Pre-School Nursery Assistant

Pre-School Nursery Assistant

Permanent, Part Time

£25,081 per annum

Location: Maldon

Working Style: Fixed-base worker

Closing Date: 18th November 2025

Please note this role is being offered as a part time opportunity, annualised hours contract, term time only. 

To apply you must hold a level 2 or above accredited qualification in Early years childcare and education and have experience of working in an Early Years setting

The Role

This gives the right candidate the opportunity to work alongside experienced professionals supporting the learning and development of the children in our care.

To read more about our business area, please visit:

Education

The Opportunity

Adult Community Learning (ACL) is ECC’s provider of lifelong learning experiences for Essex residents.  ACL offers qualifications to help people move nearer to, enter or progress within the workplace or gain skills to enhance life chances.  The service focuses many of its programmes and activities on the hardest to reach communities within Essex.  ACL learners have access to a diverse range of accredited and non-accredited courses which encourage creativity, healthy lifestyles, social inclusion and engagement.  

ACL offers childcare facilities and the Nursery/Pre-school is registered with Ofsted and is also open to community children whose parents/carers are not attending ACL.  The Assistant will work as part of a team, contributing to creating a safe and caring environment to develop emotional, physical, social and intellectual capabilities of children.  Responsible for maintaining the environment, resources and experiences offered to children and their families. 

The role requires good communication skills with the ability to relate to and build rapport with both children and adults. 

Accountabilities

• Responsible for providing rich and diverse indoor and outdoor play experiences, taking regard of the EYFS and the individual needs of children.
• Plan, lead and review a range of activities for children, ensuring Health and Safety procedures are observed at all times.
• Observe, support and extend the personal and learning needs of the children to ensure their wellbeing.
• Work in partnership with parents/carers and other family members, to discuss the needs and progress of children to monitor their development.
• Responsible for ensuring children are kept safe and understanding how to safeguard a child, when necessary following Child Protection Procedures.
• Demonstrate good practice with regard to special needs and inclusion, observing, supporting and extending children's learning.

• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Educated to RQF level 2 (GCSE) in English and Maths with an Early Years Care and Education, or equivalent vocational qualification.
• Ability to develop skills and knowledge within role.
• Experience working within a childcare environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build rapport with both children and adults.
• Ability to plan and provide activities and play opportunities to develop emotional, physical, social and intellectual capabilities of children.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service.  The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate.  This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained.  For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email Jamielea.wallis@essex.gov.uk

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