Nursery Practitioner - Leeds Mencap

About Leeds Mencap

Leeds Mencap is an organisation based in Leeds that is committed to supporting children and young people with learning disabilities, autism, and other complex needs, and their families and carers. Jimbo's Community Nursery is part of Leeds Mencap and offers high-quality care and early years education, Hawthorn - a specialist SEND playroom, an after school club and holiday childcare.

Our Values

• Inclusivity - We create spaces where everyone is welcomed, respected and given the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their abilities, background or experiences.
• Belonging - We work to ensure that all individuals we support have a place where they are understood, heard and valued, and experience a strong sense of community.
• Empowerment - We are committed to giving individuals the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to make decisions about their lives and advocate for their needs.

Job Overview

Leeds Mencap is seeking a motivated and compassionate individual to join our team as a Nursery Practitioner Level 3. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in Jimbo's Community Nursery helping all children to develop a wide range of skills through play. You will support all our children to start their early years with the best inclusive learning and development experience, which also gives them the specialist support they may need to get the best start possible to move into the next stage of their education.

Key Responsibilities

• Work under the guidance of the Childcare Manager and Deputy Managers.
• Deliver high quality childcare and education.
• Establish positive working relationships with colleagues and other professionals working with the children and their families.
• Work in partnership with other childcare providers and schools to promote the successful transition of children into other settings.
• Support the ongoing development of services.

High Standards of Care and Education

• Effectively implement the setting's policies and procedures.
• Encourage working practices that positively promote children's health, safety and general wellbeing.
• Protect children from danger.
• Liaise with parents/carers to help ensure that the particular needs of children are met and that parental choice is considered in terms of care given.
• Sustain a safe, welcoming, purposeful, stimulating and encouraging environment.
• Promote the use of informed observation and other strategies to monitor children's activity, development and progress systematically and carefully, and to use this information to inform, plan and improve practice and provision.
• Support the process of effective assessment, by accurately recording the children's developmental progress.
• Plan and provide safe, appropriate, child-led and adult initiated experiences, activities and play opportunities in indoor, outdoor and in/out of setting contexts, which enable children to develop and learn.
• Select, prepare and use a range of resources suitable for children's ages, interests and abilities, taking account of diversity and promoting equality and inclusion.
• Actively support the development of children's language and communication skills.
• Promote positive behaviour, self control and independence through using effective behaviour management strategies and developing children's social, emotional and behavioural skills.
• Work in partnership with parents, colleagues and other professionals to ensure coordinated support for children with additional needs.

Additional Requirements

The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service application in line with Section 115 of The Police Act 1997.

Compensation

£30,328 pro rata per annum + Excellent Benefits.