Early Years Practitioner

Job overview

Are you passionate about nurturing young minds and creating a fun, safe and inclusive environment for children?

Rainbow Day Nursery is looking for dedicated Early Years Practitioners to join our warm, supportive team, caring for children aged 3 months to 5 years either part time or full time on a permanent contract.

Our latest Ofsted inspection found that "staff enjoy their work and feel well supported by leaders", recognising our commitment to staff wellbeing, professional development and delivering exceptional experiences for children and families.

Due to service growth and staffing changes, we have a range of full-time and part-time opportunities available. You will work collaboratively within a large, motivated team to deliver high-quality care and learning experiences. Depending on service needs, you may be based in a specific age group or work flexibly across the nursery.

This is a fantastic opportunity to become part of a caring and dedicated team where children are at the heart of everything we do. Ofsted praised the "kind, friendly and respectful behaviour" modelled by our staff and recognised the "very secure attachments" they build with children, helping them to feel confident, safe and ready to learn.

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• Support children aged 3 months to 5 years through engaging, play-based learning experiences

• Foster a nurturing, inclusive environment where every child feels safe, valued and supported

• Assist with daily routines including meals, snacks, rest times and personal care

• Support children’s learning and development in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

• Work collaboratively with colleagues to maintain high standards of care and practice

• Act as a key person for children where , supporting their individual needs and development

• Work flexibly across rooms when needed to support staffing ratios, annual leave and service demands

Working for our organisation

Rainbow Day Nursery is the workplace nursery for Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, based at the Annexe site near Torbay Hospital. Our purpose-built nursery is a spacious, welcoming setting caring for up to 54 children each day.

We have three bright, well-equipped playrooms tailored to different age groups (0–2 years, 2–3 years and 3–5 years), all with access to a large, secure outdoor garden that encourages exploration, creativity and learning through play.

As part of our valued and well-established nursery team, you'll benefit from the support, stability and opportunities that come with working within the NHS. We are committed to creating a positive workplace culture where staff feel listened to, supported and encouraged to grow.

Why join Rainbow Day Nursery?

• A friendly, welcoming and supportive team environment
• Ongoing CPD and professional development opportunities
• Access to Local Authority and NHS Trust training
• Regular supervision, support and reflective practice
• Mandatory training, including Safeguarding Children and Paediatric First Aid
• Opportunities for career progression
• A strong focus on staff wellbeing and work-life balance

Please be advised that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role, and as a result, we will not be able to consider applications that require sponsorship.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

At Rainbow Day Nursery, we create an environment where children feel safe, valued and excited to explore the world around them. By building positive relationships with children and families, our team plays a vital role in helping every child grow in confidence and reach their full potential. If you're passionate about making a difference in children's lives, we'd love to hear from you.

You'll be part of a caring and inclusive team that builds meaningful relationships with children and their families. We are passionate about providing high-quality care and education, while creating a supportive environment where colleagues are encouraged to develop their skills, progress their careers and achieve their full potential.

We are open Monday to Friday, 6:45am–6:00pm, 52 weeks of the year, and closed on weekends and bank holidays. Shift patterns vary within these hours, and we are happy to discuss working arrangements with suitable candidates.

What we ask for:

• Hold a Level 3 recognised Early Years qualification in line with Government guidance

• Demonstrate sound knowledge of EYFS, child development and safeguarding

• Maintain a high standard of professional practice at all times

• Build positive relationships with children, parents and colleagues

• Work effectively as part of a team and communicate clearly

• Support the nursery’s values of being caring, inclusive and focused on quality

• Work flexibly across the setting to meet the needs of the service

Our people are caring, committed and focused on delivering high-quality care. If you share our values and are passionate about making a difference in children’s lives, you could be a real asset to our team.

Take a look at our 'Welcome to Rainbow Day Nursery' information sheet attached to the advert to learn more about what we have to offer. For more information around the job role responsibilities and entry criteria, please refer to the combined job description and person specification.

You will be joining the organisation at an exciting time. As the first fully integrated care organisation in England, we are working to improve the way we deliver safe, high-quality health and social care. We have a positive and vibrant working atmosphere, we are proud of our investment in our staff both in terms of developing potential career skills and valuing people.

If you provide support to a family member or friend with health or care needs, we aim to be a Carer-friendly employer. We have a ‘Staff Carers’ policy which includes flexible working where possible and a Carer’s Passport scheme that links you into support and discounts.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• We reserve the right to close vacancies early if we receive a high volume of applications. Therefore, we encourage you to apply promptly.
• Please read the job description carefully and tailor your application to reflect the requirements of the role.
• Applicants who identify in their application form they are a part of the Armed Forces community will be guaranteed an interview, provided they meet the minimum essential criteria outlined in the job description and person specification for the role. Step into Health guidance can be found on our NHS Employers website.
• Correspondence will be sent via Trac, text, and email. Please ensure you check your email and Trac account regularly.
• Applicants with no previous NHS experience will ordinarily be appointed to the minimum of the band.
• If you have not received an invitation to interview within 28 days of the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
• It is your responsibility to ensure the timely receipt of appropriate references.

The Trust is committed to preventing discrimination, valuing diversity and achieving equality of opportunity. No person (staff, patient or public) will receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of the nine protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. If you require support you can obtain this from our Equality Business Forum which has representatives from all protected groups.