Early Years Level 2 or 3 Practitioner - Escrick Preschool

Escrick Pre-school is a small term time only, charity run (not for profit) setting located in the quiet village of Escrick situated within the Village Hall with our very own dedicated pre-school room and enclosed outdoor area. We are a small nurturing team of just 4 Early Years Practitioners and a fantastic committee of parents who feel very proud of the special little Pre-school we run.

We care for children between the ages of 2 to 4 years of age and we like to have a high staff ratio to ensure we can provide high quality care to our young children.

Due to a change of staff circumstances, we are now looking for an experienced, ambitious and passionate Early Year’s Practitioner to join our small and incredibly friendly team.

At Escrick Pre-school, we endeavour to create a happy and comfortable working environment for our staff whereby all feel valued and respected. Having fun and creating lots of valuable memories for all of our staff, children and families is at the heart of everything we do!

Every day is different, some days are calm, some days are busy - but our gentle touch and great sense of humour always see us through, and makes Escrick Pre-school the special place it is today.

Escrick Pre-school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Clearance from Disclosure and Barring Service is required upon the appointment of this role. We undertake all relevant checks, as per Working Together to Safeguard Children. Applicants must be prepared to disclose any convictions they may have and any orders which have been made against them.

Provider: Escrick Preschool
Hours: 28.75 hours per week - 9.00am to 3.15pm, 5 days a week, or possible job share, term time only
Rate of pay: £12.71 per hour (£1,358.12 per month, £16,297.40 per annum)
Responsible to: Preschool Manager and Chair of Management Committee
Responsible for: All Pre-school children, staff and setting
Address:
Escrick Preschool, Escrick Village Hall, Main Street, Escrick, York YO19 6LQ
Website: escrickpreschool.co.uk

Early Years Practitioner Role

To provide high-quality care and education for preschool children as part of the staff team, supporting their learning, development, and wellbeing under the direction of the Manager and Deputy Manager.

Key Responsibilities:

plan and deliver activities aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
act as a key person for a group of children, liaising with parents/carers and updating Tapestry journals
support children’s physical needs, including toileting and nappy changing
complete 2-year progress checks and contribute to end-of-year reports
set up and tidy the learning environment daily
supervise children during activities, snacks, and meals
support children’s emotional wellbeing, communication, and social development
administer basic first aid and maintain current paediatric first aid certification
flag safeguarding or safety concerns to the Manager, maintaining confidentiality
attend team meetings and training as required
work in partnership with staff, the management committee, and other professionals
perform other reasonable duties in line with Pre-school policies

Early Years Practitioner Person Specification

Essential:

minimum Level 2 qualification - for example NVQ or equivalent
strong understanding of child development and individual needs
committed to supporting children and families
friendly, nurturing, and engaging approach
committed to equal opportunities and inclusive practice
willing to learn and adapt to new approaches
physically and mentally fit to care for young children

Desirable:

experience in a charity-run Pre-school
familiarity with online learning platforms for example Tapestry
basic IT skills
paediatric first aid trained, or willingness to train
food Hygiene Level 2
up-to-date safeguarding training

If you're interested in applying, contact the Chair, Anne Clark, on email: [email protected].

A telephone call with the Manager or a visit to the premises can be arranged at a convenient time if requested.

This application closes 16 March 2026.

Interviews will be held from 23 March 2026.