Pre-School Practitioner
| Posting date: | 14 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £12.88 per hour |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 14 May 2026 |
| Location: | Oakley, Basingstoke |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | St Leonards' Pre-School |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | St Leonards Pre-School - Basingstoke, Oakley |
Summary
Job description: Pre-School Practitioner
St Leonard’s Pre-School, St Leonard’s Centre, Rectory Road, Oakley, RG23 7ED
Job title: Pre-School Practitioner
Responsible to: Manager
Hours:
Term time only - 18 hours per week initially working on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Fridays plus the opportunity to cover for staff absences.
Open Mon 9.00-12.00, Tues, Weds, Thurs & Fri 9.00-3.00
(staff hours 8.30-12.30 or 3.30 as appropriate)
Purpose of the job: To work as a key person and as part of the pre-school team under the direction of the manager. To provide safe, high quality education and care for young children which meets the individual needs of children attending the setting.
Safeguarding requirement: St Leonard’s Pre-School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. It is a requirement of all staff that they share this commitment and follow the prescribed policy and procedures to continuously promote a culture of safeguarding across the whole organisation
Main Duties
• To be involved with curriculum planning using the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) for guidance
• To help to set up equipment and activities for the daily programme and to help tidy away after the session as this is a ‘pack away setting’
• To act as a key person to a small group of children, liaising closely and building an effective relationship with parents/carers and ensuring each child's needs are recognised and met
• To work in partnership with parents/carers and other family members
• To advise the Manager of any concerns e.g. health and well-being of children, parents or the safety of equipment, preserving confidentiality as necessary
• To take action to support the setting to achieve and maintain a minimum good Ofsted rating at the next inspection
• To teach children, offering an appropriate level of support and stimulating play experiences
• To ensure that children are kept safe and that you understand when to follow child protection procedures
• To support meal and snack times within the setting
• To actively participate at team meetings, supervision meetings and appraisal meetings
• To attend training courses as required and to take responsibility for personal development
• To keep completely confidential any information regarding the children, their families or other staff, which is acquired as part of the job
• To be aware of and adhere to all the setting's operational policies and procedures, e.g. health and safety, fire precautions, dropping off and collection of children, food safety, cleanliness of the setting
• To ensure that adequate records are kept and update regularly
• To promote the setting to current parents and potential customers
This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties and the post holder will be required to undertake any other reasonable duties discussed and directed by the line manager. The post holder is also expected to be flexible and adaptable in their approach to fulfilling their duties
Person Specification
Essential criteria
• Willingness to learn and undertake further training
• Minimum of Level 2 early years education and childcare qualification or equivalent, studying for Level 3
• Previous experience of working with young children
• Sound knowledge of child development for children from birth to five years
• Knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
• Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection procedures
• Good communication skills
• An understanding of play-based approaches to children's learning and development
• A commitment to continuously promoting a culture of safeguarding
• A commitment to equal opportunities
• A commitment to working effectively with young children and families
• A friendly and flexible approach at work which facilitates the development of effective relationships
Desirable criteria
• Current Paediatric First Aid at Work qualification
• Level 3 early years education and childcare qualification
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and does require an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check. Applicants must be prepared to disclose any convictions they may have and any orders which have been made against them
St Leonard’s Pre-School, St Leonard’s Centre, Rectory Road, Oakley, RG23 7ED
Job title: Pre-School Practitioner
Responsible to: Manager
Hours:
Term time only - 18 hours per week initially working on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Fridays plus the opportunity to cover for staff absences.
Open Mon 9.00-12.00, Tues, Weds, Thurs & Fri 9.00-3.00
(staff hours 8.30-12.30 or 3.30 as appropriate)
Purpose of the job: To work as a key person and as part of the pre-school team under the direction of the manager. To provide safe, high quality education and care for young children which meets the individual needs of children attending the setting.
Safeguarding requirement: St Leonard’s Pre-School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. It is a requirement of all staff that they share this commitment and follow the prescribed policy and procedures to continuously promote a culture of safeguarding across the whole organisation
Main Duties
• To be involved with curriculum planning using the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) for guidance
• To help to set up equipment and activities for the daily programme and to help tidy away after the session as this is a ‘pack away setting’
• To act as a key person to a small group of children, liaising closely and building an effective relationship with parents/carers and ensuring each child's needs are recognised and met
• To work in partnership with parents/carers and other family members
• To advise the Manager of any concerns e.g. health and well-being of children, parents or the safety of equipment, preserving confidentiality as necessary
• To take action to support the setting to achieve and maintain a minimum good Ofsted rating at the next inspection
• To teach children, offering an appropriate level of support and stimulating play experiences
• To ensure that children are kept safe and that you understand when to follow child protection procedures
• To support meal and snack times within the setting
• To actively participate at team meetings, supervision meetings and appraisal meetings
• To attend training courses as required and to take responsibility for personal development
• To keep completely confidential any information regarding the children, their families or other staff, which is acquired as part of the job
• To be aware of and adhere to all the setting's operational policies and procedures, e.g. health and safety, fire precautions, dropping off and collection of children, food safety, cleanliness of the setting
• To ensure that adequate records are kept and update regularly
• To promote the setting to current parents and potential customers
This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties and the post holder will be required to undertake any other reasonable duties discussed and directed by the line manager. The post holder is also expected to be flexible and adaptable in their approach to fulfilling their duties
Person Specification
Essential criteria
• Willingness to learn and undertake further training
• Minimum of Level 2 early years education and childcare qualification or equivalent, studying for Level 3
• Previous experience of working with young children
• Sound knowledge of child development for children from birth to five years
• Knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
• Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection procedures
• Good communication skills
• An understanding of play-based approaches to children's learning and development
• A commitment to continuously promoting a culture of safeguarding
• A commitment to equal opportunities
• A commitment to working effectively with young children and families
• A friendly and flexible approach at work which facilitates the development of effective relationships
Desirable criteria
• Current Paediatric First Aid at Work qualification
• Level 3 early years education and childcare qualification
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and does require an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check. Applicants must be prepared to disclose any convictions they may have and any orders which have been made against them