Lead Practitioner

Lead Early Years Practitioner

Acorn Early Years – Castlethorpe
Full-time / Permanent

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

Are you an experienced Early Years Practitioner looking to take the next step in your career? Acorn Early Years at Cold Harbour is seeking a passionate and motivated Early Years Lead Practitioner to support high-quality practice and develop leadership skills within our setting.

This role is perfect for someone who enjoys being a positive role model, supporting colleagues, and working closely with senior staff while continuing to provide outstanding care and education for children.

About Acorn Early Years –  Castlethorpe

Castlethorpe nursery is a lovely converted chapel situated in a quiet village a few miles north of Milton Keynes. It was the first Acorn nursery to open and was established in 1989. 

We offer full and part-time care for up to 36 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. 

Acorn places a strong emphasis on outdoor learning and the children enjoy play outside in all weathers, the nursery has an enclosed garden which the children have free flow access too. Pre-school children develop their outdoor learning at regular Forest School sessions, which take place at nearby Salcey Forest with Acorn’s fully qualified Forest School Leaders. 

We offer a range of activities during the week, including interactive story sessions and forest school.  There are lovely places to visit around the village, such as the church, Castlethorpe mounds, sports grounds and parks, which the children visit regularly. The nursery has a close relationship with the adjoining school, where our Oak children visit the school library each week

It’s not just the children who have all the fun at Acorn. We organise events on a regular basis to help parents meet each other, share experiences and talk to us. Some events are an opportunity to discuss children’s progress and development with the staff.

About the Role

The role will be 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday working between 0730 and 18.15.

The Early Years Lead Practitioner role is a stepping stone into senior leadership. You will work in partnership with the Senior and Deputy within your room, contributing to the smooth day-to-day running of the provision and leading the room in their absence when required.

You will play a key role in nurturing staff development, embedding Acorn’s ethos, and ensuring children thrive in a safe, stimulating, and inspiring learning environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver a holistic, child-centred curriculum in line with the EYFS and statutory guidance
• Ensure children’s emotional wellbeing, safety, and care needs are consistently met
• Act as a positive role model, embedding Acorn’s values, policies, and procedures
• Support and nurture colleagues, particularly apprentices, students, and volunteers
• Lead the room in the absence of the Senior or Deputy
• Promote high-quality interactions and positive behaviour strategies
• Support planning in the moment, observations, assessments, and next steps
• Create rich, engaging learning environments that promote curiosity, independence, and critical thinking
• Build strong professional partnerships with parents/carers and external professionals
• Uphold safeguarding responsibilities and stay up to date with guidance and legislation
• Complete and oversee relevant child documentation and paperwork

About You

• Hold a Level 3 qualification in Early Years (or equivalent)
• Have strong practical experience in an early years setting
• Be beginning to demonstrate leadership skills and potential
• Have taken on, or be keen to take on, additional responsibilities (e.g. mentoring, health & safety)
• Be reflective, confident, and committed to professional development
• Share Acorn’s values and passion for delivering high-quality early years provision

Why Join Acorn Early Years?

• Clear career progression and leadership development opportunities
• Ongoing support and mentoring from an experienced senior team
• A values-led, inclusive, and supportive working environment
• Strong focus on quality, wellbeing, and staff development

Safeguarding & Inclusion

At Acorn Early Years, we are proud to be an inclusive employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process are fully supported.

All applicants must:

• Have the right to work in the UK
• Provide two satisfactory references
• Undergo an Enhanced DBS check

• 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
• Pay advances for when times are tough
• Employee assistance wellbeing programme