Childcare Assistant – Early Years Practitioner

Job Title:

Childcare Assistant – Early Years Practitioner
Our Lady & St Hubert’s Playgroup, Great Harwood

Department:
Reports to (job title):  Pre-school Manager
Pre-school Manager
Accountable to:

Responsible for:

N/A

Key Relationships:

Other childcare practitioners at the setting, children and parents

Location:

Our  Lady  and  St  Hubert’s
Pre-School,
Hallfield
Road,  Great  Harwood,
Blackburn,
Lancashire,
BB6 7SN

Travel
Required:

None

Level/Salary Range:

£13.45 per hour

Hours of Work:

Variable Hours/
Cover staff

Overview and Job Purpose:
•  To  work  as  part  of  the  Early  Years  team  to  support  the  children  in  their  learning  and
development  within  a  safe,  secure,  exciting,  and  challenging  environment  which  enables
them to experience a wide range of age-appropriate opportunities that will be tailored to
meet their individual needs.

•  To  provide  quality  teaching  and  learning  experiences  for  both  child  led  and  adult  led

activities.

•  To support the manager and deputy manager in their roles.

Job Description:

Main responsibilities:

•  To be involved in the planning of relevant and appropriate activities, many of which will
be child led and ‘in the moment’ planning. Planned activities must be relevant and able
to be tracked through observations and assessments.

•  To be part of a team that sets out the room and tidies away at the end of the session.

(preparing resources for activities).

•  To be an effective key person for the group of children that you are supporting while their
key  worker  is  absent  from  their  duties.  Making observations,  recording and tracking  a
child’s  progress.  Getting  to  know  your  children  very  well  and  recognising  each  child’s
needs and ensuring that they are met by offering an appropriate level of stimulation and
support.

•  To be a good role model in all that you do.

•  To liaise closely with parents and carers and other outside agencies as appropriate.
•  To attend training courses, staff meetings, supervision and appraisal meetings regularly

as required.

•  To be able to work within the requirements of the EYFS.
•  To be able to bring appropriate ideas to the setting and be able to follow these through,

using available resources. This should be done in collaboration with other staff.

•

•  To provide quality teaching and learning opportunities for the children in order to move
learning and development forward and close any gaps that may have been identified.
In  the  absence  of  the  children’s  keyworker.  To  be  able  to  complete  all  necessary
paperwork  related  to  EYFS.  Observations,  assessments,  planning,  tracking,  next  steps,
summaries and reports, any transition documents, and any other relevant paperwork for
SEND.

Desirable
•  An

up-to-date
safeguarding certificate

Level

1

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications
training:

and

Essential
•  Full  and  relevant  Level  2  or
in

qualification

above
childcare

•  An up-to-date Paediatric First

Aid certificate

Experience:

•  Experience  of  working  in  an

Knowledge,  skills,  and
abilities:

EYFS setting

•  Experience  of  working  with
additional

children  with
needs

•  Demonstrable

knowledge
and  understanding  of  the
EYFS in its entirety

•  Good  levels  of  literacy  and
numeracy as the job requires
you to be able to complete a
wide  range  of  paperwork
systems

policies

•  A good understanding of the
settings
and
procedures and be able to put
them into daily practice.
•  An  effective  communicator
with
interpersonal
skills  as  you  will  be  required
to  work  with  the  children,

sound

parents/carers,
other
childcare  professionals  and
outside agencies
to

•  The  ability
treat  any
to
information
anything  you  have  seen,
heard or read relating to the
children and their family, with
complete confidentiality
•  The ability to work as part of

relating

an effective team

•  Maintain

the  professional
image  of  the  setting  at  all
times (even when off-site)
•  To have the required training
and  understanding  of  all  the
safeguarding  policies  and
procedures  and  be  able  to
record  and  discuss  any
line
concerns  with  your
manager
•  An  ability

to  voice  any
relevant  concerns  about  any
aspect  of  the  role  which  is
for
being
whatever
the
Setting Manager or Deputy

compromised
to
reason

Personal qualities:

•  Commitment to inclusion and

Other requirements:

equal opportunities

•  Willingness  to  keep  up  to
date with all new legislation
•  Willingness  to  continue  with
professional development

•  This  post  is  subject  to  an
Enhanced  Disclosure  by  the
Disclosure
Barring
Service and the barred list will
be  checked  for  working  with
children.

and

•  All employees of the Diocese
are  expected  to  work  to

promote  the  safeguarding  of
vulnerable groups.

The  above  description  is  not  intended  to  be  an  exhaustive  list  but  to  indicate  the  main
responsibilities of the post.  It may be amended from time to time, after consultation with the
post holder.  Any changes will be agreed in conjunction with the Setting Manager.

Other Information:

References and Reports
•  Two professional references will be required.
•  This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure by the Disclosure and Barring Service and the
barred  list  will  be  checked  for  working  with  children.    All  employees  of  the  Diocese  are
expected to work to promote the safeguarding of vulnerable groups.

Health and Safety: All employees are required to take reasonable care of their own health and
safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.

Confidentiality: During their employment, the post-holder may gain knowledge of confidential
matters  which  may  include  personal  or  business-related  matters.    Such  information  must  be
considered with high levels of confidentiality and must not be discussed or disclosed.  Failure to
observe confidentiality could lead to disciplinary action.

Data  Protection:  Where  it  is  a  requirement  of  the  role,  the  post  holder  will  have  access  to
computers and other information technology.  He/she will be required to ensure that appropriate
security procedures are followed and that confidential information such as passwords are not
communicated to unauthorised individuals.

Safeguarding: The Diocese of Salford is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable
groups  at  risk  within  its  community.  The  Diocese  aims  to  embed  a  culture  of  safeguarding  to
prevent abuse and to provide support to individuals who have been hurt by abuse, taking the
necessary actions to reduce the likelihood of further harm. All diocesan employees are expected
to  contribute  to  the  creation  of  a  safe  environment,  challenge  inappropriate  behaviours  and
report concerns in line with procedures.

In fulfilling the duties of this role, the post holder will come into contact with children and may
come into contact with vulnerable adults.  Therefore, they must adhere to diocesan safeguarding
procedures.

Environment: The Diocese of Salford is committed to creating an environmentally sustainable
diocese and encourages employees to grow their knowledge and understanding of what it means
to be responsible guardians and exercise good stewardship of resources.

Probationary period: This position is subject to completion of an initial probationary period of
three months.

All  Diocesan  employees  are  always  expected  to  work  with  the  highest  standards  of  conduct.
Maintaining respect and dignity for colleagues, clergy and visitors is essential. Employees are also
expected to support the creation of a warm, pleasant, and hospitable working environment.

Compiled By:

Reviewed By:

Director of Education

Pre school Manager

Date:

Date:

July 2024

January 2026

I accept and agree with the details contained in this job description.

Signed by Employee:

Signed by Employer:

Date:

Date:

I hereby declare that I have received and understood the procedures on how to deal with
allegations or concerns of abuse and will comply with the Church’s Safeguarding Policies and
Procedures which can be accessed via: http://www.catholicsafeguarding.org.uk/national-
safeguarding-standards/national-safeguarding-policy

I commit to completing the mandatory Educare E-Learning modules in relation to safeguarding
within my first two months of employment.

Print Name:

Signature:

Date:

Dept/location:

Salford Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees Registered Charity
Registered Charity No. 250037