Bee in the Woods Kindergarten Portslade is looking for an experienced and passionate Early Years Educator to join our exceptional team.

Bee in the Woods Forest Kindergarten is a magical outdoor childcare setting based on the outskirts of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. Our beautiful woodland base provides 3-7 year olds with a unique early years experience in a child-led and play-based environment. We value nature as our teacher and learn through play amongst the trees or on visits to the local beach.

This is a truly unique opportunity for an Additional Support Practitioner to become a part of an innovative approach to early years education.  

The Role

We are looking for a practitioner to work in a supportive team role, specifically with two 4 year old children with additional social, emotional and behavioural needs at key children. In the role, you will support your key children to develop positive relationships through a playful approach.  You’ll work as part of a friendly and creative team to create an enabling environment where your key child can develop confidence, social skills, emotional literacy and learn through play. 

The role will involve taking care of the key child’s requirements, ensuring stimulation and progress is maximized as well as integration into the group and overall well-being. The successful applicant will provide innovative and inclusive care and learning opportunities in conjunction with our SEND Coordinator; they will carry out and complete the Individual Education Plan and share information, current progress and ways forward with the child’s parents, Health Visitors, BHISS and with other relevant professionals. 

We are looking for an experienced practitioner with passion for and commitment to inclusion. As an intuitive listener, you will be confident at observing, reflecting on and scaffolding learning experiences. You will be excited to offer children the unique opportunity to be connected to the natural world, rain or shine and have the ability to inspire, enthuse and capture young imaginations and make rainy days irresistible!

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Safeguarding

We ask that all staff;

• Adhere to any relevant policies about keeping children safe, ongoing safeguarding, equal opportunities, data protection and confidentiality,
• Advise the Deputy Manager or Manager of any concerns, e.g. over children, parents, the safety of the environment, preserving confidentiality as necessary
• Read, understand and adhere to all policies and procedures relevant to your role and the safe running of the setting
• Keep completely confidential any information regarding the children, their families or other staff that is acquired as part of the job
• Ensure good standards of safety, hygiene and cleanliness are maintained at all times

Applicants should have a Level 3 early years qualification and experience of working with preschool age children in an early years’ environment. Experience of working with children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), having an interest in inclusion and wanting to support children to be the best they can be is essential. You must also have experience of working within a team and autonomously, have excellent communication skills and the confidence and ability to communicate effectively with the child and their parents. Familiarity of Forest School, Reggio Emilia, ‘In the moment planning’ and enthusiasm for the natural world in all weathers is desirable, a commitment to promoting equality and diversity and a kind, warm, creative and flexible approach to childcare is essential.    

Self-development plays an important role in our work as practitioners and we encourage staff members to continue to learn and grow. We support all our staff with initial and ongoing training and professional development.

What we are looking for in our ideal Forest Educator:

• Ideally a Early Years Level 3 qualification or above
• Qualifications/recent training in inclusion/SEND/wellbeing/social & emotional support
• Experience in a SEND/Additional Support Role
• Experience working with 2-5 year olds
• Forest school or outdoor experience is desirable
• A real passion for nature play and engaging children with the outdoors
• Sound knowledge of the EYFS statutory framework
• Good knowledge and understanding of the safeguarding children obligations
• Someone who is highly organised, reliable and a driven team-player
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills to build a rapport with parents and practitioners alike
• The ability to adapt quickly to changes, is flexible and uses initiative

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Hours - PT 4 days a week/32 hours a week

Location: Foredown Woods, Portslade, Brighton & Hove

Salary: £12 p/h (to be reviewed in April)

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The Package

Salary depending on experience and skills

Year round contract (to include forest school holiday clubs)

28 days holiday per year

Birthdays Off

Exceptional CPD opportunities in woodwork, forest school skills, froebellian practice

Caring and reflective staff team who make wellbeing a priority

Staff socials

Discounted childcare if required

Some flexible working hours to suit personal circumstances

Bike to work scheme

Techscheme

Career progression opportunities

The chance to spend your working day in a beautiful space, surrounded by nature.

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Deadline for applications- Sunday 5th January 2025