Nursery Practitioner

The Nursery at Queen Mary’s

The Nursery at Queen Mary’s is a school nursery offering an exceptional start to early learning for children
aged 0–3, alongside our Pre-Reception and Reception classes. Part of Queen Mary’s School, ranked 4th
nationally by The Times Parent Power Guide 2026 (Independent Schools Without a Sixth Form), our nursery
gives children the very best foundations for lifelong learning in a warm, inclusive, and inspiring
community.

Queen Mary’s is a Christian community that values, nurtures, and respects every individual. We strive for
excellence, encourage personal growth, nurture spirituality, embrace diversity, and develop resilience and
character. From the earliest years, children are inspired to be independent, compassionate, and
confident, preparing them to flourish academically, socially, and emotionally.

Housed in its own dedicated building, our Nursery provides a calm, caring environment where children
feel safe, seen, and valued. They enjoy access to beautiful woodland and meadow spaces, encouraging
outdoor exploration, creativity, and wellbeing every day. Our Pre-Reception and Reception pupils, based
in an adjacent Early Years building, benefit from teacher-led learning in age-appropriate classrooms,
supporting smooth, confident transitions as children grow.

At Queen Mary’s Nursery, children thrive through purposeful, play-based learning guided by specialist
early years staff. Our curriculum combines child-led exploration with teacher-supported activities, helping
children develop communication, early literacy and numeracy, social-emotional skills, problem-solving
abilities, and independence. Outdoor learning, including regular Forest School sessions, fosters
confidence, collaboration, and a genuine love of nature.

Set in the beautiful countryside of Baldersby Park, a Grade I listed building surrounded by 40 acres of
landscaped grounds, our nursery is part of a dynamic, supportive school community. Queen Mary’s offers
a long-standing tradition of academic excellence, personal growth, creativity, and adventure. As part of
the Woodard Corporation, the school operates with a strong Christian ethos and high academic and
pastoral standards.

We are seeking passionate nursery practitioners to join our team and share in our commitment to
outstanding early years education. At Queen Mary’s Nursery, you will have the opportunity to work in a
nurturing, purpose-driven environment where every child is encouraged to explore, learn, and flourish.

The Role:

Queen Mary’s School is delighted to announce the opening of a new Early Years setting, The Nursery,
launching in September 2026. This exciting development marks an important new chapter for the school
and reflects a commitment to providing exceptional education and care from the very earliest years.

Designed for girls and boys from 0–4 years, The Nursery at Queen Mary’s offers children the opportunity  to
begin their learning journey, within a nurturing, inspiring and developmentally rich environment.

We are seeking enthusiastic Nursery Practitioners to join a dynamic and caring staff body, where babies and
children are nurtured and encouraged to have a love of learning, exploration and self-discovery.

The applicants will perform key roles in contributing to our ‘home from home’, warm, inclusive
environment where children have the best supportive start to life, rooted in care and creativity.

Our new Nursery provides a calm, caring and inspiring environment for our youngest children, set within the
Queen Mary’s School community. Nursery children are based in their own dedicated building, with access
to a secure woodland and meadow setting, designed to support exploration, wellbeing and early development.
Our Pre-Reception and Reception pupils are based in the adjacent Early Years building, working closely
together in a teacher-led environment that supports confident transitions into school life.

Reporting to:

Assistant Head: Prep and Pre-Prep and the Nursery Manager

Start Date:

September 2026

Hours of Work:

Full time and part time hours will be considered

The Nursery will be open 50 weeks a year (Closed between Christmas and New
Year and the week at Easter. The Nursery will close for all bank holidays)

Overview of Responsibilities

The following is provided as an overview of the main responsibilities; candidates are expected to:
−

Lead by example, providing inspiration and motivation for the pupils, staff, governors, parents and
the wider community.

−  Ensure all children are safeguarded and their welfare and safety is promoted and prioritised and

all staff members are able to do the same.

−  Have relevant training, knowledge and experience of working with babies and children in order to

support their specific needs.

−  Work in conjunction with the team and Nursery Manager in order to provide an enabling

environment in which individual children can play, learn and develop.

Policy, Strategic Direction and Development

−

−

Contribute to and promote a Nursery Development Plan and keep this under regular review with
policy and planning, taking account of the school’s changing needs and the full range of pupils’
needs.
Ensure that whole-school policies and strategies are embedded in planning throughout the phases

Main Duties
−  Observe children as individuals and in groups to monitor behaviour progress and possible

developmental needs, utilising specialist knowledge and experience.

−  Prepare progress reports and formal reports.
−  Ensure up-to-date records of the children’s progress as part of the monitoring and reviewing of

educational work programmes with the individual online profiles and to track children’s progress
through the production of online learning journals (Tapestry)

−  Use the relevant training, knowledge and experience of working with babies and children to

support all children’s specific needs

−  Support colleagues in working effectively with children throughout the Nursery and Early Years Centre
−  Contribute to and operate a programme of activities that meet the individual needs and interests of

children in your area in conjunction with colleagues and the Nursery Manager
Feed into appraisals, target settings and Nursery operations as deemed appropriate by the Nursery Manager

−

−  Support new colleagues through inductions in partnership with the Nursery Manager
−  Ensure all record keeping is accurate and up-to-date within your designated area, including learning

journeys of all children in your room, sleep charts, accident forms, daily record sheets and any other
forms/records required for the child’s welfare, learning and development

Liaise with and support parents and other family members
Liaise with the local authority and other professionals associated with the Nursery

−  Ensure room checks and outdoor checks are conducted in line with Nursery procedures
−
−
−  Undertake  certain  domestic  jobs  within  the  Nursery,  e.g.  preparation  of  snacks,  meals,  cleaning
equipment and such other duties and responsibilities of an equivalent nature as may be determined
from time to time by the Manager

−  Work alongside the Nursery Manager and staff team to ensure that the Nursery vision is fulfilled
−  Ensure good standards of safety, hygiene and cleanliness are maintained at all times and be

responsible for the health and safety standards appropriate for the needs of babies and young
children

−  Ensure someone known and agreed by the Nursery and parent collects each child
−  Ensure confidentiality of all information received by all team members in your area.

Specific Childcare Tasks
−  Support and facilitate the preparation and completion of activities to suit each individual child’s

stage of development and interests

−  Support all staff to develop their role within the team especially with regard as a key person/worker
−  Ensure that meal times are a time of pleasant social sharing
−  Wash and change children as required
−  Ensure a poorly child is treated appropriately and parents are notified immediately in order for the

child to be collected

−  Develop and maintain strong partnerships and communications with parents/carers to facilitate day-

to-day caring and early learning needs

−  Ensure the provision of a high-quality environment to meet the needs of individual children regardless

of any disabilities, family backgrounds or medical history

−  Be aware of the community profile of the Nursery and Queen Mary’s School, and ensure all staff

uphold its standards at all times, both within work hours and outside.

Professional Development

−  Regularly review your own practice, set personal targets and take responsibility for your own development.

−  Complete an Annual Appraisal.

Training & development of self and others

−  Build effective partnerships with parents to ensure:

o  a shared understanding between The Nursery and home about the children’s

progression, and how parents can support their child.

o  an excellent local reputation for The Nursery through the promotion, profile and success

of the children.

−  Attend regular Department meetings to:

o  establish common, progressive and detailed schemes of work for each child;
o  monitor and assess progress within the Nursery and of individuals;
o  ensure that common aims, objectives and standards are established;
o  discuss and agree methodology to ensure that effective ways of learning are implemented;
o  support colleagues in the implementation of all aspects of their work.

Person Specification

Attributes

Essential  Criteria

Desirable  Criteria

Qualifications

−  Relevant Level Qualified Practitioner
−  UK qualifications that meet the Department
for Education (DfE) criteria for counting in the
EYFS statutory framework staff:child ratios.

−  Certified Paediatric First Aid Training



Safeguarding  Training

Knowledge

EYFS childcare experience

−
−  Relevant training, knowledge and experience of
working with babies and children in order to
support their specific needs

  Experience within a School
or Nursery (from birth –  4
years)

Skills and
abilities

−  Strong communication and inter-personal

  Experience in more than

skills

one nursery

−  Ability to be discreet and uphold confidentiality
−  Excellent time management and organisational

skills

−  Be prepared to undertake daily operational

tasks as required

−  Experience and ability to use data effectively to

measure children’s progress

−  Ability to cope with multiple demands shifting

priorities and rapid change

−  A selfless, empowering and collaborative
approach to management and continual
professional development

−  Awareness of the importance of child

protection and keeping young people safe
from harm

−  Ability to show initiative and respond to a

changing environment
Strong IT skills (MS Word, Excel, CMS)
Energy, drive, enthusiasm and a positive manner

−
−

−  All candidates must hold the Right to Work in

the UK

−  A willingness to engage with and articulate the
School’s Christian values, ethos and heritage
−  Willing to play an active part in the life of The

Nursery community

−  Willing to work out of hours as and when

Nursery functions occur

Personal
circumstances

−  Current driving licence
−

Safeguarding  qualifications

Terms and Conditions of Employment

The  following  particulars  do  not  form  any  part  of  an  offer  of  employment. They  provide  guidance,
without prejudice, on the likely main provisions.  Terms and conditions, which will incorporate the Staff
Handbook and Contract of Employment, will be issued in due course to the successful candidate.

General Notes

−  Queen Mary’s School operates its own competitive salary scale, commensurate with the responsibility of
the post and the experience of the successful candidate, which will be discussed at interview or on
appointment.

−  All staff are required to attend Staff Training Days.
−  Additional benefits will include a significant fee discount for children to be educated at Queen Mary’s

School (subject to places being available and all relevant admissions criteria being met).

−  Lunch will be provided free of charge during the school term time hours of work.
−  The School operates an employer stakeholder contributory pension scheme.
−  The appointee will be required to participate in an annual appraisal.
−  Accommodation is not provided.
−  The appointee is required to give the School one term’s notice of their intention to leave this post.
−  Shortlisted candidates will be asked to undertake identity and qualification checks which conform to the
School’s Safer Recruitment Policy. They must also agree to references being taken up at that stage and checks
made with past employers. The successful applicant will be required to complete a medical form before any
appointment is confirmed to show there are no medical reasons why the applicant may not be able to
take up the post.

The Application Process

An application form can be downloaded from the school website, and this should be submitted
accompanied with a covering letter addressed to the Headmistress, Mrs Fe Beadnell, explaining the
motivation for applying for this post and the experience, skills and qualities you would bring to the role.

Suitable candidates may be interviewed before the closing date, and the school reserves the right to
withdraw the position if an early appointment is made. Applicants are therefore strongly encouraged to
apply early.

Please send your completed application form to: head@queenmarys.org.

Please be aware that we do not accept curriculum vitaes. Only completed application forms will be submitted
to the shortlisting panel.

Safeguarding  and  Recruitment  Checks

Queen Mary’s is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All
shortlisted candidates will be required to complete identity, and qualification checks in line with our Safer
Recruitment Policy, and references will be taken up at this stage. The successful applicant must also complete
a medical questionnaire before an appointment is confirmed.

As part of our safeguarding commitment, candidates will undergo child protection screening appropriate
to the role, including checks with previous employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. All staff share
responsibility for safeguarding and must adhere to the School’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.

No Agencies Please

Baldersby Park
Topcliffe
Thirsk
North Yorkshire
YO7 3BZ

01845 575000
admin@queenmarys.org
www.queenmarys.org