Level 3 Early Years Practitioner (Wicken)

Job Description

Join a nurturing environment where every moment matters.

Job Title: Level 3 Early Years Practitioner
Location: Akeley Wood Nursery and Junior School, Akeley, Buckingham
Salary: Up to £29,500 per annum
Hours: 40 hours per week | Monday to Friday | 8am-5pm or 9am-6pm
Contract: Permanent | 52 weeks

About Akeley Wood Junior School

Akeley Wood, part of Blenheim, is a thriving co-educational independent school set across two beautiful campuses in the Buckinghamshire countryside. We educate pupils from 12 months to 18 years, offering a warm, inclusive and ambitious environment where every child is known and supported to achieve their best.

We provide inspiring spaces for learning, from woodland outdoor areas to specialist classrooms, creative arts studios and modern sports facilities. We are proud of our strong pastoral culture, our focus on individual strengths and our commitment to helping pupils grow into confident, curious and compassionate young people.

Joining Akeley Wood School means becoming a part of a dedicated collaborative team who believe in high expectations, meaningful relationships and the transformative power of education.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, caring and dedicated Nursery Practitioner to join our Early Years team. We are also open to applications from apprentices, making this a fantastic opportunity for anyone looking to begin, or further develop, a rewarding career in early childhood education.

The Role

As a Nursery Practitioner, you will:

• Provide high‑quality physical, emotional, social and intellectual care for children in our Nursery.
• Support the planning and delivery of creative, age‑appropriate activities tailored to individual needs.
• Build warm, trusting relationships with children and families, ensuring clear and positive communication.
• Act as a Key Worker, observing and documenting each child's progress with care and accuracy.
• Model a calm, nurturing approach and promote positive behaviour.
• Maintain a safe, clean and stimulating environment with consistently high standards of care and hygiene.
• Support daily routines including mealtimes, rest, play and transitions.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure a welcoming, inclusive and supportive setting.

Our Nursery operates for 51 weeks of the year, with shift patterns of 8.00am-5.00pm or 9.00am-6.00pm on a weekly rota.

About You

We're looking for someone who brings:

• A Level 3 childcare qualification (or above) (essential)
• Experience working in a nursery or Early Years setting.
• 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 qualifications such as First Aid would be an advantage.

Why Join Akeley Wood Junior School?

You'll join a dedicated, friendly and supportive Early Years team who share a deep commitment to nurturing young children and helping them grow into confident, curious learners.

You will enjoy:

• A caring, highly supportive working environment
• A beautiful, nature-rich setting to enhance learning
• Opportunities for professional development and career progression
• A team culture built on collaboration, creativity and kindness

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.