Job Ref No. ECC414291-18S Position Type: Early Years Pay Range: £26,255.98 - £27,337.84 per annum
Position Start Date: Immediate Contract Type: Full-time/Part-time Contract Term: Permanent
Application Close: 13/11/2025 Midnight Date of Interviews: Every 2 weeks  

Job Description

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Job description:

Job Title:Early Years Educator

Pay: £26,255.98-£27,337.84 per year

Contract:Full-time, Part-time and Fixed Term. The fixed-term post is until 24 December 2025 to cover a period of maternity leave for a permanent member of staff. Please see General Information.

Hours:Your hours of work are as required to perform the duties of your role, for a full-time employee this is normally 38 hours per week. Full time 38 hours and Part time 19 hours per week.

Salary:£26,255.98 - 27,337.84 per annum

Department:Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery - UECS

Purpose of job:To offer high quality care and education for children in accordance with established policies and procedures of the day nursery.

Duties of the Post:

Early Years Educator

To be an effective key person, responsible for planning and implementing learning opportunities specific to the needs and interests of key children.
To develop and maintain a stimulating environment in which children are encouraged to socialise and develop to their full potential.
To liaise with other professionals when needed to maximise the opportunities for your key children to develop to their full potential.
To work closely with parents, meeting on a regular basis to keep them informed of their child's developments.
To value outdoor learning and actively engage in outdoor learning experiences, planning activities and observing learning in the same way as the indoor leaning environment is used.
To care for the wellbeing of the children, washing after 'accidents', first aid and care of children taken ill until parents collect them.
To work as part of a team and act as a buddy and key person when needed.
To help create attractive displays of children's work and ensure they are presentable at all times.
To set up and serve snacks and lunch to a group of children, and clear away afterwards.
To maintain a high standard of hygiene, cleanliness and safety in all areas of the Day Nursery and at the end of the day, to enable cleaning staff to thoroughly clean the rooms.
To participate in running the summer vacation Holiday Club if needed.
To attend staff meetings and training to keep up to date with legislation and strategies of best practice.
It is expected that in emergency and unusual situations all staff will help with whatever duties are necessary to ensure the effective operation of the Day Nursery.
General duties of the post will include:

To adhere to the expectations of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
To follow Ofsted requirements and develop an outstanding Early Years Environment.
To be responsible for the safety and wellbeing of all children in the Day Nursery at all times.
To ensure you have an up to date Safeguarding Certificate.
To exhibit the highest standards of service and friendliness and to maintain at all times a high standard of professionalism especially in relation to work practices, confidentiality and integrity.
To be committed to equal opportunities.
To follow health and Safety guidelines at all times
Any other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the General Manager or their nominee
These duties are a guide to the work that the post holder will initially be required to undertake.They may be changed from time to time to meet changing circumstances.

Terms of Appointment

For a full description of the terms of appointment for this post please visit our website.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE: Early Years Educator REQ09422

Qualifications /Training

NVQ level 3 childcare or equivalent - ESSENTIAL
Paediatric First Aid - DESIRABLE
Experience/Knowledge

Previous experience in childcare setting - ESSENTIAL
Experience of working with children under the age of 5 - ESSENTIAL
Understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage - ESSENTIAL
Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment - DESIRABLE

Skills/Abilities

Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with children, parents and colleagues - ESSENTIAL
Excellent organisation skills - ESSENTIAL
Basic IT skills to keep children's development records up to date using an online journal - ESSENTIAL
Good team player - ESSENTIAL
Other

Ability to meet the requirements of UK 'right to work' legislation - ESSENTIAL
The ability to fulfil the requirements of a DBS check - ESSENTIAL
To maintain a confident and professional approach - ESSENTIAL
To undertake the physical aspects of the post - ESSENTIAL

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery

You can find more information about the department at the following:
http://www.wivenhoeparkdaynursery.co.uk/

General information

Informal enquiries may be made to Lucy Rose, Nursery manager (telephone: 01206 873224 e-mail: nursery@essex.ac.uk ). However, all applications must be made online at:

https://vacancies.essex.ac.uk/tlive_webrecruitment/wrd/run/ETREC109DF.register?VACANCY_ID%3d820247ansV%1bSPECULATIVE_ID%3d%1BUSESSION=2A56AC87B6AAF0501151CEF74B8C23DA&WVID=9918109NEm&LANG=USA&WVID=9918109NEm&CONT=GUEST

The following appointments are available:

3 x Full time permanent 38 hours per week

1 x Part time permanent 19 hours per week

1 x Fixed Term until December 2025 maternity cover

The fixed term post is until 24 December 2025 in order to provide cover for a permanent member of staff who is absent from work on maternity leave. You should note that there is provision in the terms of appointment for this fixed-term post to end earlier by due notice (1 month), if the permanent member of staff decides to return early to her post.

Please state clearly on your application, which role you are applying form.

Salary:

We advertise our salaries on a range to indicate the trajectory of progression that can be made dependent on qualification and experience. Appointments are usually made at the start of the salary range.

Due to the nature of the work, applicants who are offered employment will be subject to an Enhanced DBS before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of all cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions.

We encourage applicants to provide details of all warnings, reprimands, cautions or criminal offences at an early stage in the application process. Should you wish to declare such information, please email the Resourcing Team in confidence, (resourcing@essex.ac.uk) attaching brief details. We guarantee that this information is shared only with the recruiting manager.

A copy of the University of Essex policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders is available on the University website: https://www.essex.ac.uk/staff/recruiting-staff/recruitment-of-ex-offenders-and- disclosure-and-barring-service

Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us - this will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background to your offence.

Any applicants that are offered employment will be subject to completion of enhanced referencing before appointment can be confirmed.To satisfy the enhanced referencing you will need to provide the names of referees who can cover a 3 year employment/ Education history. If you have not been in employment or education for any period over 1 month in the past 3 years please provide details of a person who is not a member of your immediate family or a close personal friend who will be able to confirm your suitability for the role.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Benefits:

Company events
Company pension
Cycle to work scheme
Employee discount
On-site gym
On-site parking
Sick pay

Licence/Certification:

NVQ Level 3 childcare or equivalent qualification (required)

Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances.

Documents

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Information about the school

Contact Information

Dawn Saunders
University of Essex
Colchester Campus, Colchester
Essex, CO4 3SQ
Telephone: 01206 873495
Email: nursery@essex.ac.uk

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