Join a warm, well-established nursery in Gloucester where you’ll play a key role in giving children the best possible start in life. You’ll be part of a supportive team that values professional practice, child-centred care, and a safe, stimulating learning environment. This is an opportunity to make a daily impact on children’s development while growing your own skills in a high-quality setting.

About the Role:

As a Nursery Practitioner, you will provide high-quality care and learning experiences for children in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). You will support children’s physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development through structured and child-led activities. Working closely with colleagues and families, you will help ensure every child feels safe, supported, and ready for their next steps.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan and deliver engaging, age-appropriate activities aligned with the EYFS to support all areas of child development.
• Build secure, nurturing relationships with children, providing consistent care and emotional support throughout the day.
• Observe children’s progress, identify individual needs, and adapt activities to support different learning styles and abilities.
• Maintain accurate records of children’s development, learning journeys, and daily information in line with nursery procedures.
• Promote and maintain high standards of health, safety, and hygiene, including risk assessments and daily checks.
• Implement safeguarding and child protection policies, promptly reporting any concerns in accordance with procedures.
• Communicate effectively with parents and carers, sharing daily updates and developmental progress in a professional manner.
• Work collaboratively with the nursery team to create a positive, inclusive, and well-organised learning environment.

Key Requirements:

• Proven experience working with young children in a nursery or early years setting.
• Strong understanding of child development and how to support learning through play.
• Sound knowledge of safeguarding and child protection procedures in an early years context.
• Practical understanding of the EYFS framework and how to implement it in daily practice.
• Confident communication skills with children, parents, and colleagues.
• Ability to carry out accurate observations and assessments to inform planning.
• Awareness of health, safety, and hygiene requirements in a nursery environment.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team, using initiative and contributing to a positive culture.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience supporting children with additional needs or SEND.
• Familiarity with electronic learning journals or digital record-keeping systems.
• Experience contributing to room planning and environment setup.
• Participation in continuous professional development related to early years education.

Qualifications:

• Level 2 or Level 3 qualification in Early Years, Childcare, or equivalent (minimum Level 2 required; Level 3 preferred).
• Up-to-date Paediatric First Aid certificate (or willingness to obtain).
• Safeguarding and child protection training relevant to early years.
• Food hygiene or related health and safety training (desirable).

If you are a dedicated Nursery Practitioner who is passionate about early years education and committed to high standards of care, we’d like to hear from you. Apply now to take the next step in your childcare career in a supportive Gloucester nursery.