Early Childhood Educator - Ark Start Brunel

Reporting to: Nursery Manager

Location: Ark Start Brunel (Middle Row, London W10 5AT)

 Contract: Permanent

Working  Pattern: Full-time/Term Time Only

Salary: From £27,000

The Role

• To ensure a high standard of physical, emotional, social, and intellectual care for all children in their care
• To ensure all children are safeguarded and their welfare and safety is promoted
• To provide an enabling environment in which all children can play, learn, and develop
• To have the skill, creativity, commitment, energy, and enthusiasm required to deliver excellent provision.

   

  Key Responsibilities

• To promote the aims and objectives of the nursery
• To promote the high standards of the nursery at all times to parents, staff, and visitors
• To follow the nursery safeguarding procedure to ensure all children are kept safe, well, and secure
• To ensure the provision of high standards of physical and emotional care
• To work with families and parents / carers
• To keep records of your children’s development and learning journals and share this with parents and carers and ensure all record keeping is up to date and accurate
• Liaise with the local authority and other external agencies as required
• Undertake required domestic jobs within the nursery as required
• Participate fully in team meetings and training
• Read, understand, and adhere to all policies and procedures within the nursery
• Ensure good standards of safety, hygiene and cleanliness are maintained
• Washing and changing children when required
• Ensure mealtimes are pleasant social experience
• Ensure poorly children are tended to and parents informed immediately
• To provide cover when required
• To undertake any other duties as determined by the management

  Person Specification: Early Childhood Educator

  Qualifications

• Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Education and Care or the willingness to work towards it

  Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Interest in gardening and cooking desirable
• Experience of and passion for outdoor learning / forest school desirable
• Passion for the outdoors and gardening, and creating lifelong memories for children and families

  Behaviours

• Genuine passion for and a belief in the potential of every pupil
• A robust awareness of keeping children safe, noticing safeguarding and welfare concerns, and you understand how and when to take appropriate action
• Belief that every student should have access to an excellent education regardless of background
• Professional outlook, detailed orientated and able to multitask and meet deadlines
• A team player that can work collaboratively as well as using own initiative
• Calm and professional under pressure
• Understanding of the importance of confidentiality and discretion
• Flexible attitude towards work and demonstrates sound judgement

  Other

• Right to work in the UK
• Commitment to equality of opportunity and the safeguarding and welfare of all students
• Willingness to undertake training
• This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check
• Actively promote the safety and welfare of our children and young people
• Ensure compliance with Ark Start data protection rules and procedures
• Liaise with colleagues and external contacts at all levels of seniority with confidence, tact, and diplomacy
• Work with colleagues and other nurseries and schools in the Ark network, to establish good practice, offering support where required.

At Ark Start, we believe that when our practitioners are supported, our children thrive. That's why we've created a working environment that prioritises wellbeing, professional growth, and a healthy work-life balance.

• Competitive Reward Package: We offer competitive hourly rates alongside an excellent 11% employer pension contribution, with no employee contribution required, helping you build financial security for the future.
  
  
• Genuine Work-Life Balance: Our full-time roles are based on 37.5 hours per week, and we don't expect you to work beyond that. We recognise that our practitioners do their best work when they have time to recharge, which is why we are committed to maintaining clear boundaries between work and personal time.
  
  
• Training and Development: Within Working Hours We are passionate about continuous professional development, but we don't believe learning should come at the expense of your personal time. Any required training or development will be scheduled within your working hours. It's our responsibility to fit development opportunities into your work schedule, not yours to complete them outside of work.
  
  
• A Culture of Learning: As part of the wider Ark network, you'll benefit from access to a wealth of expertise, resources, and professional development opportunities. You'll join a collaborative community where continuous learning, knowledge-sharing, and career progression are actively encouraged and supported.
  
  
• A Team That Values You: At Ark Start, you're more than a practitioner. You'll be part of a mission-driven organisation that values your contribution, invests in your development, and supports you to build a rewarding and sustainable career in early childhood education.

Our dedicated team work together to ensure that every child has a joyful, engaging, and secure nursery experience and leaves us ready to start school happily and confidently. We are driven by our values in everything we do: Aim High, Be Brave, Be Kind and Keep Learning.

Ark Start is at an exciting time in its evolution. We opened two nurseries in South London last year and aim to expand our reach over the coming years. As we expand, we are looking for Early Childhood Educator to join our founding team. We are looking for someone with a genuine passion for young children and with the skill, creativity, commitment, and energy to deliver excellent provision at Ark Start.