Nursery Teaching Assistant

Are you looking for your next challenge? Are you an enthusiastic, nurturing and imaginative practitioner who is passionate about Early Years Education? Do you believe that childhood should be filled with curiosity, discovery and wonder, and that every child deserves an exceptional start to their educational journey? Then join us at Someries Infant School and Early Childhood Education Centre, where we believe anything is possible! The Governing Board of Someries Infant School and Early Childhood Education Centre seeks to appoint a caring, enthusiastic and dedicated Teaching Assistant to join our Nursery team , working daily from 8.45 a.m. to 1 p.m. We are looking for a warm, creative and reflective practitioner who understands the extraordinary importance of early childhood and is passionate about helping young children flourish. The successful candidate will recognise that the earliest experiences of education shape children's confidence, curiosity, relationships and attitudes towards learning, and will be committed to making these experiences exceptional. We welcome applications from practitioners with experience of working with children within the Early Years Foundation Stage. A secure understanding of early childhood development, the importance of purposeful play and the ability to establish positive, nurturing relationships with young children are particularly important for this role. The successful candidate will demonstrate high expectations, a flexible and positive approach, and a genuine commitment to providing rich, meaningful and inspiring learning experiences. They will understand that every child develops at their own pace and will be passionate about nurturing children's communication and language, personal and social development, emotional wellbeing, physical development and growing independence. At Someries Infant School and Early Childhood Education Centre, we believe that every child is capable of achieving remarkable things when provided with the right environment, relationships and opportunities. Our vision is to empower children to become confident, creative and curious learners through an inspiring, inclusive and imaginative education that champions equity, nurtures values, celebrates individuality and prepares every child to thrive in a changing world. We believe that learning in Nursery should be playful, purposeful and irresistible . Our youngest children deserve a rich and stimulating environment where they have the time and space to investigate, imagine, experiment, create and make sense of the world around them. We recognise that young children learn through meaningful interactions, carefully planned experiences and opportunities to explore independently. Our approach balances sensitive adult guidance with child-initiated learning, enabling children to follow their interests while progressively developing the essential knowledge, skills and understanding that provide the foundations for future success. Through our Being Me approach, we recognise that every child's developmental journey is unique. We value progress in all its forms, using thoughtful observations and our understanding of individual children to plan experiences that build upon what they already know, understand and can do. We want our Nursery to be a place where children feel safe, happy, valued and inspired; where their questions are welcomed, their individuality is celebrated and their achievements, however small, are recognised as important steps in their learning journey. Our team works collaboratively to continually reflect upon and enhance the quality of the experiences we provide. We are ambitious for every child and believe that exceptional Early Years Education is built upon knowledgeable, reflective practitioners who understand the power of relationships, environments and purposeful interactions. We are a values-based school, and the successful candidate will have the interpersonal skills to model our school's core values within a framework in which everyone is ambitious, innovative and inclusive . Our school Someries Infant School and Early Childhood Education Centre provides an innovative education for children aged 2 to 7 in the east of Luton, close to the Hertfordshire border. We are an oversubscribed and successful two-form entry infant school, admitting 60 children annually, with an Early Years provision that places great importance on providing every child with an exceptional start to their education. We are extremely well-resourced and place children at the heart of everything we do. Our Nursery provides a nurturing, stimulating and imaginative learning environment where children are encouraged to explore, investigate, collaborate and discover through meaningful interactions and carefully planned experiences. Our approach to Early Years Education recognises that children are naturally curious, capable and eager to make sense of the world around them. We provide the time, space and encouragement they need to develop their interests, express their ideas, build relationships and become increasingly confident and independent learners. Our curriculum is thoughtfully structured and sequential, ensuring that children develop essential knowledge and skills progressively throughout their educational journey. Across our Early Childhood Education Centre, our Being Me approach informs the planning of learning opportunities, combining carefully considered adult-led experiences with stimulating environments that encourage independent exploration. We recognise that the quality of adult interactions is fundamental to children's learning. Through sensitive questioning, modelling, encouragement and purposeful conversation, our practitioners extend children's thinking, enrich their language and support them in making meaningful connections between their experiences. We value progress in all its forms and understand that every learner's journey is personal. Our approach celebrates individuality, supports emotional wellbeing and nurtures the confidence, resilience and curiosity that children need to embrace new experiences and challenges. We only recruit people who are passionate about making a difference to children's lives; people who are highly reflective, committed to their own professional development and continually challenge themselves to improve. Our working relationships are warm, supportive and collaborative, with a relaxed and informal atmosphere built on mutual respect and shared ambition. People love working here; we are welcoming, positive, caring and forward-looking. We have very high expectations of both children and adults. As a Nursery Teaching Assistant at our school, you will:

• Work in an extremely well-resourced, nurturing and inspiring Nursery environment where children are at the heart of everything we do.
• Make a meaningful difference to the lives of our youngest children and their families, helping to establish strong foundations for future learning and development.
• Create warm, positive and trusting relationships with children, ensuring they feel safe, valued, understood and confident to explore their environment.
• Support the delivery of a rich, ambitious and thoughtfully structured Early Years curriculum that builds upon children's interests, experiences and developmental starting points.
• Help create exciting, playful and irresistible learning opportunities that inspire curiosity, imagination, creativity and a genuine love of learning.
• Recognise the importance of purposeful play, supporting children to investigate, experiment, solve problems, collaborate and make discoveries through first-hand experiences.
• Promote children's communication and language development through high-quality interactions, meaningful conversations, storytelling, songs and imaginative play.
• Support children's personal, social and emotional development, helping them build positive relationships, develop confidence, understand their feelings and become increasingly independent.
• Encourage children to develop resilience, perseverance and a willingness to embrace new experiences and challenges.
• Contribute to the creation and continuous development of stimulating, carefully considered learning environments that encourage independence, exploration and sustained engagement.
• Observe children's learning and development, contributing to our Being Me approach by recognising achievements, identifying emerging interests and helping practitioners plan appropriate next steps.
• Celebrate every child's individuality, recognising that progress takes many forms and that every achievement deserves to be valued.
• Work collaboratively with teachers and Early Years practitioners to ensure that learning experiences are inclusive, purposeful and responsive to children's individual needs.
• Develop positive partnerships with families, recognising the importance of working together to support children's wellbeing, development and learning.
• Work alongside a friendly, highly inspiring team of Early Years practitioners who are supportive, caring and have a good sense of humour!
• Receive an excellent professional development and training package, including both internal and external support.
• Be part of an ambitious, innovative and inclusive school community that continually strives to provide the very best educational experiences for every child. We can offer you:

• An excellent professional development programme delivered by highly experienced colleagues, with opportunities to deepen your understanding of early childhood development and high-quality Early Years practice.
• Wonderful, enthusiastic and curious children who bring imagination, excitement and a sense of discovery to every day.
• The opportunity to work in a highly resourced and inspiring Nursery environment that places great importance on the quality of children's earliest educational experiences.
• High adult-to-child ratios, enabling meaningful interactions and personalised support for every child.
• A supportive and collaborative team of colleagues who are passionate about Early Years Education and committed to continually improving their practice.
• Fantastic opportunities for career development and progression.
• A school that genuinely invests in its people and values their contributions.
• Complimentary refreshments from our Staff Lounge.
• Subsidised lunchtime meals provided by our onsite catering team.
• A Health Cash Plan, including subsidised dental and optical care. Applications from experienced colleagues and those working towards an accredited Teaching Assistant qualification are equally and warmly welcomed.

We are particularly interested in hearing from individuals who have a genuine passion for Early Years Education and understand the importance of providing children with rich, purposeful and inspiring experiences during these formative years. Above all, we are looking for someone who sees the extraordinary potential in every child, understands the importance of the smallest interactions and believes that exceptional Early Years Education can make a lifelong difference. We want someone who will delight in children's discoveries, celebrate their achievements, encourage their questions and help create an environment where curiosity, imagination and a love of learning can flourish. Equality, diversity and inclusion Someries Infant School and Early Childhood Education Centre believes that its workforce should reflect its community and that all groups within the community should have equal access to the school's employment opportunities. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of race, disability, religion, beliefs, sexual orientation or age. We are also committed to improving flexible working opportunities, so we encourage applicants who wish to work flexibly to apply, including those seeking job shares.

Safeguarding

Someries Infant School and Early Childhood Education Centre is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Come and visit us! Visits to the school are strongly encouraged . We would love to welcome you into our Nursery so that you can experience our inspiring learning environment, meet our wonderful children and see our dedicated team in action. You will have the opportunity to discover how our commitment to purposeful play, nurturing relationships and high-quality Early Years Education shapes the experiences we provide for our youngest learners. Please contact us to arrange a convenient time to visit. In the meantime, for further information about our wonderful school, please visit www.someriesinfants.co.uk. Applicants for this public-facing post must demonstrate the ability to converse and provide effective help or advice in fluent spoken English. Working hours

• 8.45 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. If you are a dedicated, imaginative and nurturing practitioner who believes that the earliest years of a child's education should be filled with wonder, discovery and exceptional opportunities to learn, we would love to hear from you.

Come and be part of something special at Someries Infant School and Early Childhood Education Centre, where we nurture curiosity, celebrate individuality, inspire a lifelong love of learning and believe anything is possible! Please note that CVs will not be accepted. All applications must be completed and submitted via MyNewTerm. Someries Infant School and Early Childhood Education Centre is not engaging with recruitment agencies in connection with this appointment and will not respond to unsolicited approaches, enquiries or candidate submissions from recruitment agencies. Important information about shortlisting Applicants must ensure that their application explicitly addresses each and every criterion outlined in the attached Person Specification, providing clear, relevant evidence and examples demonstrating how they meet the requirements. Only applications that fully address all criteria will be considered for shortlisting. Applications that fail to address any criterion will be unsuccessful at the application stage and will not progress further in the recruitment process. Candidates whose applications do not fulfil these requirements will be notified of their unsuccessful application before the published shortlisting date. Candidates are strongly encouraged to review the Person Specification carefully before submitting their application, as applications will be assessed strictly against the published criteria. The school reserves the right to close this vacancy and withdraw the advertisement before the published closing date should a suitable candidate be identified and appointed. Early applications are therefore strongly encouraged.