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Early Years Practitioner (Maternity Cover) Vacancy
Are you passionate about Early Years Education and want to join our team at Ofsted-graded ‘Outstanding’ Preschool and Forest School?
Role, Salary and Benefits
We are looking for an Early Years practitioner to join us part time, Monday-Thursday 8am-3:30pm (term time only) from 1st September 2026.
We proudly pay our staff at the Real Living Wage Foundation Level or above and this role will be offered at £13.45 p/h
Rural setting and dedicated Forest School Site with free onsite parking regular travel links
Paid non-contact time
All mandatory training paid and professional development opportunities encouraged
5.6 weeks paid holiday per year, including Bank Holidays (to be taken during the school holidays)
Membership of the staff pension scheme (on completion of their 3-month probationary period). Which preschool will contribute 3% of monthly earnings.
Who we are looking for?
Our ethos at Freshford Preschool focuses on nurturing our children to explore, create and discover the world around them. We’re looking for a passionate Early Years Professional to join our dedicated team, to support the provision of this high standard of care and education for our preschoolers.
If you hold an Early Years VQ Level 3 qualification or higher we would love to hear from you. We are looking someone who has both knowledge and experience of teaching and implementing the EYFS and is enthusiastic about nurturing and growing the children in our care. We want someone to join our highly passionate and skilled team to help plan, teach, and the grow the children at our unique and very popular community-led Preschool and Forest School.
Please read our Early Years Practitioner Role Profile for further information and who we’re looking for.
To apply please download and complete our application form. For more information please contact us and we’d be delighted to discuss the role further.
Closing date for applications: Monday 18th May
Provisional Interview Date: Wednesday 4th June
Supply Staff Vacancies
Do you have experience of caring for, volunteering with or working with children aged 2-5 and a few free hours in your week?
We are looking for people like you to join our bank/supply staff and work with our team on an ad hoc basis to cover absences. If you have the passion and personality to support and enthuse young children and a love of the outdoors and nature, you could be our ideal candidate!
Relevant childcare or teaching qualifications are welcome but are not a requirement for this role.
Our Supply workers are paid the Real Living Wage as part of our commitment to paying our workers at the Real Living Wage Foundation Level.
Please contact the Preschool Business Manager if you are interested in a supply role at Freshford Preschool.
Recruitment process & safeguarding
Freshford Preschool is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment.
All prospective staff must follow our recruitment process, and provide evidence of qualifications, identity, right to work in the UK, suitability to work with children and satisfactory references. Shortlisted applicants will undergo in-session observation and interview before any offer of work is made, and will only start work once a DBS check has been completed. All staff are required to sign up to our code of conduct in our Employee Handbook.
Volunteer Vacancies
We rely on Forest School Volunteers to help us run our popular Forest School sessions.
We also welcome volunteers of any age to work with the children who can commit to a regular/weekly volunteering session. Volunteering with the preschool can provide valuable experience before starting a teaching or childcare qualification.
Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering or would like to know more.