Nursery Assistant

ISC group; Eastbourne; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading nursery in Eastbourne is seeking a friendly and reliable Nursery Assistant to support the Room Leader in providing high standards of care and education. Responsibilities include interacting positively with children, ensuring their safety, and assisting with personal care as needed. Ideal candidates will have relevant qualifications and experience, particularly with children under 24 months. This is a full-time position offering a competitive hourly rate of £12.66 to £12.70, with additional benefits including paid leave and pension contributions.

Benefits

Free meals during working hours

Life Assurance

Free use of Charity facilities (pool and gym)

Free tickets to College productions

Qualifications

• Must have experience in a similar work environment.
• Must have experience with children aged under 24 months.
• Knowledge of SEND and experience with individual needs is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide high standards of care and education for children.
• Assist in planning and teaching within the Early Years framework.
• Maintain hygiene and safety in classroom environments.

Skills

Experience working with children

Knowledge of EYFS

Good communication skills

Creative skills

Education

GCSEs in English and Mathematics, Grade C or above

NVQ Level 3 Early Years Care and Education

NNEB or equivalent qualification

Job description

If you like spending your day finding the biggest puddles to jump in, searching for minibeasts, getting covered in glitter, making a muddy swamp for dinosaurs, or organising a teddy bears’ picnic in the woods then this is the role for you!

1. The Role

We have an exciting opportunity for a friendly and reliable Nursery Assistant. This position is located at St Andrew’s Prep School in Eastbourne. The role entails working with and supporting the Room Leader in ensuring that children receive the highest possible standards of care and education. To assist in classroom management and with the welfare of all the children in the Nursery to support their learning, and personal, social, and emotional development.

1. General Duties:

• Ensure that the children are safe, secure, and happy inside and outside, whilst they are at Nursery
• Assist in the planning and teaching of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework
• Organise time and effectively use creative and practical skillsusername now said we'll get with the record use resources
• Maintain and support in the production of a welcoming and enabling indoor and outdoor environment, providing a positive context for learning
• Positively interact and support children in their play, fostering their enthusiasm for learning by offering experiences and activities that are challenging but achievable
• To act as a Key Person to a group of children in your room and observe, assess and record these children’s development, including completion of online learning journeys or similar
• To act as a Key Buddy to other children in the event that their Key Person is absent
• To assist children with personal care, including changing nappies, assisting with toileting and other associated welfare duties.
• Operate the highest standards of hygiene and cleanliness in the bedding, nappy-changing area, and food preparation areas.
• To undertake and coordinate relevant 2-year progress checks for identified children.
• To assess children’s progress, maintain records, and provide written reports to parents/carers in accordance with school policies and schedules.
• To liaise closely with parents/carers, informing them about the Nursery and its curriculum, exchanging information about children’s progress and encouraging parents’ involvement
• To understand the cultural, religious, ethical, or personal preference issues that some parents may have in relation to their child
• To work as part of that team and contribute positively to the staff team. To be a role model of good practice to other members of staff
• To look upon the department as a ‘whole,’ and if your own classroom is quiet stringtr please rely you tounits greenwhere your help could be most utilized within the nursery, e.g., end-of-day jobs in the communal areas.
• To ensure records are properly maintained, e.g., daily attendance register, medication accident and incident book, risk assessment, daily checks, care plans for children, etc.
• Maintain and clean all resources used by the children
• Work as an enthusiastic member of the team in either Pre-Prep or the Nursery, as required
• Play a full part in the life of Nursery and the wider school
• Regularly planning and implementing activities that support developing skills within your cohort
• Implementing ‘in-the-moment’ planning in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage, including the Characteristics of Effective Learning
• Reflect on your practice, incorporating any new initiatives as appropriate and continually evaluating current Early Years thinking
• Deputising for the Room Leader when the Room Leader is absent for short periods
• Assisting with minor incidents or accidents and ensuring that records are updated
• Any other duties appropriate to the post as directed by your Line Manager.

Safeguarding Duties

All staff at St Andrew’s Prep and Nursery are required to take responsibility for providing an environment in which children are safe, feel safe and can learn, whether in or outside the setting.

Working closely with the children on a daily basis means that a child may make disclosures or staff may notice indicators of possible abuse or neglect. Staff have a responsibility to be familiar with the procedure of passing on concerns to the DSL or appropriate agency.

All staff must therefore:

• Be familiar with St Andrew’s Prep’s systems which support safeguarding, including the Child Protection and Staff Behaviour policies, and the role of the designated safeguarding lead (DSL)
• Have knowledge of the early help process and of referrals to social services.
• Identify children who may benefit from early help; know the signs of abuse and neglect and of what to do if a child makes a disclosure.
• Keep up to date with child protection training.
• Always act in the best interests of the child.
• Maintain good links and dialogue with the children’s families.

Desirable Criteria

Experience in similar work in a similar environment

Must have suitable experience in working with children aged under 24 months

GCSEs in English and Mathematics, Grade C or above, or equivalent

Good knowledge of EYFS and Early Years practice

SEND experience or experience with individual needs

Must have one of the following qualifications:

• NNEB
• NVQ Level 3 Early Years Care and Education
• NVQ Level 3 Early Years Educator
• NVQ Level 3 Children and Young People’s Workforce
• Diploma in Early Years
• BTech in Early Years
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Terms and Conditions

This is a full-time, all-year-round position, and ideally, candidates will hold a Level 3 childcare qualification.

Hours of Work

Full-time, all year round

Salary

From £12.66 to £12.70 hourly rate, dependent on qualifications

Pension

After three months’ service you may be automatically enrolled into the Eastbourne College WorkSave Pension Scheme (details are available from the HR Department), depending on your level of earnings, however you may also choose to opt into the pension scheme. The College will contribute 5% of your gross salary and you will be expected to contribute 3%. You may choose to opt out of the pension scheme.

Holiday

Six weeks paid annual leave plus Bank Holidays.

Other Benefits

• Free meals during working hours when the dining hall is open
• Life Assurance
• Free use of Charity facilities including pool and gym
• Free tickets to College productions

Application Process

To apply, please visit https://www.standrewsprep.co.uk/contact/employment-opportunities/ and click the Apply Now button to complete the mandatory application form. An up-to-date CV and covering letter may be uploaded with this online application form. Early applications are encouraged. Applications will be considered upon receipt, and we reservehumela withdraw this vacancy.

Closing Date

Friday 30 January 2026

For further information please contact Human Resources Department on [e-mail] or tel: [phone].

Safeguarding Statement

St Andrew’s Prep is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The appointment is subject to an enhanced DBS check, pre-employment medical questionnaire and positive references.

The post holder will be engaging in regulated activity.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Charity is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) to assess their suitability to work with children.

St Andrew’s Prep is committed to the provision of equal opportunities in employment and accordingly wishes to ensure that no job applicant is treated less favourably on unjustifiable grounds.