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Job description

The Lead Practitioner will be working as a Key-person for the daily needs of children between the ages of birth and 8 years within the nursery setting.

The Leader should ensure that they have read all the settings policies and procedures and will adhere to these at all times, and hold good communication skills to ensure they are explained clearly to all staff, students and parents who they support within their leadership role.

The role of the Lead Practitioner will include offering support to ensure practitioners know and understand their job role and expectations of the setting. Effective leaders will create a positive well run environment where people are motivated to work well together and have a shared vision, offering quality Care for children and their families.

Leaders should recognise the distinct role of the mentor, rather than the ‘Authority figure’ aspect of their management, and encourage purposeful discussions within their team and have a willingness to consider perspectives, other than their own.

Purpose of post:

To work effectively as part of a management team. To support practitioners and students within their role, and provide continuity of care for all children and their families.

To share a common purpose and work together to achieve set outcomes.

Have a shared vision within a team, listen to thoughts and opinions. Build on trusting relationships and work in partnership with all practitioners within the setting.

To ensure a high standard of physical, emotional, social, and intellectual care for all children placed within the setting. To include the safeguarding and well-being of all children to ensure they all reach their potential.

Following legislation stated within ‘Every Child Matters’ and the United Convention on the Rights of a Child (UCRC) Practitioners should ensure that children are given the right to express their own views in all matters that affect them.

To offer support, kindness and consideration to other practitioners working within the setting and always be ready to offer assistance to a fellow practitioner.

Ensure that rotas and routines are followed and be able to make informed changes if necessary in the best interest of the children.

Management Duties involve:

• Working flexible hours around the needs of the children and staff within the team
• Being a key holder and sharing responsibility within the management team to open up and lock up the building effectively.
• The Leader will deputise the role of the Manager and Assistant Manager to be the person in charge in their absence.
• Have some leadership experience, and to be willing to participate in management and leadership training.
• Support the team to ensure planning and assessment is effective and meets the needs of the families. This will also involve supporting staff and families to access the online Iconnect system.
• To bring together observations and interactions as evidence to support an effective development that supports learning for children, and provides better outcomes for families.
• Draw on peer observations to guide staff to relevant CPD opportunities.
• Plan and hold relevant room meetings to support the needs of the team.
• Ensure Policies and Procedures reflect practice at all times. (Update if necessary)
• Attend termly Management meetings and share team progress to ascertain any further support they may require.
• Check attendance of all children in the room. Any absence must be reported to the office or as a leader contact the parent directly and record the conversation.
• Be involved in termly fire drills. Room or full fire drills.
• Support all transitions effectively. Liaise with other key people to forward plan transitions and support as much as possible.
• Liaise effectively with outside agencies, and discuss any concerns around wellbeing with the settings SENCO, Child protection officer or manager to ensure all problems are dealt with ASAP.
• Participate within general office duties to include taking payment, bookings, show rounds and answering the phone.
• Work in partnership with other leaders to mentor and support staff and students.
• Attend outside agency meetings such as SEN or child protection.
• At times contributing to full staff meetings.
• All Early Years Lead Practitioner’s should participate in occasional peer observations within their team and be prepared to offer help and support to colleagues if necessary on reflection from the outcomes of these observations.
• Be prepared to meet and greet special visitors such as Local Authority officers or OFSTED Inspectors.
• Discuss any issues or discrepancies with parents or representatives of outside agencies.
• Build positive relationships with children and their families.
• Promote the safety and well-being of all children within the setting to understand and highlight to others that as adult we are all responsible to ensure that children are safeguarded at all times.
• Participate within their team to ensure the safety and cleanliness of the setting and all its provisions.
• Ensure positive team work within their area and offer help and support to all practitioners through motivation praise and encouragement.
• To oversee that all records are kept up to date including Learning Journeys, accident, incident, medication, and cleaning check lists.
• To follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to ensure that every child has the best possible start in life and to offer support to ensure they fulfil their physical, emotional and intellectual potential.
• To care and supervise all children with regard to their individual needs and to ensure that children are safeguarded at all times (Please refer to safeguarding policies).
• Ensure ratios are correct at all times.
• To ensure planning and assessment provides effective learning opportunities for all children in your care. To ensure this reflects individual interests and respects the child’s continuingly changing needs, and requirements. It is your role as a leader to ensure practitioners working as part of your team are confident to do this also.
• To be aware of the uniqueness of each child and ensure that every child is included and that learning development begins and ends with the child.
• Prepare ‘Learning Journeys’ for each child based on information brought into the setting from home. The Learning Journeys will need continuous updating to include on-going observations of the child and reviews working in partnership with Parent/Carers. This is to ensure that families are listened to appropriately and will encourage participation within their child’s learning and development.
• Ensure all practitioners within your team are effectively observing children, using the communication board, look listen note, etc. and using this information to inform planning and next steps for learning and development which is recorded within individual learning journeys.
• Practitioners must be positive role models at all times showing care and consideration to others, showing good manners and respect for the environment and the provisions within it. e.g. looking after toys and keeping the area clean and tidy.
• Promote the importance of cleanliness and personal hygiene to the children e.g. washing hands, brushing teeth. Also, offer support and assistance with children’s personal hygiene during and after toileting and potty training.
• To understand the importance of play within children’s learning and development within their early years, and to refer to the importance of play policies.
• To become familiar with the age appropriate routines within the area of work, and to realise the importance of routines for young children, and how this can enhance a sense of belonging within the setting for the individual child. Knowing what comes next for a child can make them feel safe and secure and can also make transitions more comfortable.
• Have an empathetic awareness and show respect and consideration for all people, including Children, Families, Colleagues, Students, and representatives of Outside Agencies.
• To work alongside all parents/carers to achieve full integration within the nursery and the community, to liaise with and support parents/carers and other family members alike.
• Be flexible within working practices, be adaptable to change within the setting and be prepared to work where needed.
• Be actively involved in outdoor play, and understand the importance of outdoor play and physical activity, and how all children need equal opportunity of outdoor experiences if they wish.
• Undertake certain domestic jobs within the nursery, for example, preparation of snack, meals and cleansing of equipment (any equipment cleaned or thrown away must be recorded).
• Recording accidents/incidents and medication in the format provided by the setting, and to follow the policies and procedures around safeguarding at all times (refer to policies and procedures in the operational plan).
• All equipment and provisions must be risk assessed before being introduced to the children
• Ensure all children are collected by people named on their registration form and known to the setting (Refer to door security policy).
• Are fully aware of the lock-down procedure (Written within the building and security policy) and know the procedures well and ensure all staff are confident with this also.
• Respect the confidentiality of information received.
• All members of the management team must ensure all staff and students read and understand policies and procedures.
• Ensure Children have appropriate attention and stimulation at all times and are put before tasks such as paper work, cleaning and tidying within these.
• Ensure ratios are correct at all times and only leave staff members alone for minimum time periods i.e. toilet breaks.
• Work within their delegated team to ensure rooms are kept clean and tidy between 7.30am and 6.00pm, wall displays changed etc.
• Wear Little Tots uniform (Blue Tunic with logo, or alternatively Blue Polo shirt with logo and black trousers) with suitable black footwear at all times.
• Be available for any other duties appropriate to their post as directed by the Manager or Deputy Manager and work within the management team to ensure that quality of care remains consistent.
• Have key holder responsibility to include opening up and closing up, setting alarm, and ensuring the building is safe.

Leaders will assist the Deputy Manager with the following duties :

• To ensure ratios are correct at all times you must do weekly checks of the staff hours before they are given out.
• Complete termly audits for Medication, Accident & Incident forms.
• Ensure funding registers are completed correctly and children’s absences are recorded in line with LA expectations.
• To assist and support the two-year coordinator to oversee that all 2 year olds receive an integrated check with their key person. Transition is also an integral part of this role.
• To assist the updating of the % spreadsheets displayed in the office termly.

Responsible to:

Owners, Manager, and Assistant Manager.

Qualities and experience required:

• Be able to work and lead effectively within a well-established team.
• To be available to attend meetings/training outside of working hours to support the needs of the setting
• Minimum level 3 in childcare qualifications, with experience of leading an Early Years team. (If not outside leadership training will be sought)
• You will need to be flexible regarding hours of work and motivated to move forward.
• Willingness to undertake relevant additional training is necessary.

Applications are welcomed irrespective of sex, race, creed, disability, or age.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: From £10.70 per hour

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

School type:

• Day nursery

Work Location: In person