NURSERY PRACTITIONER (LEVEL 3) - REQUIRED FROM SEPTEMBER 2026

FULL TIME - TERM TIME ONLY

We are currently looking to appoint a Nursery Practitioner who will act as a key person to a group of children within the Nursery and will assist the Nursery team to establish and maintain the social, intellectual, physical and emotional wellbeing of the children. The successful candidate will assist with providing appropriate, fun and stimulating experiences to encourage independence and child-initiated learning to take place.

This role will be based at Ripley Court School and the role-holder will be required to work between 7.30am and 4.00pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. The role-holder will also be required to cover some break, lunch and after school duties during the week (for which there is a rota and reasonable notice is given) and assist with supervising Breakfast Club.

The successful candidate will hold a Level 3 qualification or above and have previous experience of working with pre-school children (age 2 to 5 years) in an EYFS setting.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide a safe and stimulating environment that makes children, parents/carers and students feel happy, safe, comfortable and valued.
• As a key person ensure that learning and care is tailored to the child’s individual needs. Help the children become familiar with the setting. Offer a settled relationship for the children.  Engage and support parents in guiding their child’s development at home. Maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Develop a stimulating environment through the use of child and adult led activities and interactions. 
• Extend children's play in a creative and imaginative way responding to their individual needs and interests. 
• Assist in the distribution of snacks and meals, maintaining a high standard of hygiene and cleanliness.
• Promote a positive learning environment following the School behaviour policy. 
• Update registers, activity plans, accident records etc. as required.
• Support the physical well-being of the children by meeting individual care and needs e.g. toilet training and hygiene, clothing and application of sun cream.
• Greet visitors, parents/carers in an appropriate manner ensuring identification at all times.
• Administer first aid and prescription medication where necessary, following set guidelines within the appropriate policies and procedures.
• Assist the Nursery Manager in the ordering of materials and equipment.
• Provide information to parents regarding the day care of the children and pass on any enquiries to the Nursery Manager as appropriate.
• Encourage parental involvement and support for the Nursery and the School.
• Participate in curriculum planning and implementation providing an effective learning environment, meeting EYFS requirements.  
• Participate as a team member in developing new ideas in areas of the Nursery provision.
• Undertake appropriate continuous professional development and participate in team meetings such as staff and Nursery meetings.
• Carry out administration tasks as appropriate.
• Understand and adhere to the Nursery’s safeguarding policies and procedures to keep children safe and secure and ensure others at the setting are adhering to policies.
• Attend staff INSET training and staff training meetings as required under the guidance of SLT.
• Assist with supervising Breakfast Club.
• Raise child protection issues, reporting any concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, and record factual information accurately.
• Adhere to all School policies and procedures.
• Undertake such other comparable duties as the Nursery Manager, Head of Little Court, or Headmaster requires from time to time.
• Promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young persons for whom you are responsible and with whom you come into contact.

This job description should be seen as enabling, rather than restrictive and is subject to regular review.

Interested applicants are encouraged to submit a completed application as soon as possible. The School reserves the right to interview and appoint before the closing date, should a suitable candidate present themselves.  

Ripley Court School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The School may carry out online searches on shortlisted applicants and all applicants will be required to provide details of their online profiles, including social media account names/handles, as part of their application.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and Ripley Court School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.