Forest School Leader

Our Award-Winning Nursery Group, based in West Sussex, was recently crowned winners of the Nursery World Award for Enabling Environments 2024!

_ What does this role require? _

As an Educator, you will be fun and exciting with bundles of energy and not afraid of a little dirt (we are a group of Forest and Farm School Nurseries after all!)

You'll need a great passion for child development and a good working knowledge of the EYFS. Our Reggio Emilia approach is visible throughout our nurseries, so knowledge of the approach would be great, but we have a team of in-house trainers who are ready and waiting to inspire you if not!

We're a really fun place to work, so a good sense of humour is a must!

Other preferable attributes include:
Level 3 (or above) Childcare qualification.
Forest School Level 3
Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively in a team.
A 'can do' attitude!
Masses of drive, ambition, and energy!
A determined, persistent, and resilient person, who approaches and overcomes challenges with a positive attitude.
Passion for forest school and outdoor learning.

_ The role of the Nursery Educator _

Nursery Educators within Little Barn Owls play a pivotal role in shaping the lives of young children.

You'll be responsible for organising, providing and orchestrating exciting and engaging sessions for small groups of children. You'll work alongside Leaders, learning coordinators and your fellow educators to curate safe and stimulating environments for children.

With a specialism is Forest School, our Forest School Leaders spend around 50% of their working week at our private Forest School site, situated away from the nursery and accessed by minibus daily.

Forest School Leaders curate safe, stimulating and exciting environments for children to learn a wide range of forestry skills such as cooking on fires they've created themselves, cutting and whittling wood, building dens and foraging.

As a key person, you will be the main point of contact for the families of your key children, providing daily updates and thinking of ways to make meaningful connections between home and nursery life.

Our nurseries are predominantly child-led and our curriculum is emergent, so you'll have to think on your feet and be in tune with children to extend their learning in the moment.

We don't have tick charts or paper based planning, meaning there is more time to in the moment with children, and explore the joys of learning together.

With the new Little Barn Owls Training Academy, all employees will enrol onto our in-house training and development programme, specially designed for Outstanding Early Years Educators. As part of your programme, you will complete 12 self-evidenced units, supported by your 1:1 mentor.

Upon completion of 3 month induction

Pay: £26,000 - £32,000 per year

build your own salary with the LBO Training academy

Important information:
Our nurseries operate 51 weeks per year, 7.30 am - 6 pm Monday-Friday.
We are not currently able to offer school hours or term-time only positions.
Our policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, creed, colour, religious belief, sex, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, or veteran status.
We are committed to safeguarding our children and staff. You will be required to have an , enhanced DBS check and suitable references.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

_ Benefits of a Little Barn Owls Career _
_ Industry leading salaries, reward and recognition programme. _
_ ALL EXPENSES PAID international CPD for qualified staff._
_ 80% childcare discount _
_Seasonal bonuses_

Our innovative and creative _ Reggio Emilia inspired, Forest and Farm School Nursery Group _has been recognised for their approach to Early Years Education around the world. Nurturing confident, caring and curious children is our passion and our promise.

We have five INCREDIBLE and unique nurseries. We employ professional artists in each nursery to work with children, enabling their enquiring minds to develop, in dedicated creative studios which are called Ateliers.

Awarded Nursery World's UK Nursery Group of the Year 2020

Awarded UK Nursery of the Year 2015

Our fantastic benefits package includes:
_Up to £1000 joiner's bonus (on successful completion of probation)_
Amazing all expenses paid international breaks to inspire our qualified Educators and Artists
A huge reduction of 80% off childcare fees
A Christmas shopping loyalty bonus
Regular monetary reward and recognition schemes
Wellbeing centre which includes employee contributed Healthcare Cash plan and access to Employee Assistance Programme.
The option of buying and selling annual leave
SmartSpending - discounts and money off over 800 retailers and suppliers
Caring, supportive environment and culture
Generous holiday entitlement of 33 days inclusive of bank holidays
Long service rewards of £1000
Working alongside professional expert consultants
Team building fun days, meals out, and social events
Career progression

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £27,000.00-£32,000.00 per year

Benefits:
Company pension
Employee discount
On-site parking
Referral programme
Sick pay
Schedule:
Monday to Friday
No weekends

Ability to commute/relocate:
Southwater, West Sussex: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Experience:
Forest School Leader: 1 year (required)

Language:
English (required)

Licence/Certification:
Forest School - Level 3 or above (required)

Work Location: In person