley Down; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust seeks a qualified Senior Early Years Educator for Rainbow Nursery at Crawley Hospital. You will deputise for the Nursery Manager and lead high-quality care and education for children aged 9 months to 5 years, fostering health, development and wellbeing in a supportive NHS setting.

The role involves holistic care, collaboration with families, and adherence to safeguarding, infection control, and professional standards.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate diploma or equivalent in childcare or related field.
• Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths and English (or equivalent).
• Desirable Level 4 Foundation degree in Early Years.

Responsibilities

• Promote child development, learning and education.
• Plan, deliver, and evaluate age-appropriate activities.
• Observe, assess, and record childrens progress.
• Support emotional, physical and social development.
• Ensure safety and wellbeing following safeguarding policies.

Skills

Team working

Independent working

Staff development

IT literacy

Infection control

Education

Undergraduate diploma in childcare

Maths and English Level 2 (Functional Skills)

Level 4 Foundation degree in Early Years

Job description

Job summary

Looking for a Qualified Senior Early Years Educator (Children's Senior Practitioner) role at the next level with real purpose? Our hospital-based Trust Nurseries provide high-quality care and education for children aged 9 months to 5 years while their parents and carers work for the NHS, emergency services or in the local community. By working with us, you aren't just shaping young minds—you're directly supporting the NHS heroes who keep our community safe.

If you are a passionate, kind and qualified experienced early years educator, we want to hear from you.

The Senior Early Years Educator (Children's Practitioner) is a highly trained support role in our Trust workplace Nurseries, who deputises in the absence of the Nursery Manager. They support the delivery and promotion of high-quality early years education and care for children, ensuring a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment that promotes each child's health, development and wellbeing.

• a) To be responsible for the comprehensive assessment, planning, care and evaluation of groups of children, under the appropriate delegation from a line manager and in close liaison with the child/family/carer.
• b) To give compassionate, holistic individual care to service users.
• c) Implements the goal planning process and outcome measures used in the working environment to review progress of the child or young person.
• d) Undertakes delegated skills within their role having once undertaken relevant training, deemed competent and adhere to standard operating procedures.
• e) Support children, families and carers to improve and maintain their mental, physical, behavioural health and wellbeing.
• f) Contribute to ongoing assessment recognising when it is necessary to refer to others for reassessment.
• g) Communicate effectively with colleagues, providing clear verbal, digital or written information and instructions.

About us

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays. Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?

• o Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
• o Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussex
• o Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement
• o Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
• o Accredited Living Wage Employer, we ensure fair pay for all our staff
• o Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
• o Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
• o Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust

Our values

Our values -- Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence -- guide everything we do. We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.

Details

Date posted: 29 September 2026

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 4

Salary: £28,392 to £31,157 a year per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours

Reference number: 150-MT2954-CC-A

Job locations: Rainbow Nursery, Crawley Hospital site, West Green, Crawley, RH117DH, United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main responsibilities

• a) Promoting child development, learning and education.
• b) Plan, deliver, and evaluate age-appropriate activities that support childrens learning and development.
• c) Observe, assess, and record childrens progress.
• d) Support childrens emotional, physical, and social development through defined interventions.
• e) Ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children, following safeguarding policies and procedures.
• f) Build strong, respectful relationships with parents and carers. Update parents and carers about childrens progress and wellbeing. Support parents in understanding their childs development and learning journey.
• g) Work collaboratively with colleagues and other professionals.
• h) Attend staff meetings, training sessions, and contribute to team planning.
• i) Maintain confidentiality and always uphold professional standards. Ensure the environment is clean, safe, and well-organised.
• j) Follow infection control procedures and policies.
• k) Specific tasks and knowledge will vary depending on workplace setting and responsibilities.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Undergraduate diploma or equivalent appropriate qualification, e.g. undergraduate national diploma level 4 or foundation degree in childcare or equivalent or level 3 vocational qualification plus short courses or relevant experience in children's care, learning and development.
• Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths and English, or equivalent.

Desirable

• Level 4 Foundation degree in Early Years

Experience

Essential

• Ability to work effectively as a team player under appropriate supervision, and as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to work independently with a delegated caseload/workload, use initiative whilst understanding limits of scope
• Ability to support the development of less experienced staff

Skills and knowledge

Essential

• Understanding of evidence-based practice
• Knowledge of when to seek advice and refer to a registered care professional/line manager
• Understanding of the scope of the role in context of the team and the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service development
• IT skills or literacy able to work with electronic systems or willing to work towards
• Understanding of the importance of the promotion of health and wellbeing
• Evidence of recent work-based learning or self-directed learning
• Infection Control Champion or a willingness to work towards ( as applicable to role)

Other requirements

Essential

• Ability to travel to other Trust locations, as required for the role.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name: Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Rainbow Nursery, Crawley Hospital site, West Green, Crawley, RH117DH, United Kingdom

Employer's website: Apply through our website

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Trust Nurseries

Cara Mitchell

[e-mail]

07432126270

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).