Join Us! Vacancy: Level 3 Early Years Educator

Job type: Part Time (28 hours p/week)

Shift and schedule: 4 days (8.30am - 3.30pm) – possibility of 5 days if wanted

Location: Great Bookham, Surrey

Working Pattern: Part time

Salary: £13.86 per hour

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Type: On site

Closing Date: 22-July-2025

Contact

Caroline O’Leary Playschool Manager, hello@polesdenlaceyplayschool.co.uk

About us

Established in 1991 we are registered to take a maximum of 18 children per session between the ages of two and a half and five years old, providing high quality childcare and preschool education, giving priority to the development needs and happiness of our children and their families in a safe, nurturing and stimulating care environment. This is a fantastic opportunity to join an Ofsted rated ‘Good’ playschool and have a positive impact on our local children and community that we serve.

Set within the grounds of Polesden Lacey Infant Academy, we occupy our own classroom and have our own playground. We also have access to the wonderful facilities that the school provides including our own allotment and access to the Orchard.

About the role

Our Practitioners are vital in ensuring the smooth running of the playschool, and provide the highest standards of physical, social, emotional, and intellectual care for all of the children, while ensuring the standard of care and education delivered meets legislative requirements of Ofsted and the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). We really value the knowledge and experience of our staff team and are very supportive of new ideas, initiatives and suggestions being made.

In this role, you will act as a key person for a small group of children with the responsibility to work in partnership with parents/carers encouraging them to participate in their child’s development. You will play an active part in the day to day operations and organisations of the playschool within agreed policies and procedures and provide a safe, caring and stimulating environment, promoting good parent/staff relationships within the group.

We are recruiting for a permanent member of staff to work a minimum of 28 hours per week with potential for overtime and full time hours if wanted.

The working pattern for this role will be between Monday - Friday 8.30-15.30.

About you

To excel in this role, you will be level 3 Early Years and Education and strong experience of providing care in a nursery or preschool environment. Candidates who have ample experience working in this field and hold a Level 2 qualification or equivalent may also be considered. A background working with SEN children would be beneficial. Applicants should also have a proactive, imaginative and practical approach to planning and delivering an early years curriculum, excellent communication skills and a commitment to providing the highest level of service to parents and carers.

We would love to see applications from candidates who are passionate about working with children and in helping children to achieve their full potential, with a background in SEN, working as a Nursery Assistant or Practitioner or in a professional childcare capacity.

Our commitment to Safeguarding

At Polesden Lacey Playschool the welfare, safety and protection of the children in our care is paramount. We have a duty to create an environment in which children are safe from abuse and to respond promptly and appropriately to any suspicion of abuse.

Every staff member and volunteer undertakes safeguarding training, following the guidelines and procedures of Surrey Safeguarding Children’s Partnership (SSCP).

All positions are exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and Playschool will arrange for a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check on all successful applicants. No-one will be employed if they are barred from working with children.

All appointments will be subject to a probationary period and will not be confirmed unless the Playschool is confident that the applicant can be safely entrusted with children.

A copy of our Safeguarding Policy (along with others) can be found in full on our website, www.polesdenlaceyplayschool.co.uk