Job summary
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS) is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.
Please see below for detailed job description of the role.
This vacancy does not meet the Home Office threshold for sponsorship; therefore we are unable to accept applications from candidates who do not have the right to work in the UK.
Main duties of the job
Taplins Nursery is proud to offer opportunities for Level 3 Qualified Early Years Practitioners to join our exceptional team. If you're passionate about giving children the best start in life and want to work in a nurturing environment where you are genuinely valued, we'd love to hear from you.
Our nurseries are part of University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS), one of England's leading NHS Trusts, offering excellent benefits, strong job security, and outstanding development opportunities.
We are recruiting full-time and part-time practitioners across permanent roles and a 12-month maternity cover. Please indicate your preferred working hours in your application, as we offer genuine flexibility wherever possible.
You will be based at either Taplins Day Nursery (Southampton General Hospital) or Taplins Nursery (Western Community Hospital). Both settings are modern, purpose-built, and dedicated to supporting NHS families.
As part of our team, you'll enjoy a supportive working culture, generous NHS holiday allowance, excellent training opportunities, and access to staff discounts and wellbeing resources.
Our nurseries are open Monday-Friday, 7:00am-6:30pm, and closed on bank holidays. Full-time roles typically offer a 4-day working week, supporting a positive work-life balance.
If you meet the essential criteria in the person specification, we will contact you to discuss your application and current vacancies further.
About us
University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.
Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.
We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalizing your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.
At UHS we're committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.
At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We're committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.
Job description
Job responsibilities
At Taplins, we care for children aged 3 months to 5 years in bright, welcoming spaces including:
- Spacious outdoor play areas
- Craft and messyplay rooms
- Sensory and cosy sleep spaces
- Highquality resources and equipment
As an Early Years Practitioner, your responsibilities will include:
- Creating a safe, secure and stimulating environment
- Planning and delivering engaging EYFSbased activities
- Acting as a key person and building strong relationships with children and families
- Maintaining developmental records and online journals (Tapestry)
- Supporting children with additional needs in partnership with our SENDCo
- Ensuring high standards of cleanliness, hygiene and safety
- Assisting with meal preparation and supervision
- Working collaboratively as part of a positive and supportive team
Why work for Taplins?
- Generous NHS holiday allowance 35 days (including bank holidays), increasing with length of service
- NHS Pension Scheme one of the highestvalue and most secure pension schemes in the UK
- Excellent job security no weekends, no bank holidays, and no unexpected shift changes
- Stable contracted hours consistent, reliable working patterns
- Flexible working opportunities - 4day week fulltime optionsupporting a healthier worklife balance
- Outstanding training and development
- Supportive, experienced management team dedicated to staff wellbeing, development, and creating a positive working culture
- Modern, purposebuilt nursery environments bright, spacious settings designed to support highquality childcare
- Blue Light Card eligibility and staff discounts access to a wide range of savings and offers
Safeguarding
Taplins Nurseries and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
All roles are subject to appropriate pre-employment checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and verification of qualifications and references.
The successful candidate will have specific safeguarding responsibilities, as outlined in the job description and person specification.
We look forward to receiving your application. If you meet the essential criteria included in the person specification document, a member of our team will be in touch to find out more and discuss available opportunities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
At Taplins, we care for children aged 3 months to 5 years in bright, welcoming spaces including:
- Spacious outdoor play areas
- Craft and messyplay rooms
- Sensory and cosy sleep spaces
- Highquality resources and equipment
As an Early Years Practitioner, your responsibilities will include:
- Creating a safe, secure and stimulating environment
- Planning and delivering engaging EYFSbased activities
- Acting as a key person and building strong relationships with children and families
- Maintaining developmental records and online journals (Tapestry)
- Supporting children with additional needs in partnership with our SENDCo
- Ensuring high standards of cleanliness, hygiene and safety
- Assisting with meal preparation and supervision
- Working collaboratively as part of a positive and supportive team
Why work for Taplins?
- Generous NHS holiday allowance 35 days (including bank holidays), increasing with length of service
- NHS Pension Scheme one of the highestvalue and most secure pension schemes in the UK
- Excellent job security no weekends, no bank holidays, and no unexpected shift changes
- Stable contracted hours consistent, reliable working patterns
- Flexible working opportunities - 4day week fulltime optionsupporting a healthier worklife balance
- Outstanding training and development
- Supportive, experienced management team dedicated to staff wellbeing, development, and creating a positive working culture
- Modern, purposebuilt nursery environments bright, spacious settings designed to support highquality childcare
- Blue Light Card eligibility and staff discounts access to a wide range of savings and offers
Safeguarding
Taplins Nurseries and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
All roles are subject to appropriate pre-employment checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and verification of qualifications and references.
The successful candidate will have specific safeguarding responsibilities, as outlined in the job description and person specification.
We look forward to receiving your application. If you meet the essential criteria included in the person specification document, a member of our team will be in touch to find out more and discuss available opportunities.
Person Specification
Trust Values
Essential
- Patient First
- Always Improving
- Working Together
Qualifications, knowledge and experience
Essential
- Good standard of secondary education with literacy and numeracy skills demonstrable to GCSE pass level or equivalent standard
- Willingness and ability to undertake Food Safety training
- Recent previous experiences of working with 3 months - 5-year-olds within a childcare setting
- To hold a full and relevant Level 3 Early Years Qualification (in accordance with https://www.gov.uk/guidance/early-years-qualifications-finder ) or above. If level 3 qualified post June 2016, to also hold a full paediatric first aid (PFA) or an emergency PFA certificate
Desirable
- Current paediatric and/or first aid at work certificate if qualified pre- June 2016, or if candidate holds a qualification higher than level 3
- Current food hygiene certificate
Person Specification
Trust Values
Essential
- Patient First
- Always Improving
- Working Together
Qualifications, knowledge and experience
Essential
- Good standard of secondary education with literacy and numeracy skills demonstrable to GCSE pass level or equivalent standard
- Willingness and ability to undertake Food Safety training
- Recent previous experiences of working with 3 months - 5-year-olds within a childcare setting
- To hold a full and relevant Level 3 Early Years Qualification (in accordance with https://www.gov.uk/guidance/early-years-qualifications-finder ) or above. If level 3 qualified post June 2016, to also hold a full paediatric first aid (PFA) or an emergency PFA certificate
Desirable
- Current paediatric and/or first aid at work certificate if qualified pre- June 2016, or if candidate holds a qualification higher than level 3
- Current food hygiene certificate
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
