Nursery Practitioner

“Nurture curiosity. Support early development. Help every child thrive.”

Job Title:
Nursery Practitioner
Location:
Akeley Wood School, Akeley, Buckingham
Salary: £26,158.70 per annum
Hours: 40 hours per week (8am – 5pm or 9am – 6pm)
Contract:
Permanent, 52 weeks
Holiday Entitlement: 25 days + bank holidays

Akeley Wood Junior School is a warm, vibrant and nurturing community set in beautiful rural surroundings near Buckingham. Our Nursery provides a caring, stimulating and joyful environment where children aged 12 months to 4 years can explore, grow and develop with confidence.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, caring and dedicated Nursery Practitioner to join our Early Years team. This is a rewarding role for someone who is passionate about early childhood development and committed to providing exceptional care and learning experiences.

As a Nursery Practitioner, you will:

• Provide high‑quality physical, emotional, social and intellectual care for children in the Nursery.
• Support the planning and delivery of engaging, age‑appropriate activities that meet individual needs.
• Build warm, positive relationships with children and families, ensuring excellent communication.
• Act as a Key Worker, maintaining accurate development records and observations.
• Promote positive behaviour and model a calm, nurturing approach.
• Maintain a safe, clean and stimulating environment, ensuring high standards of care and hygiene.
• Support mealtimes, routines and daily transitions.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to create a welcoming, inclusive and supportive setting.

The Nursery operates 51 weeks of the year, with shifts of 8.00am–5.00pm or 9.00am–6.00pm on a weekly rota.

We are looking for someone who brings:

• Experience working in a nursery or early years environment.
• A warm, empathetic and energetic approach to working with young children.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with colleagues and parents.
• An understanding of safeguarding, child development and safe working practices.
• Flexibility, resilience and a genuine passion for helping children flourish.

Experience supporting children with SEND or additional training (e.g., First Aid) would be an advantage.

You will be part of a supportive, friendly and dedicated Early Years team who share a passion for nurturing young children and helping them grow into confident, curious learners.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff are expected to follow safeguarding policies and engage in relevant training. Any safeguarding concerns must be reported in line with school procedures. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

At Blenheim Schools, you will make a real difference every day, positively impacting the lives of pupils and vulnerable young people. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people.

All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful candidates to an enhanced DBS. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Blenheim Schools are committed to a fair, thorough, and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. While we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, we do not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other costs incurred as a result of delays or compliance processes.