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Outdoor Early Years Practitioner

Job Title: Outdoor Early Years Practitioner
Reports To: Deputy Manager / Manager
Location: Churchwood Kindergarten, Churchwood Valley Holiday Park, Wembury, PL9 0DZ
Contract type: Temporary (with potential to become permanent).
Salary: £12.21 per hour (39 weeks per year, plus 5.6 weeks holiday pay).
Hours: Term time only (39 weeks per year). Minimum of 2 days a week, Mondays and Fridays, 8am until 5pm. For the right candidate, there is the potential for additional hours across the week at our Forest School site.

About Us

Churchwood Kindergarten is a fully outdoor setting located in the beautiful woodlands of Churchwood Valley, near Wembury. Since opening in 2019, we have been passionate about offering child-led, nature-based learning experiences that nurture creativity, confidence and a lifelong love of the outdoors. Our small, dedicated team works closely together to create a warm, inclusive and adventurous environment where children can thrive.

Role Description

We are looking for an enthusiastic and inspiring Outdoor Early Years Practitioner to join our woodland-based Kindergarten. This is a unique opportunity to work in a fully outdoor setting where children are encouraged to explore, discover and thrive in nature.

The role will involve working with children aged 2½ to 5 years old. As part of our team, you will help provide a nurturing, stimulating and safe outdoor learning environment that encourages each child’s development and enables them to reach their full potential. You will support children’s holistic development through play-based, child-led learning – whatever the weather!

As a practitioner, you will bring warmth, empathy, a zest for life and a genuine love of the outdoors to your role. With a playful and imaginative approach, you’ll support children’s natural curiosity and creativity, using their interests to spark meaningful learning experiences. You’ll be proactive and able to multi-task, creating an environment where children feel safe to explore, take risks and grow into confident, resilient learners.

We work outdoors all year round, whatever the weather, so you must be physically fit enough to carry out a demanding job in sometimes challenging conditions! Our Kindergarten site is not accessible by public transport, so your own transport is essential.

Any appointments will be offered for an initial probationary period of one school term.

Key Responsibilities

Promote a happy, caring and welcoming atmosphere for children, parents, staff, volunteers and visitors.
Provide a safe, caring and stimulating learning environment for all children.
Assist with the planning and delivery of learning experiences that suit the children’s needs and stages of development.
Promote children’s health, well-being, confidence and independence through nature-based play and exploration.
Be a key person to a number of children by providing a secure attachment figure to help children settle, meeting their care needs, planning for their learning needs and interests, and monitoring and supporting their development.
Keep informative, accurate and up-to-date records and assessments of key children.
Liaise closely with parents and carers, informing them about the Kindergarten and its curriculum, exchanging information about children’s progress, and encouraging parental involvement.
Ensure the Kindergarten meets Ofsted requirements at all times.
Understand and work to Kindergarten policies and procedures, including how to deal with safeguarding issues appropriately and how to respond to accidents, incidents, complaints and emergencies.
Ensure Kindergarten records are properly maintained, e.g. daily attendance register, intimate care records, accident/incident records, daily checklists and risk assessments.
Be aware of children’s special educational needs and disabilities, and work with other staff and external agencies to support these children effectively.
Liaise and work in partnership with other agencies, both statutory and voluntary, for the benefit of children and families.
Promote positive values, attitudes and behaviours by consistently role modelling respectful and supportive interactions with both children and colleagues.
Be an enthusiastic, reliable and proactive member of the team.
Contribute to the ongoing growth and development of the business, including the development of the Kindergarten site and the ongoing development of the Kindergarten ethos and curriculum.
Attend monthly staff meetings outside normal working hours.
Attend any relevant training or meetings as advised by the Manager and keep up to date with current good practice.
Carry out any other reasonable duties as required, in line with training and experience.

Person Specification for Outdoor Early Years Practitioner

	Essential Criteria	Desirable Criteria
Qualifications & Training	* Minimum full and relevant Level 3 qualification in early years / childcare OR hold a teaching qualification. * Level 2 (or equivalent) maths and English. * Position conditional on completion of an enhanced DBS.	* Evidence of ongoing CPD and training. * Outdoor learning training / Forest School training. * Safeguarding Level 2. * Paediatric first aid. * Food hygiene / allergy awareness. * SEND qualifications. * A willingness to obtain further qualifications.
Experience	* Experience working in a pre-school setting, or other suitable experience working with children aged 2-5 years old. * Experience of planning and implementing stimulating and creative play and learning experiences for early years children. * Experience of providing care and education to children with a wide range of needs and abilities.	* Experience working with children in an outdoor setting / role.
Knowledge & Understanding	* Strong understanding of early childhood development and learning. * Sound knowledge and understanding of the EYFS. * Ability to scaffold an environment for play-based, child-led learning. * Knowledge and commitment to child protection, health and safety, equal opportunities, and SEND / inclusion. * Knowledge of current legislation relevant to the early years. * Experience in planning, observing, assessing, and target setting within the early years.	* Knowledge and understanding of Birth to 5 Matters. * Good knowledge of outdoor learning, including the underpinning history, ethos and processes, and how it can be used to facilitate children’s development. * Knowledge and experience of a range of teaching and learning styles and strategies.
Skills & Abilities	* Ability to foster strong working relationships with staff, volunteers and other professionals. * Ability to build positive relationships with parents and encourage their involvement. * Empathy, care and understanding of young children. * Excellent communication skills; able to communicate effectively in a variety of ways, e.g. verbally and in writing. * Ability to write reports and keep clear and accurate records. * Able to maintain confidentiality. * Computer literacy (Word, online learning journals, apps). * Strong time management skills; able to prioritise workload and multi-task. * Ability to work as part of a small team. * Able to work under challenging conditions (e.g. during the winter months). * UK driving licence.	* Ability to recognise and allow children to take managed risks in their play.
Personal Qualities	* Enthusiasm for spending the entire day outdoors in varying weathers, and for sharing that enthusiasm with children. * Good physical fitness. * Adaptable team player who can work well on own initiative as well as under clear supervision. * A passion for nature play and engaging children with the outdoors. * A commitment to improving quality in all areas, with a high level of motivation and enthusiasm. * Have a caring, friendly, approachable, personable, and kind nature … and have a sense of humour, fun and adventure!

All applications are subject to DBS checks and satisfactory references.

To apply please email Caroline@churchwoodforestschool.com including a cover lettter outlining how you meet the job description and your CV