Senior Early Years Practitioner

Senior Practitioner

Acorn Early Years – Cold Harbour - Bletchley 

 If you are offered a Senior EYP role, you will receive a £1000 recruitment bonus after successfully completing your 3 month probation period.

Acorn Early Years is seeking an experienced, confident and passionate Senior Practitioner to join the leadership team at Cold Harbour. This role is ideal for an early years professional who is ready to take on additional responsibility, support staff development and help drive high‑quality practice across the nursery while remaining hands‑on with children.

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

Working closely with the Nursery Manager and Deputy Manager, the Senior Practitioner plays a key role in supporting the smooth day‑to‑day running of the nursery. You will lead by example, support and mentor colleagues, and ensure the delivery of a high‑quality, inclusive EYFS curriculum that meets the needs of every child.

You will also take responsibility for your designated room or area and may act as Third in Charge when required.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Management

• Support the Nursery Manager and Deputy in the effective running of the nursery
• Lead the nursery or your designated area in the absence of senior leaders, when required
• Be accountable for your room and staff team
• Effectively deploy staff to meet the needs of the nursery and children
• Support staff inductions, mentoring, supervision and professional development
• Role model outstanding early years practice and professional behaviour
• Address performance concerns in line with Acorn procedures

Quality of Practice & Curriculum

• Deliver and support a high‑quality, child‑centred curriculum in line with the EYFS
• Promote planning in the moment and high‑quality interactions
• Oversee observations, assessments and next steps to ensure children make strong progress
• Monitor outcomes for children to ensure they reach their full potential
• Promote children’s independence, wellbeing and physical development
• Embed a strong and consistent key person approach

Safeguarding, Compliance & Partnerships

• Safeguard all children and act appropriately on safeguarding and welfare concerns
• Ensure the nursery remains compliant with statutory requirements, Ofsted expectations and Acorn policies
• Ensure documentation is accurate, complete and up to date (care plans, medicine forms, transitions, two‑year checks, etc.)
• Build positive, professional relationships with parents and carers
• Liaise confidently with external professionals and agencies
• Act as a professional ambassador for Acorn Early Years

What We’re Looking For

• Level 3 Early Years qualification (or above)
• Strong working knowledge of the EYFS and safeguarding requirements
• Experience in a senior or leadership role within an early years setting
• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• Confidence in mentoring, supporting and developing others
• A calm, professional and positive approach to leadership
• A genuine passion for delivering high‑quality early years education

Why Join Acorn Early Years?

At Acorn, we are committed to creating nurturing, inclusive environments where children and staff thrive. We actively support professional development and offer clear pathways for career progression within our nurseries.

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.

• Payscales that are competitive, transparent and reviewed annually
• 65% Childcare discount - Pro rata depending on 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