Applicant Information Pack Nursery Practitioner
A foreword from our Principal and Chief People Officer
Martin Walker - Principal Our vision is simple – to develop remarkable people. That applies not only to the pupils, but also to the staff in whom we invest. We take a pupil-centred approach at Berkhamsted; they are at the heart of our decision making and fuel our ambition to deliver excellence in all that we do. We aim high with integrity and are proud to have a collective growth mindset and a willingness to be adventurous through innovation, continual learning, and being a research-led school. This leads to an agility, the provision of outstanding CPD for staff, and the delivery of a forward-thinking curriculum that enables pupils to flourish both at, and beyond, Berkhamsted. The inherent joy that stems from learning, from being part of an ambitious and caring team, and from making progress inspires not only our pupils, but also our staff. Berkhamsted School also appreciates the significance of community within and beyond the school; we aim to serve others and have a positive impact through our community and charity work. Moreover, we focus not only on doing well and doing good for the pupils, but also through the pupils. This strong sense of purpose combined with an unwavering commitment to our values make this a special place to work. Our staff are so important to us that we have a Chief People Officer as one of our most senior members of staff; her role is to ensure the staff also flourish.
A foreword from our Principal and Chief People Officer
Tracey Evans - Chief People Officer Our staff are our most important asset at Berkhamsted; investing in their professional development with their wellbeing a key priority. We foster a working environment that firstly provides a sense of belonging and supports staff both professionally and personally. We offer a wide range of staff wellbeing initiatives. Colleagues can easily access financial, physical, emotional and social well-being support from school. We seek to enable all members of the school community to achieve their full potential in an environment characterised by equality, equity, respect and opportunity. We work hard at Berkhamsted, but we also know how to come together as a community and enjoy downtime, building relationships which last a lifetime and enrich our professional and personal experience.
History of Berkhamsted Schools Group
Berkhamsted Day Nursery is for children aged 5 months plus. Ensuring each child is nurtured, whilst providing opportunities for each child to thrive and to flourish, underpins our philosophy and approach at Berkhamsted Day Nursery. The fully qualified team are dedicated to creating a welcoming and secure environment for each child, ensuring that they feel loved and cared for, enabling them to grow into confident and independent toddlers. The team are committed to ensuring the children are not only cared for but have access to activities and learning that will prepare them for the transition from baby to toddler, and then on to school. We believe in ensuring every child has a strong sense of belonging and a feeling of being part of our family. Our children settle very quickly as our practitioners connect with each child during their settling sessions and then continue to grow and develop those relationships throughout their time with us. The nursery is based at our Haresfoot campus alongside our Pre-Prep School, providing an exceptional setting which many parents have described as a magical place. The green spaces, our woods and the variety of facilities makes each day different for the children, providing a wonderful start to their educational journey.
Job Description Reporting to: Day Nursery Manager and Room Leader Hours of Work: Full-time (40 hours per week) Qualifications: NVQ Level 3 Preferable childcare experience Duties and Responsibilities: Adhere to the policies and procedures of the Day Nursery. Work as part of the nursery team and assist in any duties required. Ensure that the recommended staff/child ratios are maintained at all times. Maintain a clean safe environment at all times and report any health and safety concerns to management team. Ensure records of the children’s day are completed and the details communicated to parents. Ensure supervision at mealtimes and all dietary requirements are adhered to. Availability to work in any areas of the Day Nursery undertaking the care and supervision of the children and in other areas of the nursery to ensure its smooth running. Attend and participate in any further training programmes as required. Promote positive behaviour of children and within the staff team. Be a key person, to a small number of children; this involves providing a secure attachment figure to help children settle, meeting their care needs such as feeding, sleeping and nappy changes, planning for your key children’s needs and interests and monitoring and supporting their development.
Job Description Make observations on children and ensure learning journals are kept up to date. Actively participate in the planning of activities to suit the children’s needs and stages of development, supporting and promoting individual’s learning. Actively participate in developing displays and ideas for effective working practice within the room. Build and maintain positive and effective relationships with parents/carers. In the absence of the room leader, show willingness to maintain the smooth running of the room, by working effectively with your team. Attendance at the after hours staff meeting to participate in discussions about the practice of the Day Nursery. Ensure confidentiality is maintained in the nursery.
Additional Personal Qualities: Reliable Trustworthy and confidential Presentable appearance and manner Caring for others Good team worker Enthusiastic Adaptable Willingness to develop
Benefits Benefits We boast a competitive salary structure, alongside other benefits, which includes access to a comprehensive pension scheme. The wellbeing of our staff is a priority. We have a developed programme for staff with initiatives and support in the areas of Economic, Physical, Emotional and Social wellbeing. Free classes and advisory services. memberships and discounted rates in local establishments, together with cycle to work scheme, free on-site parking, free daily lunch, and fee reduction for staff's children are examples of some of the non-contractual benefits on offer in this programme.
Watch our video Watch our video and hear from our colleagues why they enjoy working at the Berkhamsted Schools Group. Find out more about what it is really like to be a member of the community.
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Safeguarding and Child Protection Benefits Berkhamsted is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and visitors to adopt a child centred and coordinated approach to child protection and safeguarding. A copy of the School’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy can be found HERE The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and visitors to adopt a child centred and coordinated approach to child protection and safeguarding. Berkhamsted Schools Group is a registered charity dedicated to education: 310630.
Application and Next Steps The closing date for applications is 4 October 2026 It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children; applicants must be willing to undertake a number of safeguarding checks including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring (DBS). This post is also subject to receipt of written references which must be satisfactory to Berkhamsted Schools Group, along with documentary evidence of qualifications. A background screening service including a review of candidate’s online presence will be carried out as part of the recruitment process, by an independent third-party screening partner. Successful applicants will need to provide confirmation of permission to work in the UK. Please note that under the Immigration Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, the school has an obligation to ensure applicants have the right to work in the UK prior to commencement of employment. (If it is found that those documents do not meet the legal requirement, an offer of employment will be withdrawn). Where the successful candidate has worked or been a resident overseas in the previous five years, such checks and confirmations as the school may require in accordance with statutory guidance. We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race. Candidates with a disability who are invited to interview should inform the School of any necessary reasonable adjustments or arrangements to assist them in attending the interview. If you have any questions relating to this role please contact the HR department at recruitment@berkhamsted.com Early applications are encouraged, and interviews may take place on a rolling basis. We reserve the right to extend or close the deadline.
Developing remarkable people