Early Years Practitioner

EARLY YEARS PRACTITIONER

Further information can be found in the attached Job Pack.

Hours of Work:

Working hour pattern will be agreed with candidate upon appointment, but will be within the Nursery hours of 8am - 6pm.

Term Time plus in-service days. 3 weeks Holiday Club work during Normal School Holidays will also be required.

Required from September 2026 onwards.

Salary Details:

Full-Time Equivalent salary is £24,000.56 per annum. Actual annual salary will be pro-rata to reflect Term Time Plus working and the hours agreed with the postholder.

Key Dates:

Closing date - 17th August 2026

Interviews - Expected to be w/c 24th August 2026

Job Purpose:

• To be responsible to the Head of Junior School and Nursery in contributing to the delivery of the designated curriculum and to provide a service compatible with good practice in the education and care of children, in accordance with the policies and systems laid down by the School and in line with current Scottish legislation and national guidance, including the requirements of the Care Inspectorate, the Health and Social Care Standards, Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC), Realising the Ambition: Being Me and, where applicable, the National Standard for Early Learning and Childcare. The post holder will uphold children’s rights in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child as incorporated into Scots law.

• To be responsible to the Head of Junior School and Nursery in contributing to the pastoral care of Nursery children and for monitoring and recording their overall development progress.

• To promote a stimulating environment which balances education and care for children, meeting their individual needs and those of their families, enabling each individual to achieve his or her potential.

Accountable To:

Head of Junior School and Nursery

Key Responsibilities

Safeguarding and Child Protection:

• The post holder has a duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children within the Nursery.

• The Early Years Practitioner must adhere to the School’s Child Protection and Safeguarding policies and procedures and act in accordance with national child protection guidance and relevant legislation, including the Child Protection (Scotland) Act 2021.

• Any concerns regarding a child’s wellbeing, safety or development must be reported without delay in line with School procedures and the principles of Getting It Right For Every Child.

• The post holder must maintain appropriate professional boundaries and demonstrate conduct consistent with the codes of practice of the Scottish Social Services Council.

To the Children:

• To create a supportive and caring ethos in all aspects of the Nursery environment in which individual children are encouraged and supported to develop self-esteem, self-confidence and respect for others.

• To provide an appropriately challenging and stimulating educational environment with the child at the centre, where individual children are encouraged to reach their full potential.

• To be actively involved in a programme of development with the children in relation to their self-help skills, toilet training, toileting, dressing skills, personal care and eating skills and, where children have not yet developed these skills, to provide care and support for them.

• To provide warm, responsive and nurturing care that promotes secure attachments, emotional wellbeing and a strong sense of belonging, particularly for younger children entering the Nursery setting.

• To demonstrate understanding of nurturing approaches in line with national guidance and to engage in ongoing professional learning in this area.

• To support individual children with intimate care routines including nappy changing, toileting, sleep and rest routines in accordance with Nursery policies and safeguarding procedures.

• To encourage children’s language and communication development and be aware of ways to stimulate language and communication through play, books, stories, alternative communication systems and by personal interaction.

• Where appropriate, to act as a key person for a group of children by taking the lead responsibility for them, ensuring they are comfortable and secure in their surroundings and are afforded every opportunity to acquire and develop skills appropriate to their age and ability.

• To support the development of individual skills, utilising interests and expertise in music, drama, movement, arts and crafts, literature and environmental studies, or other skills and interests, as appropriate, and to use these to assist in the delivery of the curriculum.

• To encourage children’s development in other curricular areas where relevant and work in a support capacity with specialist teachers from other areas of the school.

• To encourage children to participate in the preparation of snacks and simple meals and, when involved in supervising mealtimes, to be aware of the emotional, personal and social developmental opportunities this process presents.

• To support children in using ICT as part of their learning. To use ICT where relevant in preparing resources, providing formal and informal reporting on children’s progress using our electronic and online systems, supporting children’s skill development and other work-related activity.

To the Junior School and Nursery Department:

• To take part in departmental meetings and in-service days as required by the Head through the Head of Junior School and Nursery.

• To attend open mornings/afternoons/play mornings as required by the Head through the Head of Junior School and Nursery in order to provide support to colleagues, families and children with regards to transitions and the positive promotion of the Nursery in general.

• In addition to term times, to work an agreed approximate 3 week period in Holiday Club (Oct/Feb halfterms, Easter and Summer) on a rotational basis. To be available during these periods as required and to contribute to the smooth operation of Holiday Club. Any additional hours worked during Holiday Club above contractual hours will be reimbursed monetarily.

• On an individual or team basis to be aware of and act on any additional support needs (for example, learning, dietary, medical, emotional and/or behavioural) and provide appropriate care and support through implementation of individual care and learning plans, with the guidance of the Head and Head of Junior School and Nursery, within the policy guidelines of the School (e.g. Behaviour Management).

• To be committed to working in an environment which promotes social and cultural inclusion and be aware of the particular requirements of children with additional needs.

• To promote equality and be aware of diversity issues ensuring that every child experiences a supportive and caring ethos.

• To work in a collegiate manner, respectfully communicating and showing support to other members of the Nursery team. To be prepared to participate in agreed rotational duties as required by the Head of Junior School and Nursery to ensure the smooth operation of the Nursery.

• To communicate responsibly and promptly with the Junior School Leadership Team through the Head of Junior School and Nursery if matters arise concerning a child’s welfare or development.

• To be responsible as an individual or as part of a team for setting up equipment and working with children in both indoor and outdoor play areas, to lay out and clear playrooms and outdoor play areas. To contribute to the care and maintenance of equipment and apparatus including visual and aural aids.

• To participate in duties and activities the majority of which will be undertaken in the Nursery setting (for example playrooms, Junior School and outdoor areas). Some planned activities may be undertaken elsewhere in the community.

• To contribute to the planning and be responsible for groups of children on organised outings and to escort children on bus runs in accordance with the Health and Safety Guidelines of the School including the completion of any necessary documentation.

• To adhere to the advice outlined by the Care Inspectorate and followed by the Nursery with regards to ratios of children and staff, including children under three, both when in the Nursery environment and on external trips/outings.

• To assist in securing a safe, secure and hygienic environment for children.

• To attend to the immediate/basic need for comfort and care of children when injured/ill, completing appropriate record keeping in accordance with Nursery and School policy.

• Where appropriate, to provide basic good practice advice and support to volunteers, learning assistants and students.

• To provide visiting specialists with information for their records.

• To prepare and plan in advance for a weekly allocation of non-contact time, which is in addition to noncontact times before and after the main nursery day. To understand that this additional non-contact time will only be afforded when the nursery is operating within its ratios.

• To be involved in the purchasing, utilising, maintaining and cataloguing of appropriate resources associated with the delivery of the curriculum through, for example, making recommendations on required purchases based on judgements of children’s needs.

To the Whole School:

• To contribute to practice which reflects current national early learning and childcare guidance and promotes high quality interactions, responsive care and continuous improvement.

• To work with colleagues to promote and maintain high standards of behaviour throughout the School.

• To contribute to the planning and implementation of a curricular programme which meets the needs of the individual and is in line with guidelines and standards, through attendance at planning meetings, the delivery of agreed programmes of activity and the production of appropriate records, reports and evaluations.

• To contribute to the development of an outdoor curriculum, which takes into account risk and play opportunities for the development of children. To show willingness to work in an outdoor environment as part of daily routines and activities.

• To observe, record and report on individual children’s progress in line with the School’s policies and procedures. To use observations, in consultation with the Head where appropriate, for the development of individual care and learning plans where necessary.

• To contribute to the building of developmental profiles of children in an educational setting through the use of observations and other appropriate methods of assessment, recording results, being jointly responsible for maintaining records pertaining to each individual’s care and development, recognising that such profiles are available to parents and appropriate colleagues and other professionals with parental approval.

• To contribute to the delivery of an effective education and care service in line with the pre-determined policies and procedures of the School. To work as a team member and establish good and effective relationships with the children, staff and parents.

• To contribute towards the completion of transitional records.

• To participate in appropriate staff meetings and training sessions in order to ensure the smooth and effective operation of the Nursery.

• To participate in staff development and review.

• To keep professional knowledge up-to-date.

• To undertake a programme of continuing professional development activity, in line with School policy and procedures, based on an agreed plan which will support and improve individual and group skills, knowledge and ability in furtherance of the provision of an effective service.

• To maintain high personal standards of punctuality and appearance.

• To seek the Head’s authorisation for any anticipated absence from School; to give as much notice as possible of unavoidable absence through illness.

To the Parents:

• To seek to build relationships with parents to promote partnership.

• To liaise and work with parents, other members of the School team, other establishments and agencies in relation to the delivery of the curriculum and the welfare and development of the children.

• In doing so, to be sensitive to circumstances at home and in the family by working in partnership with parents and carers towards the care and education of their children.

• To be prepared, on occasion, to communicate in a lead role with parents and include them in the development of their child.

Competitive remuneration and benefits package including:-

• Reduced school fees and wraparound care at St George’s School
• Pension Contribution
• Staff lunches
• Access to school buses on school bus routes for all staff (small charge payable)
• Professional learning and development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Opportunity to benefit from the use of the many school facilities; libraries; sports facilities etc
• Death in service benefits all staff
• Opportunity to join our community and contribute to social, music, drama and other events and activities.