Lunch Cover Nursery Practitioner

Bring your curiosity and care - and discover where Early Years could take you

Sharing a story. Exploring the garden. Helping a child take a small step towards doing something independently. Working in Early Years means being part of moments that matter.

At The Old Station Nursery, we believe everyone is still growing - little humans and big humans alike. As a Nursery Practitioner at Kingsteignton, you’ll help children learn through play, build their confidence, and feel safe and cared for.

You don’t need an Early Years qualification to get started. Bring your enthusiasm, kindness, and willingness to learn, and you’ll find colleagues ready to share their knowledge and help you grow.

Why Join Our Team?

We take care of the people who care for our children and families. Here’s what that means for you:

• Childcare support: Free childcare for your first month, followed by a 52% discount based on your working hours.

• Time to recharge: 31 days of holiday, including national bank holidays, plus your birthday off and an extra day after 3 years of service.

• Space to grow: Access to The National College, with a library of courses and training to develop your practice and leadership.

• Connection to your community: One paid day each year to volunteer and support a cause that matters to you.

• Everyday support: With access to Perkbox, enjoy discounts on shopping, meals out, and everyday essentials, alongside wellbeing tools and online medical services. You’ll also be eligible for a Blue Light Card, helping your money go further with even more discounts.

• Recognition along the way: We celebrate the care and commitment you bring, with Employee of the Month recognition, long-service awards to mark your milestones, and referral bonuses for introducing friends or family to our team.

Pay: £12.71 - £13.24 per annum, based on experience.

Hours: Part-time 15 hours over 5 days, Monday to Friday from 11am-2pm

Location

hdc Nursery Kingsteignton, Kingsteignton Primary School

Heron Way

Kingsteignton

Devon

TQ12 3QY

Where You'll Be Working

At Kingsteignton, you will see our hygge-inspired rooms at our Ofsted-rated ‘Good’ nursery. These rooms allow children to rest, play, learn, and develop in a familiar space that promotes emotional well-being, togetherness, and friendship. Nestled within the grounds of Kingsteignton School, our purpose-built nursery has ample outdoor spaces that promote an active lifestyle. Each of our rooms has its own outdoor space set up to provide a range of engaging activities to extend our learning environment. Children love the freedom to play outdoors as much as possible; a little rain never holds us back. We enjoy donning our wellies and puddle suits to jump and splash in puddles, describing how it feels and making mud pies and ‘potions’ in the mud kitchen. We are located on the grounds of Kingsteignton School and can be accessed via the entrance on Chudleigh Road, only a 3-minute drive from the A380 and close to Newton Abbot. We are also easily accessible from Sandygate, Teigngrace, Gappah and Olchard. Parking is available on the roads outside the nursery.

What You'll Be Doing

Working alongside experienced colleagues, you’ll help create a welcoming nursery day filled with play, discovery, and caring routines.

One moment you might be joining in with imaginative play or helping children explore paint and textures. The next, you could be offering reassurance, helping with lunchtime, or celebrating a new achievement.

With support from your team, you’ll:

• Create a warm, inclusive environment where every child feels welcome and valued

• Help plan and deliver play-based activities that follow children’s interests and support their learning

• Build your understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and how it shapes everyday practice

• Notice and celebrate children’s progress, contributing to observations and records with guidance from colleagues

• Build positive relationships with families and share updates about children’s days

• Support everyday routines, including meals, personal care, and rest, with patience and kindness

• Follow safeguarding, safety, and hygiene procedures, asking for guidance whenever you’re unsure

• Share ideas, lend a hand, and learn alongside your colleagues

Our values are simple: Own it. Be human. Make it happen. In your role, that means being reliable, treating others with care, and getting involved while recognising when to ask for support.

What We’re Looking For

No qualifications are required for this role. Previous experience working in a childcare setting would be beneficial, but isn’t essential.

You’ll bring:

• A genuine interest in working with children and supporting their development

• Kindness, patience, and a willingness to see things from a child’s perspective

• Curiosity and enthusiasm for learning new skills

• A reliable approach and the ability to work closely with others

• Openness to feedback and the confidence to ask questions

• A commitment to keeping children safe and helping them feel included

Whether you’re exploring Early Years for the first time or bringing experience from another childcare setting, we’d love to hear what you could bring to our community.

Apply Today!

If you’re ready for work where your care and encouragement can make a difference every day, we’d love to hear from you.

Help little humans discover what they can do - and you might discover something new about yourself too.

If you have any questions about the role, our Recruitment Team will be happy to help at Sign in to view email.

Please note: we are currently unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

The Old Station Nursery is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all applicants to share this commitment. All roles are subject to enhanced DBS checks, satisfactory references, verification of your right to work in the UK, and any essential qualifications. If successful, our Onboarding Team will guide you through every step of the onboarding process. We are proud to be an inclusive employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments will be considered to support fairness and accessibility for all candidates. This role involves regulated activity with children.