Early Years Practitioner

Job content

Company description

The Happy Homestead is an outdoor, environmentally friendly nursery, which follows forest school practices. Our ethos is to support children’s well-being by encouraging them to spend their time exploring nature and learning out in the fresh air.

Job description

Who are we looking for?

We require an Early Years Practitioner educated to level 3 to undertake a Level 2 Forest School Practitioner qualification alongside caring for children aged from 1-5 years. The person must be prepared to be outdoors all day, and in all weathers. They say there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing! One of the main aims of forest school is to build an inherit care for nature, and a such we require someone that takes an interest in what is around them and will be interested in learning all there is to know about the natural world.

We also need someone who is energetic and creative and has a natural, caring attitude towards children. There are also animals on site so we require someone who will enjoy caring for animals too. We are looking for positive, mindful people who will instil confidence in the children, parents and staff and appreciate them for who they are.

Purpose of the Role

The Forest School Practitioner’s role is to implement the daily routine in the forest school and follow the Happy Homestead ethos in everything they do. Practitioners must ensure the children have access to exciting and challenging activities to support and encourage their learning and development in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage and the children’s individual interests. They will also have to ensure individual children’s needs are met so that they can be happy and healthy little people.

As there are also animals at the setting, practitioners may also be required to help care for them, although there will be a full time Ranger on hand to provide the majority of their daily care needs.

Hours of the Role

The hours of working are between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday, with the core working hours being 9am-3pm each day.

Duties and Responsibilities

· To support the provision of a diverse forest school curriculum that will meet the requirements of the EYFS and meet the needs of individual learners.

· To promote learning in the outdoor environment and the ethos of forest school learning.

· To reflect and evaluate learning and development opportunities and identify improvements.

· To keep an up-to-date record of learning and development on every child, in particular your key children and share this with parents.

· Building a professional relationship with parents and keeping them informed about their child’s day and their progression.

· To allow children to take risks and challenge themselves in order to build strength and resilience.

· To allow children to make their own choices and problem solve for themselves, letting the children know that you are there if they need you.

· To work as a team with other staff communicating, helping organise and teach new staff to embrace the Happy Homestead ethos.

· Safeguarding children from harm and abuse; putting their welfare, care and development first. To report any suspicious or suspected non-accidental injury.

· Support children and families in settling visits and transitions through the setting.

· Checking the site for hazards every day to making sure children are safe from harm.

· To ensure the health and safety of the children by performing risk assessments for tools, activities and other resources and adhere to these at all times.

· To promote social mealtimes and encourage an understanding of community, as children will have responsibility to serve each other meals etc.

· To use and maintain forest school tools and equipment.

· To assist with the organisation of trips of natural educational interest e.g. beach school or nature reserves, including transporting them safely to such destinations.

· Ensuring that you and children are suitably dress for any weather condition, even at short notice.

· Changing children as required and promoting good hygiene.

· To ensure the provision of a high quality environment to meet the needs of individual children from differing cultures and religious backgrounds, and stages of development, whilst actively promoting the equal opportunities policy.

· Work as a supportive member of the staff team, where the setting is viewed as a “whole”. Utilise your time to help in other areas being constantly aware of the children’s needs.

· To attend all out of working hours activities, e.g. training, monthly staff meetings, parents evenings, open days etc.

· To be flexible within working practices of the setting. Be prepared to help where needed, including to undertake certain domestic jobs within the setting, e.g. preparation of snack meals, cleansing of equipment, cleaning, planting vegetables, feeding for animals etc.

· To respect and maintain the confidentiality of information received.

· Complete the setting’s in house training schedule.

· To be aware of the high profile of the setting and to uphold its standards at all times.

· To comply with the settings policies and procedures at all times.

· To report any injury or accident ensuring that health and safety of the individual is maintained. Inform the Forest School Leader of all accidents.

· To be a key person for small group of children.

· To undertake any other duties commensurate to the post as required by the setting.

Physical Duties

The role can be quite physically demanding as it is outdoors in all weather. The terrain at the setting is mostly flat but this may become boggy in rainy conditions. There are also children’s play equipment to consider as this will need setting up and packing away daily. Children and staff will do daily exercise such as yoga and dancing.

Reference ID: HHL3

Part-time hours: 30-37 per week

Expected start date: 01/09/2021

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent

Salary: £9.00-£9.25 per hour

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work remotely:

• No