The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Lead Early Years Practitioner

The closing date is 27 July 2025

Job summary

Free Spirits Nursery

Freeman Hospital

Free Spirits is a busy 88 place Nursery, graded Outstanding by Ofsted. The Nursery caters for children 6 months to Pre School, located within the grounds of The Freeman Hospital.

Are you ready to join an Outstanding Nursery setting?

A vacancy has arisen within the Nursery for a full time member of staff to join our 'Outstanding' team.

We are looking for a passionate and energetic member of staff with a sound knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage and child development. Could you be this person?

Are you enthusiastic about working with children and supporting their learning and development?

Are you able to use your own initiative, research and keep your knowledge up to date?

As part of a team would you be able to plan varied and stimulating activities which challenge children's learning and development?

We would welcome applications from candidates who would like an opportunity to join our 'Outstanding' team. A sound knowledge of The Early Years Foundation Stage and a positive approach to child care is essential. Experience working with babies would be desirable.

  • Interview Date: 6th August 2025
  • 37 hours 30 minutes/week
  • You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Main duties of the job

  • Be able to work as part of a team, use own initiative and be actively involved in Nursery routines, overseeing the room as a whole.
  • Implement Nursery and Trust Policies and Procedures, under the direction of the Nursery Managers.
  • To care and supervise children aged 0-5 years, under the general direction of the Senior Staff and Nursery Managers.
  • To plan and implement a structured, stimulating environment through play, following a curriculum to encourage all areas of development as required by OFSTED.
  • To supervise Early Years Practitioners and students helping them develop within their role.

About us

Our staff oversee around 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:

o Freeman Hospital

o Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)

o Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)

o Newcastle Dental Hospital

o Newcastle Fertility Centre

o Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria

o Northern Genetics Service

o Cramlington Manor Walks

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.

We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.

For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Details

Date posted

23 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

317-2025-30-23-DR

Job locations

Freeman Hospital

317 01 Freeman Hospital

NE7 7DN


Job description

Job responsibilities

A minimum of NVQ level 3 in childcare or an equivalent in childcare is essential. An NVQ level 4 in childcare or an equivalent in childcare would be desirable.

Please ensure that your qualification is in childcare before you apply.

Job Purpose

  • To care and supervise children aged 0-5 years, under the general direction of the Senior Staff and Nursery Managers
  • To plan and implement a structured, stimulating environment through play, following a curriculum to encourage all areas of development as required by OFSTED.
  • To supervise Early Years Practitioners and students helping them develop within their role.
  • To settle in new children, working closely with parents/carers and senior staff throughout the induction period
  • Ability to work alongside external professional bodies on a regular basis.

Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Job description

Job responsibilities

A minimum of NVQ level 3 in childcare or an equivalent in childcare is essential. An NVQ level 4 in childcare or an equivalent in childcare would be desirable.

Please ensure that your qualification is in childcare before you apply.

Job Purpose

  • To care and supervise children aged 0-5 years, under the general direction of the Senior Staff and Nursery Managers
  • To plan and implement a structured, stimulating environment through play, following a curriculum to encourage all areas of development as required by OFSTED.
  • To supervise Early Years Practitioners and students helping them develop within their role.
  • To settle in new children, working closely with parents/carers and senior staff throughout the induction period
  • Ability to work alongside external professional bodies on a regular basis.

Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential

  • NVQ Level 3 in Childcare or equivalent (in Childcare)

Desirable

  • NVQ Level 4
  • Paediatric First Aid

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Sound knowledge of child development
  • Demonstrate good knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
  • Welfare Requirements
  • Legislation/Policies & Procedures
  • Working as part of a team
  • Observation, Planning and Assessment
  • Child development

Desirable

  • Good knowledge of Nursery and Trust Policies and Procedures
  • Health and safety
  • Safeguarding
  • SEND
  • Experience in a day care setting

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Highly motivated, able to give direction enthusiastic with good interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to communicate with others
  • Ability to lead and give direction
  • Ability to work with others
  • Good interpersonal skills

Desirable

  • To be highly motivated and have a flexible working approach
  • Ability to work in collaboration with colleagues as well as an individual.
  • To provide and maintain high quality childcare within the Nursery
Person Specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential

  • NVQ Level 3 in Childcare or equivalent (in Childcare)

Desirable

  • NVQ Level 4
  • Paediatric First Aid

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Sound knowledge of child development
  • Demonstrate good knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
  • Welfare Requirements
  • Legislation/Policies & Procedures
  • Working as part of a team
  • Observation, Planning and Assessment
  • Child development

Desirable

  • Good knowledge of Nursery and Trust Policies and Procedures
  • Health and safety
  • Safeguarding
  • SEND
  • Experience in a day care setting

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Highly motivated, able to give direction enthusiastic with good interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to communicate with others
  • Ability to lead and give direction
  • Ability to work with others
  • Good interpersonal skills

Desirable

  • To be highly motivated and have a flexible working approach
  • Ability to work in collaboration with colleagues as well as an individual.
  • To provide and maintain high quality childcare within the Nursery

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Freeman Hospital

317 01 Freeman Hospital

NE7 7DN


Employer's website

https://careers.nuth.nhs.uk/why-us (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Freeman Hospital

317 01 Freeman Hospital

NE7 7DN


Employer's website

https://careers.nuth.nhs.uk/why-us (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Nursery Manager

Marika Knotts

m.knotts@nhs.net

01912231888

Details

Date posted

23 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

317-2025-30-23-DR

Job locations

Freeman Hospital

317 01 Freeman Hospital

NE7 7DN


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)