Nursery Practitioner

Hanwell Fields Community School, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 1ER

5 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  5 January 2026

• Closing date

  18 November 2025 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  13 November 2025

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Early years
• Working pattern: Full time: 33-37.5 Hours a week, Monday to Friday
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £24,921

What skills and experience we're looking for

We are looking for a dedicated and enthusiastic Nursery Practitioner to join our pre-nursery team at Ladybirds, located within Hanwell Fields Community School. This role offers a unique opportunity to work in a vibrant and nurturing environment that supports the early development of young children.

As a practitioner, you will bring experience in supporting children both individually and in group settings. You will foster inclusive and supportive relationships, particularly with children who have Special Educational Needs (SEN), encouraging positive peer interactions and adapting learning activities to meet diverse needs. Your ability to observe and respond to children’s engagement will be key in helping them achieve developmental milestones.

To be part of an EYFS team, where each member uses their relevant skills to ensure the efficient running of the pre-nursery, nursery and reception classes in the school. This is term time only located in the Pre-Nursery or other FS classes during term time and after school care within the Ladybird’s play scheme for 2 – 6 yr old children. The team will provide high quality education and care in a stimulating environment, in the context of the school relevant policies.

• To ensure that each child’s potential is fully developed in a social, physical, psychological and cultural sense and their development both as an individual and as a member of a group, is paramount at all times.
• To share responsibility for the preparation of a stimulating and caring environment, with due regard to all aspects of Health and Safety.
• To participate in planning and organising appropriate play and educational activities.
• To observe, assess and contribute to the written record of each child’s progress.
• To foster each child’s development and growth of independence and self-reliance.
• As part of the team, to contribute and participate in: - Planning and preparation of the class, group work and individual work to suit the needs and age of the pupils - Whole school record keeping - Participating in meetings relating to: curriculum development, general administration, school organisation and pastoral arrangements.
• Maintaining good order and discipline among pupils, safeguarding their health and safety, both on school premises and when engaged in authorised school activities elsewhere.
• To provide personal care to a child, whilst at the same time encouraging their independence.
• To encourage and value the involvement of parents/carers in the life of the school and to appreciate and recognise the expert knowledge they have of their child.
• To implement the school’s policies fully.
• To work actively to overcome and prevent discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, gender, disability, sexuality and status.
• To be aware of own practice and keeping up with current trends in education.
• Attending relevant courses when possible, in accordance with priorities in the school Development Plan.
• Maintain and update accordingly the childcare database Connect. Putting on new pupils and changing attendance patterns where necessary.
• In carrying out the tasks in this job description you have a duty (under Health & Safety legislation) to take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and that of others. This implies taking positive steps to monitor and maintain a safe and secure working environment.
• To continuously develop your own role, taking responsibility for identifying and addressing training and development needs.
• Where appropriate to foster links between home and school.
• To liaise, consult and advise with other members of the team and outside agencies, regarding the child’s progress.
• To contribute to review meetings, where appropriate.
• To participate in relevant professional development.
• To be aware of and follow the Pre-schools/Schools policies and procedures
• To maintain confidentiality about home – school / pupil- teacher/ school – work matters
• To complete any other relevant tasks as directed by the supervisor.
• To help and support the SENco in delivering a suitable programme of activities for the child’s individual development, both indoors and out.
• To assist in making resources to support activities that have been advised by the SENco/outside agencies
• To provide feedback about the child’s progress to the SENco, parents and outside agencies
• To report any problems about arrangements or incidents to the SENco or Supervisor.

Hanwell Fields Community School is a dynamic and inspiring place to work. You will be expected to use your initiative to manage unexpected situations and contribute to short- and medium-term planning. Our Nursery Practitioners are deeply embedded in the ethos and values of the school, consistently going above and beyond in their roles.

You should be confident in building and maintaining professional relationships with both children and adults and demonstrate strong teamwork and a commitment to childrens’ learning. We value collaboration and professionalism and seek individuals who model these qualities in their daily practice.

What the school offers its staff

At Hanwell Fields Community School, our belief is that innovative, quality teaching lies at the heart of everything we do. We are a hard-working team, where staff at all levels are encouraged to develop themselves and be the best they can be in a supportive environment. We are an inclusive employer and welcome applications from all candidates eager to play an important role in the future of our school. Hanwell Fields Community School is committed to the development of all staff and professional development is integral to our values. Our bespoke induction programme ensures new staff quickly become part of the HFCS family and are familiar with the school’s routines and structures. At Hanwell Fields we are committed to providing a working environment that promotes the good health and well-being of all its employees, encouraging everyone to have 'Good Days at Work'. is part of United Learning, a large, and growing, group of schools aiming to offer a life-changing education to children and young people across England. United Learning Hanwell Fields Community School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All positions are subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and shortlisted candidates will be subject to an online check.

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.

Commitment to safeguarding

Hanwell Fields Community School is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

Hanwell Fields Community School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all who work at the School to share this commitment. For all interviewees an online Google search will be carried out in line with the updated KCSiE guidance [para.221]. Successful applicants will be subject to a robust pre-employment process and child protection screening including an enhanced disclosure through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and checks with previous employers.

Applying for the job

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Hanwell Fields Community School

• School type: Academy, ages 3 to 11
• Education phase: Primary
• School size: 456 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 3 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Hanwell Fields Community School website
• Email address: lucy.smith@hanwellfields.org
• Phone number: 01295709583
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/hanwell-fields-community-school

At Hanwell Fields, we put our pupils and our community at the heart of all that we do. We believe success comes from the strength of partnerships between pupils, staff and parents and we are committed to preserving and developing these links.

We are committed to the continuous professional development of all our staff. We believe that every member of the school community should enjoy a love of learning and, as a school, we take pride in supporting our teachers and staff through reflective practice and coaching.

We have a great team of staff who are dedicated learners themselves that have the pupils at the core of what they do. We serve a mixed community, which includes some pockets of real deprivation, but every pupil at Hanwell Fields is given the chance to be themselves, learn and flourish as young people.

We would encourage anyone interested in starting or continuing their careers with us to visit our school and see for themselves what a vibrant, aspirational primary school Hanwell Fields is.

Arranging a visit to Hanwell Fields Community School

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email lucy.smith@hanwellfields.org.

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