Nursery Practitioner - Brand New Nursery

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Nursery Practitioner - Brand New Nursery

🔹 Company: Banana Moon Day Nurseries

🔹 Location: Caterham, Surrey, United Kingdom

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time

🔹 Category: Education

🔹 Date Posted: May 19, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 0-2 years

🔹 Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Providing high-quality care and education to children aged 0-5
• Planning and implementing engaging activities that promote learning and development
• Working collaboratively with a team to ensure the smooth running of the nursery
• Upholding nursery policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with safeguarding regulations

ASSUMPTION: This role will involve a significant amount of physical activity and interaction with young children, requiring a high level of energy and patience.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Provide high-quality care and education in accordance with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and our own curriculum.

✅ Plan and implement engaging and age-appropriate activities that promote learning and development.

✅ Observe, assess and record children's progress, sharing insights with parents and colleagues.

✅ Create a warm, welcoming, and safe environment for all children.

✅ Work collaboratively with your team to ensure the smooth running of the nursery.

✅ Uphold nursery policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with safeguarding regulations.

ASSUMPTION: The role may require occasional weekend or evening work to cover events or parent evenings.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Level 2/3 qualification in Early Years Education or Childcare is desired.

Experience: Experience working in a nursery or early years setting is required.

Required Skills:

• Sound knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently.
• Enhanced DBS check clearance is required.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working with children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
• Fluency in a second language.

ASSUMPTION: While not explicitly stated, having experience working with children with SEND or being bilingual could be beneficial in this role.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £16,000 - £18,000 per annum (based on industry standards for entry-level nursery practitioners in the UK)

Benefits:

• Bupa Employee Assistance
• Childcare discount for staff
• Additional day off per year after 1 year of continuous employment (up to a maximum of 5 days)
• Unique Early Learning and Development program for our children
• Less paperwork, allowing more time with children
• Use of tablets linked to our bespoke 'Parent App'
• State-of-the-art technology, including a biometric entry system and interactive screens
• Great holiday entitlement
• Further on-the-job training
• Great career prospects
• Uniform provided

Working Hours: Full-time position, typically working 40 hours per week. Hours may vary depending on the nursery's opening hours.

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards. The actual salary may vary depending on the candidate's qualifications and experience.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Banana Moon Day Nurseries operates in the education administration programs industry, focusing on providing high-quality childcare and early education services.

Company Size: Banana Moon Day Nurseries has 11-50 employees, which means applicants can expect a close-knit work environment with ample opportunities for growth and development.

Founded: The company was founded in 2006, giving it nearly two decades of experience in the childcare sector.

Company Description:

• Banana Moon Day Nurseries is a family-run concern that prioritizes a caring and loving environment for children.
• The company offers a strong brand to trade under, experienced childcare specialists for support, a proven business model, and ongoing training and support.
• Banana Moon is unique in offering an experience like no other to its little customers, with a strong brand loyalty and enjoyable marketing leading nursery franchise.

Company Specialties:

• Strong brand to trade under
• Experienced childcare specialists for support
• Proven business model
• Ongoing training and support
• Franchise opportunities

Company Website: http://www.bananamoonfranchise.com

ASSUMPTION: As a franchise, Banana Moon Day Nurseries may have specific branding and operational guidelines that practitioners must adhere to.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is suitable for entry-level or early-career nursery practitioners looking to gain experience in a supportive and nurturing environment.

Reporting Structure: The nursery practitioner will report directly to the nursery manager or deputy manager.

Work Arrangement: This is an on-site, full-time position. The working hours may vary depending on the nursery's opening hours.

Growth Opportunities:

• Progression to senior nursery practitioner or team leader roles
• Opportunities to specialize in specific age groups or areas of child development
• Potential to move into management or franchise ownership roles

ASSUMPTION: Given the company's franchise model, there may be opportunities for high-performing practitioners to become franchisees in the future.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: The nursery is a dedicated childcare facility, with age-appropriate play and learning spaces.

Office Location(s): Caterham, Surrey, United Kingdom

Geographic Context:

• Caterham is a town in Surrey, located approximately 15 miles south of London.
• The nursery is situated in a residential area, with easy access to local amenities and public transportation.
• The nursery is close to the M25 motorway, providing convenient access to other parts of the UK.

Work Schedule: The nursery operates from Monday to Friday, with opening hours typically ranging from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM. Practitioners may be required to work shifts that cover these hours.

ASSUMPTION: The work environment may be noisy and chaotic at times, with young children present. Practitioners must be comfortable working in a high-energy setting and be able to manage their time effectively to meet the needs of the children in their care.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application and CV submission
• Phone or video screening interview
• Face-to-face interview at the nursery, including a tour of the facilities and a chance to meet the team
• Reference checks and DBS clearance
• Job offer and onboarding

Key Assessment Areas:

• Experience working with children aged 0-5
• Knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children

Application Tips:

• Highlight any relevant experience working with children, including voluntary work or placements
• Tailor your CV and cover letter to emphasize your skills and experience in relation to the key responsibilities and required qualifications listed in the job description
• Prepare examples of how you have demonstrated your ability to work effectively with young children and manage challenging behavior
• Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role and your commitment to providing high-quality care and education to children

ATS Keywords: Early Years Education, Childcare, EYFS, Communication, Interpersonal Skills, Teamwork, Independence, Safeguarding, Planning, Observation, Assessment, Curriculum Development, Child Development, Engagement, Warm Environment, Policy Compliance, Record Keeping

ASSUMPTION: As a franchise, Banana Moon Day Nurseries may use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to screen and manage job applications. Including relevant keywords in your CV and cover letter can help your application stand out.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Tablets linked to the nursery's bespoke 'Parent App'
• Biometric entry system
• Interactive screens for preschool children

ASSUMPTION: Practitioners will be expected to use these tools and technologies to support their work with the children and communicate with parents.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Providing a caring and loving environment for children
• Supporting the development and well-being of children in our care
• Working collaboratively with our team to ensure the smooth running of the nursery

Work Style:

• Enthusiastic and energetic
• Patient and understanding
• Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
• Able to work effectively as part of a team and independently

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you have a genuine passion for working with young children?
• Are you able to create a warm, welcoming, and safe environment for all children?
• Can you work effectively as part of a team and independently, managing your time effectively to meet the needs of the children in your care?

ASSUMPTION: Banana Moon Day Nurseries values practitioners who are committed to providing high-quality care and education to children and who are able to work effectively as part of a team and independently.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing challenging behavior from young children
• Meeting the diverse needs of individual children
• Balancing the demands of the role with personal commitments
• Adapting to the specific routines and procedures of the nursery

ASSUMPTION: While these challenges may arise, the supportive work environment and comprehensive training opportunities provided by Banana Moon Day Nurseries can help practitioners overcome them.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Nursery Practitioner roles may vary in terms of the age range of the children they work with, the size of the nursery, and the specific policies and procedures in place
• Banana Moon Day Nurseries is a franchise, which means it may have specific branding and operational guidelines that practitioners must adhere to
• Career progression opportunities may vary depending on the specific nursery and the candidate's qualifications and experience

ASSUMPTION: Applicants should research the specific nursery they are applying to and consider how their skills and experience align with the role and the company's values.

📝 Sample Projects

• Planning and implementing a themed activity day for the nursery
• Creating and implementing a daily routine for a specific age group
• Developing a portfolio of observations and assessments to demonstrate the progress of the children in your care

ASSUMPTION: These projects are examples of the types of tasks practitioners may be required to complete in this role. The specific projects will depend on the needs of the children and the priorities of the nursery.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• What are the specific policies and procedures in place at this nursery?
• How does the nursery support the professional development of its practitioners?
• What opportunities are there for career progression within the company?
• How does the nursery involve parents in the care and education of their children?
• What is the nursery's approach to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children?

ASSUMPTION: These questions can help applicants gain a better understanding of the role and the company's values and culture.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your CV and cover letter to emphasize your skills and experience in relation to the key responsibilities and required qualifications listed in the job description
• Prepare examples of how you have demonstrated your ability to work effectively with young children and manage challenging behavior
• Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role and your commitment to providing high-quality care and education to children
• Follow up with the nursery within one week of submitting your application to confirm receipt and express your interest in the role

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.