Early Years Practitioner

Early Years Practitioner - Qualified

Acorn Early Years – Cold Harbour - Bletchley

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 Cold Harbour Nursery. You must have a full & relevant Early Years Qualification. Minimum Level 2. This role involves time outdoors in the Nature Kindergarten. 

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.

Our day nursery is adjoined to an outdoor learning centre that builds on our popular Forest School provision and reputation for Forest School training. One of our key priorities is outdoor play and learning, which is clearly evident at Cold Harbour, where the outdoor environment and play area are available to the children all day, every day.  

The nursery offers full and part-time care for up to 62 children from the age of four months to four years, and are open from 7.30am to 6.15pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. 

The team strive to make the nursery a place where positive and close relationships with children and parents are welcomed and valued. They believe it is important to create a home from home experience where children feel happy, safe and secure, and as a result, thrive within our nursery.

Our Nature Kindergarten hosts outdoor playschemes, bushcraft and forest school sessions, all year round. With an additional 16 term-time places available.

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