The children can leave the nursery garden and be exploring woodland within minutes.
That's probably the best way to explain what makes this opportunity different.
Tiny Tots Recruitment is looking for a Qualified Nursery Practitioner to join an established nursery in Galleywood, Chelmsford.
The setting has a large secure outdoor area of its own, but it also sits alongside Galleywood Common, which the team regularly uses for nature walks, den building, weather exploration and discovering the natural world.
So if you're the practitioner who is happiest when the children have muddy wellies and something they've just found to investigate, keep reading.
What might your day actually involve?
One morning you could be helping children build a den outside.
Later you might be sitting with a key child looking through their favourite story.
After lunch you could be supporting a child who's learning to manage friendships, helping another master a new physical skill or setting up an activity because of something the children discovered outside.
Behind all of that, you'll still be doing the important early years work:
Building secure relationships with your key children Observing children's development and recognising their next steps Creating activities around children's interests Supporting learning across the EYFS Encouraging communication, confidence and independence Keeping parents informed about their child's development Supporting children's individual routines Creating welcoming and stimulating learning spaces Maintaining strong safeguarding standards Working closely with colleagues across different age groups Helping children who may need additional support Contributing to staff discussions and continued improvement Babies to preschool, without leaving the setting
The nursery operates five separate rooms for children aged three months to five years, allowing environments and routines to change as children develop.
That gives practitioners the chance to broaden their experience over time rather than becoming permanently associated with one age group.
The team also has substantial experience supporting children with additional needs, with its SEND provision involving practitioners, the setting SENCO and outside professionals where appropriate.
The person we'd like to speak to
You don't need to be the loudest practitioner in the room.
You do need to be the kind who notices things.
The child who's quieter than usual.
The activity everybody has suddenly lost interest in.
The parent who needs a little more reassurance at handover.
The opportunity for learning that wasn't in today's plan.
Ideally you'll bring:
A full and relevant Early Years or Childcare qualification Level 3 would be particularly welcomed Previous nursery or early years experience Good knowledge of the EYFS Strong safeguarding awareness Confidence communicating with families A reliable and caring approach The ability to work positively within an established team Why work here?
This isn't a nursery that appeared during the recent childcare boom.
The setting was originally established in 1993, with the owners creating it around the idea of providing the kind of warm, safe and stimulating environment they would want for their own children.
Its most recent publicly available Ofsted setting information records 29 childcare staff, with 19 holding appropriate qualifications at Level 3 or above and two holding Qualified Teacher Status.
That's attractive for a practitioner because you're joining a team with a lot of existing early years knowledge around you.
A few practical points £27,000 to £29,500 per year Permanent, full-time opportunity Monday to Friday Nursery hours are 8am to 6pm Setting open throughout the year Closed on bank and public holidays Closed on weekdays between Christmas Eve and New Year Large secure outdoor play area Regular access to Galleywood Common Established and highly qualified nursery team Experience supporting children with SEND Approximately 10 minutes from Chelmsford and the A12
The employer is also actively recruiting and training new people into early years. A current apprenticeship vacancy offers full Level 3 training and confirms benefits including free on-site parking, sick pay and food provision, although I would confirm which of those apply to this qualified vacancy before presenting them as contractual benefits.
If you're looking for a Qualified Nursery Practitioner job in Chelmsford, a Level 3 Early Years job in Galleywood or a nursery role where outdoor learning genuinely happens, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today through Tiny Tots Recruitment for a confidential conversation about the opportunity.