Early Years Practitioner

Grandpont Nursery School, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 4QH

11 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  As soon as possible

• Closing date

  18 April 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  18 March 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time: ● Contract/Hours: Permanent ● Key Stage: Early Years (children age 1 – 4 years) ● Salary Type: Grade 6 ● Salary Details: pro-rata salary = £26824 -£29,064 ● Hours of Work: 37 hours over 4 days per week, All year round.
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: between £26,824 to £29,064

What skills and experience we're looking for

Purpose of role

• To provide high quality and safe provision which promotes all aspects of development of the children who attend the Nursery School and Childcare.
• To promote the welfare of children and to support the school in safeguarding children through relevant policies and procedures.
• To ensure that the nursery is a safe environment for children, staff and others.
• To develop and maintain partnerships with parents/carers to share involvement in their child’s development.
• To work as part of a team to ensure the efficient and effective running of the Nursery School and Childcare.

Main duties and responsibilities

• To promote the health, safety and welfare of the children in the Nursery school at all times.
• To have an understanding of and be able to follow all relevant OFSTED and Nursery school policies and procedures.
• To demonstrate inclusive practice at all times.
• To assist with the meeting of all children’s health, safety and hygiene requirements.
• To interact positively and appropriately with the children at all times, in all environments and all weathers: being at their level, which may include working on the floor.
• To model positive social interaction and play and to provide exciting learning experiences.
• To work with and support NVQ trainees, students, casual staff and others.
• To attend and participate in all staff meetings called by the Childcare Manager and/or Headteacher including discussions on curriculum and the smooth running of the Nursery.
• To use initiative to ensure the smooth running of the learning taking place.

Curriculum Responsibilities

• To understand and follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.
• To value and encourage children in celebrations and activities from their own and other cultures.
• To use in the moment planning and support children’s individual interests.

SEND Responsibilities

• To communicate and liaise with the SENCo, to support children with SEND, implementing the Graduated response.
• To undertake training to ensure a secure understanding of early identification of SEND and how the implementation of the graduated response supports high aspirations for all children, working in partnership with parents.

Health & Safety Responsibilities

• To comply with all relevant standards of safety, security and hygiene, ensuring that knowledge of the standards are up to date.
• To care for, maintain and clean the nursery environment and play equipment, ensuring that communal areas such as toilets, kitchen and laundry are always clean and in order. This is a shared responsibility with all staff.
• To report maintenance issues, in accordance with the Nursery policy.

Professional Development Responsibilities

• To attend training courses as required, including all in-service training (inset) days.
• To take responsibility for ensuring own knowledge is up to date and relevant, i.e. keeping abreast of current educational practices and other relevant areas such as Health & Safety and Safeguarding Children.

Liaison Responsibilities

• To form good professional relationships with parents, volunteer helpers and visitors to the Nursery school and Childcare.
• To liaise with other agencies as appropriate maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.
• To build and maintain links with the local community.
• To work alongside governors involving them in the work of the Nursery.
• To be aware that the opportunity may arise to become a member of the Governing Body.

Gateway Criteria

• To demonstrate competence in practice against the NVQ level 3 mandatory unit criteria.
• To take responsibility for a key group of children.
• To use more developed communication skills to encourage and support social/positive behavioral development.
• To teach using in the moment appropriately for all children.
• To demonstrate the ability to interpret observations and convert to assessment of need.

Key Person Responsibilities

• Ensure children’s Tapestry profiles are up to date and accurate.
• To observe, assess and respond to children’s learning and needs.
• To teach in the moment and record teachable moments.
• To greet and communicate effectively with the child’s parents or carers on a daily basis.
• To produce children’s reports.
• To be aware of family needs, supporting, and offering advice; seeking extra support if necessary. To be involved in the planning and carrying out of home visits and child/parent induction and visits
• To plan and carry out meetings with parents to share information about their child’s progress.

What the school offers its staff

Grandpont is a thriving nursery and Childcare in central Oxford, welcoming children from 10 months old until their first year of school and serving families from a diverse local community. We are rooted in a strong tradition of high-quality early education, placing children’s needs at the heart of everything we do and supporting learning through play and meaningful experiences. Our environment, including gardens and woodland area, encourages curiosity, independence and exploration, while nurturing communication, positive relationships and the skills children need to learn, thrive and feel included throughout their lives.

Flexible working opportunities

Opportunities to complete planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) time remotely where appropriate, reducing time spent on-site outside of ratio hours.

Compressed working hours (e.g. working full-time hours across fewer days).

Part-time roles or job-share options to accommodate personal or family commitments.

Set working days each week to provide consistency for both staff and children.

Option to swap shifts with colleagues (with management approval) to manage personal responsibilities.

Opportunities for flexible leave (e.g. splitting annual leave into shorter, more frequent breaks).

Hybrid attendance for training sessions or staff meetings where possible (e.g. online participation).

Phased return to work after maternity, paternity, or adoption leave.

Flexibility for attending important family events (e.g. school appointments, childcare arrangements).

Supportive approach to emergency leave for dependents.

Time-off-in-lieu (TOIL) for additional hours worked (e.g. events, training days).

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Safer Recruitment

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

This job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Grandpont Nursery School

• School type: Local authority maintained school, ages 2 to 5
• Education phase: Nursery
• School size: 44 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 2 to 5
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Grandpont Nursery School website
• Email address: rachel.duncalfe@grandpontnurseryschool.co.uk
• Phone number: 01865 242900
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/grandpont-nursery-school

Arranging a visit to Grandpont Nursery School

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email rachel.duncalfe@grandpontnurseryschool.co.uk.

School location

Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed

Find more school jobs in Oxford and Oxfordshire