St Andrew's Prep - Nursery Assistant

East Sussex
St Andrew's Prep
Full-time | Part-time

Summary

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!

Detail

We have an exciting opportunity for a friendly and reliable Nursery Assistant. This position is located at St Andrew’s Prep School in Eastbourne.

St Andrew’s Prep Nursery provides a happy, safe, and stimulating environment for children between the ages of 9 months to 4 years and is set right at the heart the school. The Nursery has access to many of the Pre-Prep and Prep facilities, including a state-of-the-art sports hall, indoor swimming pool, Forest School site and extensive playing fields. As the school is located so close to the sea, the Nursery staff take the children to the seafront to explore the beach.

With a wealth of history, the school being founded in 1877, today at St Andrew’s Prep Nursery we offer children a wide variety of learning experiences and they quickly begin to develop spiritually, morally, culturally and socially whilst enhancing their creative talents. It is through living and working in a positive and creative atmosphere that children learn to feel secure in themselves and their surroundings.

We encourage children to be resourceful and resilient, as well as to be mindful, respectful and kind.

1. The Role

We are looking to recruit a Nursery assistant to work with and support 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.

2. General Duties:

Working within established guidelines to:

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 skills with a range of material 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, consider where your help could be most utilised 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
Reflecting on your practice, incorporating any new initiatives as appropriate and continually evaluating current Early Years thinking
Deputising for the Room Leader during short periods of absence
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.

3. 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:

o 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)

o Have knowledge of the early help process and of referrals to social services.

o 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.

o Keep up to date with child protection training.

o Always act in the best interests of the child.

o Maintain good links and dialogue with the children’s families.

Through strict adherence to the staff code of conduct and common-sense precautions staff will not only protect the children but also their own reputation and that of the St Andrew’s Prep and Nursery.

4. Desirable Criteria

Experience in similar work in a similar environment
Must have suitable experience in working with children aged under 24 months
Must have one of the following qualifications:

o NNEB

o NVQ Level 3 Early Years Care and Education

o NVQ Level 3 Early Years Educator

o NVQ Level 3 Children and Young People’s Workforce

o Diploma in Early Years

o BTech in Early Years

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

5. Terms and Conditions:

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

This position is being advertised as either:

Option 1: One Full-Time Role

Working hours: Two days: 07.45am – 6.15pm and Three days: 7.45am – 4.15pm

Option 2: Part-Time Job Share (Two Roles)

Role A: Two Days per Week

Working hours: One day: 7.45am – 4.15pm and One day: 7.45am – 6.15pm

Role B: Three Days per Week

Working hours: Two days: 7.45am – 4.15pm and One day: 7.45am – 6.15pm

Please indicate clearly in your application which option or role you are applying for (Full-Time, or if Part-Time (Job Share) then Role A, or Role B).

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
Annual pay review
Stunning location

6. 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 reserve the right to withdraw this vacancy.

Closing Date: Friday 19 September 2025

For further information please contact Human Resources Department on hr@eastbourne-college.co.uk or tel: 01323 452288.

7. 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 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.