Nursery Assistant

Nursery Assistant

Full-time and Part-time opportunities available
📍 Cold Harbour Nursery (Acorn), Bletchley

We are looking for a Nursery Assistant to join our dedicated team at Cold Harbour Nursery (Acorn). This is a great opportunity for someone who is passionate about working with children and supporting high-quality early years care in a nurturing, child‑centred environment.

About Cold Harbour Nursery (Acorn)

Cold Harbour Nursery is located in Bletchley and is adjoined to an outdoor learning centre, building on Acorn’s strong Forest School provision and reputation for Forest School training.

A key priority at Cold Harbour is outdoor play and learning, with children having access to the outdoor environment all day, every day, supporting confidence, curiosity and wellbeing through nature‑based experiences.

The nursery offers full and part-time care for up to 54 children, aged four months to four years, and is open Monday to Friday, 7.30am–6.15pm, all year round.

Acorn was recently awarded the ‘Top 20 Recommended Nursery Group 2025’ by Day Nurseries, recognising consistently high customer reviews. With over 35 years’ experience, Acorn is a leading not‑for‑profit childcare provider across Milton Keynes, Northampton and Bedford, specialising in nature pedagogy and professional development.

About the Role

As a Nursery Assistant, you will support a holistic approach to the curriculum, helping to ensure the wellbeing, development and learning of all children in your care. You will work as part of a team to support the smooth day‑to‑day running of the nursery.

Key Responsibilities

• Support children’s care, wellbeing and individual needs
• Deliver positive, high-quality interactions based on children’s stages of development
• Promote positive behaviour in line with Acorn’s policies and procedures
• Support rich learning experiences indoors and outdoors
• Encourage children’s independence, confidence and physical development
• Support planning in the moment
• Carry out regular observations in line with Acorn guidance
• Assist with maintaining records such as care plans, “All About Me” forms, medication forms and progress reviews (where appropriate)
• Understand and support the key person approach
• Work flexibly as part of a team, adapting responsibilities as required
• Cascade relevant information to colleagues and management
• Safeguard all children at all times

What We’re Looking For

We welcome applications from candidates who:

• Share Acorn’s values and ethos
• Have an interest in early years and child development
• Are caring, enthusiastic and reliable
• Value parents as partners
• Communicate effectively with children, families and colleagues
• Are keen to learn, develop and progress within early years

(No formal qualification is required for this role, as training and development will be supported.)

Equality, Diversity & Safer Recruitment

At Acorn, we are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where everyone feels they belong. We value diversity and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments will be considered during the recruitment process.

Successful applicants must:

• Have the right to work in the UK
• Provide two satisfactory references
• Complete an Enhanced DBS check prior to commencing employment

As a thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to making Acorn a safe, nurturing and fun place for our children to be, we offer:

• Payscales that are competitive, transparent and reviewed annually
• 65% Childcare discount - Pro Rata according to contracted hours
• Generous family leave
• Christmas closure
• 25 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays (and the option to buy more)
• 4 dedicated training days and individual development plans
• Enhanced pension scheme
• Cyclescheme
• Techscheme
• Length of Service awards
• Summer and Christmas parties
• Pay advances
• Employee assistance wellbeing programme