Job Description: Nursery Assistants & Apprentices

The Nursery Assistant supports the daily care and education of children within their designated room, ensuring a safe, engaging, and nurturing environment. They work under the guidance of the Room Leader and other senior staff, following planned activities and routines to promote children’s development. While they do not hold managerial responsibilities, they are responsible for key person duties, safeguarding, and ensuring the well-being of the children in their care.

Key Information
Post Title	Nursery Assistant
Direct Report	Room Leader
Indirect reports	Deputy Room Leader / Third in Charge / Deputy Manager
Probation	6 Months during which time probationary assessments must be passed, digital training programmes completed and positive peer review secured
Notice period	4 weeks
Role overview: The Nursery Apprentice is a trainee role, providing hands-on experience in early years education while working towards a formal childcare qualification. Under the supervision of senior staff, they assist in providing high-quality care and education, gaining knowledge of child development, safeguarding, and the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. While they do not hold managerial responsibilities, they are expected to take on key person duties and actively engage in their learning and professional development.
Key Areas of Responsibility: Childcare and Room Support Assist the Room Leader and team in delivering a safe, engaging, and high-quality learning environment. Support planned activities that promote children's learning and development in line with EYFS guidelines. Provide nurturing care, ensuring children's emotional and physical well-being. Support with feeding, changing, and maintaining hygiene routines. Contribute to setting up and tidying learning environments and resources. Key Person Responsibilities (With Supervision) Begin developing key person responsibilities, building relationships with assigned children under supervision. Observe and assist in recording children’s progress, contributing to learning assessments. Communicate with parents, with support from senior staff, to provide updates on their child’s well-being. Safeguarding and Compliance Follow all nursery policies and procedures, particularly in safeguarding and health & safety. Report any concerns regarding child welfare or staff conduct in line with the nursery’s whistleblowing policy. Participate in risk assessments to ensure a safe and secure environment. Maintain accurate records under guidance, including accident and incident reports. Training and Professional Development Engage actively in training sessions, mentoring, and coursework related to the childcare qualification. Learn and apply EYFS principles under the guidance of senior staff. Attend staff meetings and contribute to discussions on best practices in early years care. Seek feedback and implement improvements in practice as part of professional growth. Teamwork and Collaboration Work cooperatively with colleagues, following instructions from senior staff. Support team members in creating a positive and nurturing nursery environment. Contribute to a respectful and supportive workplace culture.
Qualifications & Training	No formal qualifications required; must be working towards a Level 2 or above relevant childcare qualification under National Vocational Qualifications Scheme (Apprenticeship).
Skills	Eagerness to learn, strong communication and teamwork skills, patience, and enthusiasm for working with children.
Experience	No prior experience necessary; a passion for working with young children is essential.
Core competencies	Willingness to Learn: Engages actively in training and development. Child-Centred Approach: Displays a nurturing and caring attitude toward children. Team Player: Works effectively with colleagues and follows guidance from senior staff. Observational Skills: Develops the ability to recognize and record children’s progress. Adaptability: Open to feedback and flexible in responding to the nursery’s needs.
Safer Recruitment	Hatching Dragons are comited to ensure that all staff working with children meet all suitability standards to the highest level. This is to ensure that children in our care are provided with the best outcomes. You can review our "Safer Recruitment and Suitable Staff" policy on the link.