We're going to start with something nurseries don't talk about enough.
Looking after the people who look after the children.
Early years can be brilliant.
It can also be noisy, physical, emotional and demanding.
So it caught our attention that the nursery behind this Level 3 Nursery Practitioner job in Oundle doesn't just list "wellbeing" as a bullet point and leave it there.
Every team member is given access to a dedicated mental health support contract including:
Up to 12 face-to-face counselling sessions each year
and
24/7 access to mental health specialists by phone or messaging.
That's unusually specific.
And it's only one part of the package.
You also get your birthday off
The employer's current recruitment offers:
25 days' annual leave Bank holidays Your birthday off Company pension Childcare benefit Employee discount Cycle to work scheme Referral programme Company events Free and on-site parking Health and wellbeing programme
For a sector where annual leave packages can all start to look very similar, the combination of 25 days, bank holidays and an additional birthday day is worth shouting about.
What about the actual nursery?
This is an established nursery, preschool and Forest School in Oundle caring for children from their earliest months through to school age.
The setting has been operating for more than two decades, with the company behind it incorporated in 2003.
It is registered for up to 72 children and its latest Ofsted inspection rated the setting Good across every inspection area, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management.
So you're joining somewhere established, not a nursery that's only just finding its feet.
They don't want practitioners following planning for the sake of it
The setting uses In The Moment Planning.
That means practitioners are expected to notice what children are genuinely interested in and then adapt resources, environments and interactions around what's happening now, rather than rigidly following activities somebody wrote down two weeks earlier.
The nursery describes learning through play as central to its approach and expects staff to be tuned into individual children's current interests.
So your ability to observe matters.
Your judgement matters.
And your ideas matter.
Your day will involve: Building secure relationships with your key children Planning and delivering developmentally appropriate experiences Following children's interests as they emerge Supporting physical, emotional, social and cognitive development Observing children's progress and developmental milestones Keeping meaningful records for assessment and parent updates Supporting children during play, meals, sleep and outdoor experiences Encouraging positive behaviour and independence Supporting children with SEND and individual care needs Working collaboratively with colleagues Maintaining safe, stimulating nursery environments Communicating effectively with parents and carers Keeping safeguarding, hygiene and health and safety standards consistently high
Those aren't generic duties we've filled in ourselves. They're taken directly from the employer's current Level 3 Practitioner recruitment.
Forest School means getting beyond the nursery room
The setting's official registered name is actually Small Wonders Nursery, Pre-School and Forest School.
So outdoor learning is part of the nursery's established identity rather than a new addition designed for a recruitment advert.
If you're the sort of practitioner who would rather turn a child's fascination with leaves, mud, insects or sticks into a learning opportunity than try to persuade them back towards the activity table, that should suit you.
And staff seem to stay
One line from the nursery's own website stood out.
It says many members of the team have worked there for many years, with the nursery investing heavily in both formal training and training linked to the particular interests and needs of the children currently attending.
That's important.
A good benefits package gets people through the door.
A team staying for years suggests there's something worth staying for.
Who do we need?
You'll need a full and relevant Level 3 qualification in Early Years or Childcare.
The employer is explicit that unrelated Health and Social Care or Teaching Assistant qualifications are not sufficient for this vacancy.
You'll also ideally bring:
Previous nursery or preschool experience Strong knowledge of child development Good understanding of the EYFS Confidence working with key children Strong safeguarding knowledge Positive relationships with parents and carers Patience and professionalism An inclusive approach to children with additional needs Genuine enthusiasm for play-based learning The package at a glance Approximately £26,437 to £28,600 full-time annual equivalent Permanent position Level 3 qualified role 25 days' holiday Bank holidays Birthday off Up to 12 face-to-face counselling sessions each year 24/7 mental health specialist support Childcare benefit Employee discount Company pension Cycle to work scheme Referral programme Company events Free parking Health and wellbeing programme Forest School provision Ongoing professional training Long-standing existing team
If you're looking for a Level 3 Nursery Practitioner job in Oundle, qualified Early Years Practitioner role in PE8 or nursery job near Peterborough and North Northamptonshire, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today through Tiny Tots Recruitment for a confidential conversation about the opportunity.