Job Title: Senior Early Years Educator
Contract: Permanent full time *
Hours: 38 hours per week to be worked as required within the working operational window of 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, worked over 4 days with an allocated weekday off.
Salary: £27,629 - 29,078 per annum
Department/Section: Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery - UECS
Responsible to: Early Years Practice Manager
Reports on a day to day basis to: Deputy Manager/ Early Years Practice Manager
Purpose of job: To be responsible for leading a team of staff and creating an effective environment for a group of children whilst also supporting the Nursery Management Team to ensure the effective running of the Nursery in accordance with the established policies and procedures.
Duties of the Post:
The post will involve manual duties, bending, stretching and lifting, and will include the following:
CHILDCARE, LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
- To prepare and supervise suitable activities to create and develop a stimulating environment in which children are encouraged to socialise and develop to their full potential.
- To be an effective key person, responsible for planning and implementing learning opportunities specific to the needs of your key children, assessing and recording their progress of learning.
- To liaise with other professionals when needed to maximise the opportunities for your key children to develop to their full potential
- To work closely with parents, meeting on a regular basis to keep them informed of their child’s progress.
- To act as a buddy in the absence of a team member to support their key children.
- To implement strong parent partnerships within your group and ensure meetings with the parents take place each term.
- To value outdoor learning and actively engage in leading outdoor learning experiences throughout the year, planning activities and observing learning in the same way as the indoor leaning environment is used.
- To care for the wellbeing of the children, washing after ‘accidents’, first aid and care of children taken ill until parents collect them.
- To raise any safeguarding concerns without delay.
- To help create attractive displays of children’s work which are regularly changed and kept presentable.
- To set up and serve meals to a group of children, facilitating the children’s independence throughout, and clear away afterwards.
- To maintain a high standard of hygiene, cleanliness and safety in all areas of the Day Nursery and at the end of the day to enable cleaning staff to thoroughly clean the rooms.
- To participate in running the summer vacation Holiday Club.
- To assist in the organisation of extra-curricular activities including social functions for parents and fund raising events.
- To attend staff meetings and training to ensure you remain up to date with any changes to legislation and implementation of best practice.
- To work with other professionals if needed to promote learning outcomes for children, support for parents and the development of the nursery.
- It is expected that in emergency and unusual situations all staff will help with whatever duties are necessary to ensure the effective operation of the Day Nursery.
MANAGEMENT DUTIES
- To lead, manage and motivate a team of Early Years Educators and an Assistant Senior Early Years Educator. This will include supervision and performance development reviews, training and development and performance management, ensuring that staff achieve the necessary standard of performance, taking corrective action as appropriate.
- To ensure the daily routine is implemented, ensuring the children’s individual targets are the focus for development.
- To ensure the smooth running of the Day Nursery rooms through effective staff delegation.
- To be flexible in times of emergency and staff absence to ensure there is adequate cover.
- To create a development plan for your room that underpins the Ofsted requirements.
- To respond to any parental complaints in a sensitive and timely manner, seeking advice from the Nursery Manager and deputy Managers as appropriate.
- To challenge unprofessional behaviour ensuring you are an excellent role model at all times.
- To provide cover for other Senior Early Years Educators as required.
- To monitor health and safety within your room, making necessary changes to the environment if needed.
- To ensure that staff follow Health and Safety guidelines at all times particularly; C.O.S.H.H.(Control of Substances Hazardous to Health), P.P.E. (Personal Protective Equipment), Working at Heights, Manual Handling, Methods of Work and Risk Assessments.
- Selling the nursery service to prospective clients effectively, answering any queries and attending marketing and promotional events as required.
- Host regular meetings for your team and facilitate staff training.
- To be involved in the training of students and apprentices, and cooperate with student projects.
- Assist the Nursery Manager and Deputy Manager in arranging and implementing staff rotas / lunch cover as required.
GENERAL DUTIES
- To work in accordance with the Day Nursery policies and procedures.
- To implement the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
- To develop and sustain an outstanding Early Years environment.
- To be responsible for the safety and wellbeing of all children in the Day Nursery at all times.
- To maintain an up to date safeguarding certificate and promote high standards of safeguarding practices at all times.
- To maintain a qualification in paediatric first aid.
- To undertake continuous professional development in order to keep informed of new legislation and best practice in all childcare fields.
- To exhibit the highest standards of service and to maintain at all times a high standard of professionalism especially in relation to work practices, confidentiality and integrity.
- To be committed to equal opportunities.
- To follow health and Safety guidelines at all times, particularly: C.O.S.H.H (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) / P.P.E (Personal Protective Equipment) / Working at Heights / Manual Handling / Methods of Work / Risk Assessments
- To comply with the requirements of Data Protection by ensuring confidentiality when dealing with staff, children or parents and record keeping.
- To undertake reception duties as required.
- To attend management staff meetings as organised by the Nursery Manager and provide updates to staff accordingly.
- Any other duties as may be required from time to time by the Nursery Manager or his/her nominee.
These duties are a guide to the work that the post holder will initially be required to undertake. They may be changed from time to time to meet changing circumstances.
Terms of Appointment:
For a full description of the terms of appointment for this post please visit our website.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
JOB TITLE: Senior Early Years Educator REQ09459
Qualifications /Training
- NVQ level 3 childcare or equivalent - ESSENTIAL
- Paediatric First Aid - ESSENTIAL
- Level 2 Certificate in Safeguarding Children - ESSENTIAL
- NVQ in Level 3 in Management - DESIRABLE
- Minimum GCSE grade C or equivalent in English and Maths - ESSENTIAL
- IOSH certificate - DESIRABLE
Experience/Knowledge
- Experience of managing and motivating a team of EYEs - ESSENTIAL
- Experience of working with children under the age of 5 - ESSENTIAL
- Understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage - ESSENTIAL
- Understanding of learning journals and record keeping - ESSENTIAL
- Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment - ESSENTIAL
- Awareness and knowledge of Health and Safety legislation relating to manual handling and working practices - DESIRABLE
Skills/Abilities
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with children, parents and colleagues - ESSENTIAL
- The ability to plan and organise resources effectively - ESSENTIAL
- The ability to work effectively as part of a team, as well as on own initiative - ESSENTIAL
- The ability to manage the performance of staff effectively - ESSENTIAL
- Able to use Microsoft software especially Outlook and Word - ESSENTIAL
Other
- Ability to meet the requirements of UK ‘right to work’ legislation - ESSENTIAL
- The ability to fulfil the requirements of a DBS check - ESSENTIAL
- To maintain a confident and professional approach - ESSENTIAL
- To undertake the physical aspects of the post - ESSENTIAL
General Information
Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery
You can find more information about the department at the following:
http://www.wivenhoeparkdaynursery.co.uk/
Informal enquiries may be made to Lucy Rose, Early Years Practice manager (telephone: 01206 873224 e-mail: [email protected] ). However, all applications must be made online at:
https://vacancies.essex.ac.uk/tlive_webrecruitment/wrd/run/ETREC109DF.register?VACANCY_ID%3d820247ansV%1bSPECULATIVE_ID%3d%1BUSESSION=2A56AC87B6AAF0501151CEF74B8C23DA&WVID=9918109NEm&LANG=USA&WVID=9918109NEm&CONT=GUEST
Due to the nature of the work, applicants who are offered employment will be subject to an Enhanced DBS before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of all cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions.
We encourage applicants to provide details of all warnings, reprimands, cautions or criminal offences at an early stage in the application process. Should you wish to declare such information, please email the Resourcing Team in confidence, ([email protected]) attaching brief details. We guarantee that this information is shared only with the recruiting manager.
A copy of the University of Essex policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders is available on the University website: https://www.essex.ac.uk/staff/recruiting-staff/recruitment-of-ex-offenders-and- disclosure-and-barring-service
Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us – this will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background to your offence.
Any applicants that are offered employment will be subject to completion of enhanced referencing before appointment can be confirmed. To satisfy the enhanced referencing you will need to provide the names of referees who can cover a 3 year employment/ Education history. If you have not been in employment or education for any period over 1 month in the past 3 years please provide details of a person who is not a member of your immediate family or a close personal friend who will be able to confirm your suitability for the role.
These duties are a guide to the work that the post holder will initially be required to undertake. They may be changed from time to time to meet changing circumstances.
*There is a possibility there will be a fixed term position available in addition to the full time permanent post. Please state clearly on the application form if you would like to be considered for the fixed term post.
Terms of Appointment
For a full description of the terms of appointment for this post please visit our website.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £27,629.00-£29,078.00 per year
Benefits:
- Cycle to work scheme
- On-site gym
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Licence/Certification:
- Level 2 Certificate in Safeguarding Children (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
