Early Years Practitioner

Early Years Practitioner - Qualified

Acorn Early Years – Mulberry Bear, Milton Keynes - Open University Campus

If you are offered an EYP role, you will received a £500 recruitment bonus after successfully completing your 3 month probation period. 

Acorn Early Years is looking for a caring, enthusiastic and dedicated Early Years Practitioner to join our friendly and supportive team at Mulberry Bear Nursery. You must have a full & relevant Early Years Qualification. Minimum Level 2. 

This is a fantastic opportunity for an early years professional who is passionate about delivering high‑quality care and education in a nurturing, child‑centred environment.

Acorn at Mulberry Bear is a 62 place day nursery in Milton Keynes, which offers full and part-time care for children aged four months to four years, and is open 7:30am until 6.00pm, Monday to Friday, all year round.

All Acorn nurseries are closed for all bank holidays, between Christmas and new year, plus our four training days each year. This means the monthly fees are calculated over 49 weeks. You will not be charged for these days, however fees are payable for additional closure days which are out of our control, eg: additional bank holidays over the standard eight. Funded childcare options are available. The nursery provides children with a caring, challenging and stimulating environment. All children are assigned a key person which helps children to become familiar with the setting and to feel confident and safe within it. We also operate a buddy system which supports children’s wellbeing and development when the main key person is away from the setting.

About the Role

As an Early Years Practitioner, you will play an important role in supporting children’s learning, development and wellbeing. You will work as part of a committed team to create engaging learning environments, deliver high‑quality interactions and ensure every child feels safe, valued and supported to reach their full potential.

Key Responsibilities

Quality of Care & Practice

• Support a holistic approach to the EYFS curriculum
• Meet the individual care and learning needs of children
• Deliver high‑quality interactions that support children’s development
• Promote positive behaviour in line with Acorn policies and procedures
• Follow and extend children’s interests through appropriate teaching methods
• Support planning in the moment and contribute to observations and assessments
• Promote children’s independence and physical development
• Monitor children’s progress and support next steps in learning

Environment & Resources

• Help create rich, stimulating learning environments indoors and outdoors
• Ensure resources and equipment are accessible, safe and well maintained
• Support first‑hand learning experiences that meet the needs of all children

Key Person & Partnerships

• Act as an effective key person, building strong relationships with children and families
• Value parents as partners and communicate professionally and positively
• Complete accurate and timely documentation, including observations, care plans, accident forms, transitions and two‑year checks (where applicable)

Teamwork & Professional Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively as part of a supportive team
• Support colleagues when needed, including less experienced practitioners
• Share relevant information with room teams and senior staff
• Reflect Acorn’s ethos, values, policies and procedures in daily practice
• Safeguard all children and follow safeguarding procedures at all times
• Support the smooth running of the room in the absence of senior staff when required

What We’re Looking For

• A good working knowledge of the EYFS and safeguarding requirements
• A warm, calm and child‑centred approach
• Strong communication skills with children, parents and colleagues
• A genuine passion for early years care and education
• Confidence to role model positive behaviour and best practice
• Ability to work flexibly as part of a team

Why Join Acorn Early Years?

At Acorn, we are passionate about creating inclusive, nurturing environments where children and staff thrive. We value our teams and actively support professional development and progression.

We are proud to be an inclusive employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments will be considered throughout the recruitment process.

Safeguarding & Compliance

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK, be able to provide two satisfactory references, and all roles are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

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 for when times are tough
• Employee assistance wellbeing programme