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Location:Worcester
Hours: 27.5 a week Monday to Friday 39 weeks plus 5 days
Salary: 13,992 to £15,007
We are currently seeking an Early Years practitioner to join a specialist provision in Worcester.
The provision provides a nurturing, engaging environment that offers a range of positive learning opportunities for all children with special needs up to the age of 5. Each child is encouraged to explore, express and learn their own interests through play.
Under direction and guidance from the Centre Manager/Deputy Centre Manager, the post holder will work as a member of a team to ensure that the planning, day to day running and development at the centre is carried out in accordance with the vision and aims of the charity.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
- Attending to day-to-day care of the playrooms, keeping them attractive, safe and clean.
- Setting up and planning activities within the playrooms to suit the needs of children.
- Developing strong relationships with families and professionals linked to your Key Children.
- Being a dedicated Key Person to a group of children and being responsible for observing, assessing and planning to support their development.
- Observe the child during sessions and identify their interests.
- Record observations using various methods and share these observations with other members of staff and parents/carers.
- Interact with the child using 'shared play' or 'reflective' approaches.
- Use particular teaching /learning strategies with a child when appropriate.
- Be aware of their emotional needs and how to support these.
- Support parents/carers to understand and provide for the play needs of their child.
The ideal candidate:
- Approachable and friendly to parents, able to listen to them and accept their feeling, which may include distress, and must be non-judgemental.
- Able to make all parents feel valued members of the group and to use appropriate opportunities to promote parents' confidence and to involve them in the session.
- Supportive of parents' concerns.
- Prepared to attend staff meetings, and generally work closely with the team.
- Qualified at NVQ Level 3 in Childrens Care, Learning and Development or equivalent or working towards attaining Level 3 at minimum.
- The skills to organise and co-ordinate relevant play activities for under-fives, with regard for each child's stage of development.
- The ability to communicate with children with varying degrees of ability, coming from different class and cultural backgrounds, and encourage their development through participation and activities.
- Knowledge of Health & Safety regulations with reference to children's play and facilities
- Knowledge of play materials and techniques which encourage respect for differences in gender, race and ability, and understanding of how these may be used.
- Some specialist knowledge gained on courses (which should be shared with other members of staff).
Benefits:
- Fully paid DBS and yearly update service renewal
- Employee Assistance Programme - wellbeing resource and support!
- Company Team Day every year including staff awards
- Additional leave entitlement awarded for 5 and 10 years service
- 39 week contract 38 weeks in centre and 5 inset days
- Additional festive shopping day per year
- Sick pay for the first 3 days of absence
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