Nursery Practitioner Level 2-3

Nursery Assistant

Purpose of Post

1 To provide a high standard of physical, emotional, social and intellectual care for all children within the Setting;

2 To give support to other personnel within the Setting;

3 To implement the daily routine.

Duties and Responsibilities

1 Provide activities suitable to the age range of children in your area in conjunction with other staff;

2 To perform regular observations on the children and use the computerised record keeping system;

3 Work with parents/carers of special needs children to give full integration in the Setting;

4 Support all staff and engage in a good staff team;

5 Liaise with and support parents/carers and other family members;

6 To be involved in out of working hour’s activities, eg training, monthly staff meetings, fundraising events;

7 To be flexible within working practices of the Setting. Be prepared to help where needed, including to undertake certain domestic jobs within the Setting, eg preparation of snack meals, cleansing of equipment etc.;

8 Work alongside the manager and staff team to ensure that the philosophy behind the project is fulfilled;

9 Look upon the Setting as a “whole” where can your help be most utilised, be constantly aware of the needs of children;

10 Ensure the child is collected by someone known to setting;

11 To respect the confidentiality of information received;

12 To develop your role within the team, especially with regard as a key worker;

13 Specific Child Care Tasks:

• The preparation and completion of activities to suit the child's stage of development;

• To ensure that mealtimes are a time of pleasant social sharing;

• Washing and changing children as required;

• Providing comfort and warmth to an ill child;

14 To ensure the Setting of a high-quality environment to meet the needs of individual children from differing cultures and religious backgrounds and stages of development;

15 To be aware of the high profile of the Setting and to uphold its standards at all times.

Person Specification –

Skills, aptitude, knowledge and experience

• Enthusiasm for working with young children
• An interest in the care, learning and development of young children
• A commitment to the provision of high-quality childcare
• A positive approach to learning and gaining new skills through teamwork and training opportunities
• Ability to work independently using own initiative. 
• Previous experience of caring for, or working with children in a voluntary or paid capacity
• An understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage

Personal qualities

• Good organisational, record keeping and planning skills
• Punctuality
• Excellent communication skills, with children, colleagues, advisors and parents/carers.
• Good written, verbal and non-verbal communication
• Patience
• Reliability and trustworthiness
• A positive approach to inclusive practice, with children and colleagues
• Proactive and positive team player, able to work constructively as part of a team to understand roles and responsibilities within the Setting and own position within these
• Flexibility – occasionally working hours might be changed, e.g. if the setting hosts a Parent’s Evening
• Able to work in small teams

Qualifications

• A Level 2 or 3 Childcare Qualification
• A positive approach to completing relevant short courses and qualifications
• Some understanding of the importance of Health & Safety and Food Hygiene in the workplace
• Completion of Safeguarding Awareness course (Group 2)
• Health & Safety certificate
• Paediatric First Aid certificate
• Completion of other relevant courses

• Childcare Discount
• Company Pension
• Lots of training available
• Free and Confidential, Counselling helpline for staff members and family
• Exclusive staff benefit discount club