JOB DESCRIPTION

The Nursery Practitioner role requires enthusiasm, loyalty and motivation. You will be expected to provide good standards of care and education for the children in our care and be committed to both your personal and the nursery’s development. Inclusive but not exhaustive duties include:

The needs of the children

• Ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children takes precedence. As a member of the Oakley team, you are responsible for protecting the children from neglect and abuse. In the event you have concerns, you must ensure you follow the safeguarding policy to the letter, including whistleblowing and reporting of concerns.
• Support all senior staff in safeguarding issues and ensure accurate records are kept.
• Ensure a safe stimulating environment is provided at all times and all team members promote the Oakley ethos throughout their working practise, while adhering to all nursery policies and procedures.
• Ensure that resources/activities provided for the children are appropriate for their individual needs.
  Remove any broken or inappropriate resources/equipment.
• Ensure good standards of health and safety are maintained and any concerns are reported to the room senior/management team.
  Ensure daily routines are followed and are fully inclusive for all children. Adapt where necessary, using the support of the SENCO and behaviour management coordinator.
• Ensure you follow the key person system in line with the key person policy and procedure.
  Work alongside parents and carers of all children including those with additional needs to ensure a fully inclusive environment, helping all children to reach their potential.
• Work with the senior team, auditing practise, implementing the EYFS and fully comply with the nursery policies and procedures.
  Ensure all children are provided with an environment that values and respects different cultures, languages, religions and disabilities in line with the nursery’s policies.
• Maintain accurate and up to date records for all children, including settling in documents, my first days, learning journeys and the home link.
• Ensure parents are kept well informed of their child’s day, current level of development and next steps.
  Ensure you are aware of the number of children at any given time, that registers are accurate and the staff: children ratio is adhered to.
• Be aware of all children’s’ individual needs, including allergies, home routine and long term medical plans.

Administration/ General Duties

• Be able to work with the planning, observation and next steps documentation.
• Ensure you are aware of the contents of the SEF and development plan and support the process appropriately.
  Undertake various administrative duties requested on an ad-hoc basis relevant to an individual or the nurseries development.
  Ensure that all registers, cleaning logs, temperature logs, nappy changing logs, daily logs, medicine forms, accident forms and outside risk assessments are completed accurately.
• Ensure you are up to date with all nursery policies and procedures and promote good working practise at all times.
  Be fully aware of all emergency procedures and documentation.
• Work in accordance with the statutory framework, Ofsted guidelines, the Children’s act and Oakley’s policies and procedures.
  Where stock is running low, please ensure you report it to a senior or a member of the management team.
• Support the management team in advertising events, parent’s newsletters, parent information boards and outside advertising.
  Actively promote and support all nursery events, i.e. coffee/open mornings, parent’s evenings and annual events.
• Ensure the cleanliness and tidiness of the nursery and promoting an inviting, welcoming environment.
• Promote the nursery with prospective parents, ensuring you welcome them and answer any questions they may have, appropriate to the care you provide.
• Ensure that parents/carers are dealt with in a professional manner at all times, queries/concerns are dealt with promptly in line with the nursery’s code of conduct policy.
• Perform the work of a key person within a team environment building relations with staff, children and parents/carers.
  Ensure all risk assessments are updated and used in conjunction with health and safety policies and procedures and the risk assessment procedure.
• Ensure you are aware of documentation and process needed to record the repairs and replacement of equipment.

Nursery development

• Ensure you are aware of the contents of the SEF and development plan.
• Look at marketing ideas and communicate to the manager.
• Assist the manager in ensuring that following any OFSTED visit, any recommendations made by the inspector are actioned and used to inform the development plan.
• Ensure you communicate with other colleagues in a positive manner, ensuring a productive working relationship.
  The key objective is communication which is paramount to the smooth running of the nursery and is a key part of the nursery’s development.

Personal development

• Be willing to develop your own skills to benefit your personal development and enhance your role within the nursery.
  Work proactively with any objective set by the seniors or the manager.
• Be sure to attend staff meetings, planning meetings and development meetings. Be prepared and contribute accordingly.
  Have a sound understanding of child development and how to support children’s learning in line with the EYFS.
• Ensure all compulsory training is up to date, including safeguarding, paediatric first aid and food hygiene.
• Look at courses that will develop you in your role and extend your skills.
• Ensure you present yourself in a clean, neat and professional manner as first impressions count. Remember you represent the company and you could be the first contact the parent/carer has.
• Overall the above objectives are meant as a guide. There will be times that due to circumstances, it will be necessary for the management to change your duties, according to the needs of the business.