St Andrew's Prep - Nursery Assistant

Location: East Sussex
School: St Andrew's Prep
Type: Full-time
Email Bluesky Facebook LinkedIn WhatsApp

Summary

Detail

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:

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.

2. 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.

3. 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:

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

4. 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

5. 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 30 January 2026

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

6. 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.