“To be smiled at by a child is like stepping out of the shade into the sun; it warms you through”
We believe that working with children is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world, and we are looking for an enthusiastic and passionate Room Leader who feels the same, to join our Preschool nursery team. Are you this person?
Your Key Responsibilities:
- Supervise, engage with, support, and meet the needs of the children.
- Bring a positive attitude and creative ideas that inspire children to learn and staff to perform.
- Support, supervise and mentor playroom-based staff and students.
- Develop and maintain warm and professional relationships with the children, parents/carers, colleagues and visitors.
- Deploy staff effectively to ensure the required high standards of the nursery are maintained.
- Help prepare and join the children in engaging (and sometimes messy) activities.
- Be willing to sing, dance, dress up, and take the occasional trip to space.
- Lead the school transition process, liaising with parents and school representatives.
- Ensure the effective implementation of the company’s keyperson system and allocate key children appropriately.
- Ensure that all children are kept safe, and that staff are confident to follow safeguarding procedures.
- Implement and support others in delivering the EYFS in line with current practice and guidelines.
- Promote a high standard of quality within the nursery, including practice, environment and resources to meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
- Be proactive and responsive, and react to children’s interests
- Ensure appropriate planning and assessment is in place and is accurately maintained by the appropriate staff.
- Support the development of good practice in relation to special educational needs and inclusion.
- Assume additional management responsibilities as and when required.
- In conjunction with the management team identify, address and support in individual training needs and self-development such as supervisions and appraisals.
The duties and responsibilities included in this job specification are not exhaustive or restrictive and can be reviewed at any time in the future, changes and other duties deemed relevant to this post may be added.
Salary & Hours:
- £28,500 to £29,000 per annum (dependent on experience and qualifications)
- This role is full time (40 hours) with paid lunch breaks, condensed hours over 4 days with a day off during the week.
What we can offer you:
We recognise our team work hard and believe in looking after. We offer a fantastic benefits package which includes:
- A wellbeing-focused leadership team, with access to free counselling services, and our cuddle bear!
- Up to £1000 welcome bonus (T&Cs apply)
- Continued opportunities for professional growth
- Extra day of holiday on your birthday
- 2 annual training days, and company events throughout the year
- Recently refurbished staff facilities
- Paid lunch breaks
- Childcare discount
- Pension scheme
- Loyalty and performance rewards
- Refer a friend scheme benefit of up to £250
- Free on-site parking
Essential qualifications, experience, skills and knowledge:
- Minimum full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification.
- Child Protection.
- Background in working to the Early Years Foundation Stage framework.
- At least 2 years’ recent experience working as a Nursery Practitioner or similar.
- Experience of working and communicating with parents and carers.
- Ability to communicate confidently with adults and children.
- Good organisational skills.
- Able to work well within a team.
- Good verbal and written communication skills.
- Able to maintain confidentiality.
- Generate creative ideas to inspire learning.
- Ability to write clear objective observations.
- Excellent planning and organizing.
- Ability to write reports and keep clear and accurate records.
- Working with and supporting parents.
- Sound knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.
- Confident knowledge of Safeguarding processes and procedures.
- Able to conduct child observations and assessments with a strong understanding of child development.
- Exceptional knowledge of the current Early Years Inspection Framework.
Any necessary training will be provided through our engaging training platform.
Desirable qualifications, experience, skills and knowledge:
- A working knowledge of the key person role.
- Food and Hygiene Level 2.
- Prevent Duty.
- FGM.
- Paediatric First Aid.
- SENDCO.
- Promoting positive behaviour.
- Experience of, and commitment to, outdoor learning i.e., Forest School.
- Experience of, and commitment to, planning in the moment, allowing children to learn flexibly by scaffolding and supporting their learning.
- Previous Room Leader experience within an Early Years setting.
- General computer literacy with IT skills.
- Ability to work well under pressure.
- Able to reflect and learn from personal actions and experience.
- Evidence of ongoing personal development.
- Effective time management.
- Ability to prioritise workload.
- Working with outside agencies.
- Knowledge of the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice and the required support systems put in place.
About us:
As part of Monkey Puzzle Hartley Wintney, you will be joining our caring, welcoming and supportive team. We have been open since 2016 and are situated in a beautiful leafy setting just outside the picturesque village of Hartley Wintney. We are currently going through an exciting redevelopment project which includes refurbished staff room and kitchen, the creation of a new room for our youngest babies, and an extension of our two gardens to include new natural learning environments for the children.
Our ethos:
Love to Learn, Learn to Live, Live to Learn
Here at Monkey Puzzle Hartley Wintney we take pride in everything we do. From the moment a child starts with us until they leave to start their next journey at school, we get to know each one individually, and welcome each family wholly.
Learning and development is at the forefront of our minds, and this is enhanced within the ‘home from home’ environment of the nursery. We are constantly developing an exceptional environment for learning so that children will never cease to grow. Our children learn skills for life, and can learn through inspiring play where our dedicated and amazing staff guide the children to become confident, independent and happy individuals with a positive outlook and a love for life.
Not only do our children thrive in our care, our staff also learn and develop professionally, to reach their own potential and become strong, passionate and caring practitioners.
Our Monkey Puzzle family is one which encourages kindness, appreciation, courage and positivity.
