Bank Staff

Lakera Early Years Nursery is seeking caring, enthusiastic and reliable Bank Nursery Practitioners to join our team. We provide high-quality care and education for children aged 3 months to 5 years, creating a safe, nurturing and inclusive environment where every child is supported to learn, develop and thrive.

Bank staff play an important role in maintaining the smooth running of the nursery by providing flexible staffing cover during periods of staff absence, annual leave, busy periods and other operational needs.

The successful candidate will support the nursery team in delivering high-quality childcare and educational experiences while maintaining consistent standards of safeguarding, care and learning.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide warm, responsive care and supervision for children aged 3 months to 5 years.

• Support children's learning and development through play-based and age-appropriate activities in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

• Assist permanent staff with daily routines, including meals, sleep, nappy changing, toileting and personal hygiene, as appropriate to children's ages.

• Build positive relationships with children, parents, carers and colleagues.

• Maintain a safe, clean, stimulating and inclusive learning environment.

• Follow safeguarding, child protection, health and safety and nursery policies at all times.

• Support children's individual needs, including children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

• Assist with observations, assessments, learning records and other documentation as required.

• Work collaboratively with colleagues to maintain appropriate staff-to-child ratios.

• Help prepare rooms, resources and activities for children's learning and play.

• Support transitions between activities, rooms and daily routines.

• Report concerns, accidents, incidents or safeguarding issues promptly to the appropriate member of management.

• Maintain confidentiality and demonstrate professionalism at all times.

• Be flexible and responsive to the nursery's staffing needs, subject to agreed availability.

• Contribute to a positive team environment and maintain high standards of care and education.

• Follow instructions from the Nursery Manager, Deputy Nursery Manager and designated Room Leader.

• Ensure children are never left unsupervised and that all supervision arrangements follow nursery policies and applicable requirements.

Essential Requirements and Qualifications

• A full and relevant Level 2 or Level 3 Early Years qualification, as appropriate to the duties undertaken and applicable EYFS requirements.

• Previous experience working with young children in a nursery or early years setting is desirable.

• A good understanding of child development and the EYFS.

• Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection procedures.

• Good communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills.

• A caring, patient, reliable and positive attitude.

• A genuine passion for supporting children's learning, development and wellbeing.

• The ability to follow instructions, nursery policies and established procedures.

• Flexibility and willingness to provide cover when required, subject to agreed availability.

• A commitment to inclusive practice and working in partnership with families.

• Willingness to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and any other applicable safer-recruitment checks.

• A commitment to maintaining professional boundaries, confidentiality and children's safety.

Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment

Lakera Early Years Nursery is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children. All staff are expected to uphold the nursery's safeguarding and child protection policies, follow the staff code of conduct and report concerns promptly.

Any appointment will be subject to satisfactory safer-recruitment checks appropriate to the role, including identity and right-to-work verification, references, employment-history checks, qualification verification and the relevant DBS and suitability checks.

Working Relationships

The Bank Nursery Practitioner will work collaboratively with the Nursery Manager, Deputy Nursery Manager, Room Leaders and other nursery practitioners to support the effective day-to-day operation of the setting.

General Expectations

The postholder is expected to maintain high standards of professionalism, reliability, teamwork and conduct; undertake relevant training; follow nursery policies and procedures; and contribute positively to a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for children, families and colleagues.

This job description outlines the main responsibilities of the role and may be reviewed or amended in line with the needs of Lakera Early Years Nursery.

Lakera Early Years Nursery is seeking caring, enthusiastic and reliable Bank Nursery Practitioners to join our team. We provide high-quality care and education for children aged 3 months to 5 years, creating a safe, nurturing and inclusive environment where every child is supported to learn, develop and thrive.

Bank staff play an important role in maintaining the smooth running of the nursery by providing flexible staffing cover during periods of staff absence, annual leave, busy periods and other operational needs.

The successful candidate will support the nursery team in delivering high-quality childcare and educational experiences while maintaining consistent standards of safeguarding, care and learning.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide warm, responsive care and supervision for children aged 3 months to 5 years.

• Support children's learning and development through play-based and age-appropriate activities in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

• Assist permanent staff with daily routines, including meals, sleep, nappy changing, toileting and personal hygiene, as appropriate to children's ages.

• Build positive relationships with children, parents, carers and colleagues.

• Maintain a safe, clean, stimulating and inclusive learning environment.

• Follow safeguarding, child protection, health and safety and nursery policies at all times.

• Support children's individual needs, including children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

• Assist with observations, assessments, learning records and other documentation as required.

• Work collaboratively with colleagues to maintain appropriate staff-to-child ratios.

• Help prepare rooms, resources and activities for children's learning and play.

• Support transitions between activities, rooms and daily routines.

• Report concerns, accidents, incidents or safeguarding issues promptly to the appropriate member of management.

• Maintain confidentiality and demonstrate professionalism at all times.

• Be flexible and responsive to the nursery's staffing needs, subject to agreed availability.

• Contribute to a positive team environment and maintain high standards of care and education.

Essential Requirements and Qualifications

• A full and relevant Level 2 or Level 3 Early Years qualification, as required for the duties undertaken.

• Previous experience working with young children in a nursery or early years setting is desirable.

• A good understanding of child development and the EYFS.

• Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection procedures.

• Good communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills.

• A caring, patient, reliable and positive attitude.

• A genuine passion for supporting children's learning, development and wellbeing.

• The ability to follow instructions, nursery policies and established procedures.

• Flexibility and willingness to provide cover when required, subject to agreed availability.

• A commitment to inclusive practice and working in partnership with families.

• Willingness to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and all required suitability checks.

• The right to work in the UK.

2. Benefits

At Lakera Early Years Nursery, we value our bank staff and aim to provide a welcoming, supportive and rewarding working environment. Our proposed benefits include a birthday gift voucher, an additional day off for your birthday where applicable, and opportunities for additional annual leave or other rewards where eligibility and contractual arrangements permit.

We aim to recognise staff commitment through long-service rewards and attendance incentives, subject to eligibility and the nursery's policies. Other potential benefits include employee discounts, a workplace pension scheme where eligible, health and wellbeing support, staff recognition and access to relevant training.

Bank staff will have opportunities to develop their early years knowledge and experience while working alongside the nursery team. Relevant training may include safeguarding, the EYFS, health and safety and other role-specific requirements.