Nursery Lead Practitioner

ROOM LEADER JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title: Room Leader
Location: The Redbrick Day Nursery
Responsible to: Nursery Manager and Deputy Manager
Responsible for: Early Years Practitioners, Nursery Assistants, Apprentices and students allocated to the room
Hours: As stated in the individual contract of employment

Main Purpose of the Role To lead and manage the day-to-day operation of an allocated nursery room, ensuring that children receive consistently high-quality care, learning and development opportunities.

The Room Leader will provide clear leadership to the room team, maintain a safe, stimulating and inclusive environment and ensure that practice meets the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage, Ofsted, safeguarding legislation and nursery policies and procedures.

The Room Leader will act as a positive role model, support staff development and ensure that every child is given opportunities to become a confident, independent and motivated learner.

Key Responsibilities Leadership and Team Management

• Lead, organise and support the staff team within the room.
• Allocate responsibilities effectively and ensure that all staff understand their duties.
• Provide clear direction and address any concerns regarding staff performance, conduct or practice promptly.
• Support the induction of new employees, apprentices, agency staff and students.
• Mentor and support less experienced members of the team.
• Contribute to staff supervision meetings, appraisals and performance reviews as required.
• Identify staff development needs and support ongoing training and professional development.
• Promote positive communication, teamwork and professional behaviour.
• Lead room meetings and ensure agreed actions are completed.
• Ensure that staff deployment and ratios meet statutory requirements throughout the day.
• Work alongside the team and remain actively involved in children's care, learning and routines.

Children's Learning and Development

• Ensure that the room provides high-quality learning experiences in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage.
• Lead the planning and delivery of stimulating, age-appropriate and child-led activities.
• Ensure that children's individual interests, needs, abilities and stages of development are reflected in planning.
• Monitor the quality of observations, assessments and children's learning records.
• Ensure that each child has an allocated key person who understands and meets their individual needs.
• Monitor children's progress and identify any gaps in learning or development.
• Work with the Special Educational Needs Coordinator and other professionals where additional support may be required.
• Support children's independence, confidence, communication and emotional wellbeing.
• Ensure that transitions between rooms, settings and school are carefully planned and supported.
• Promote the nursery's curriculum, values and approach to learning.

Safeguarding and Child Protection

• Safeguard and promote the welfare of all children at all times.
• Follow the nursery's safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures.
• Recognise and respond appropriately to signs of abuse, neglect, exploitation or changes in a child's behaviour.
• Record and report safeguarding concerns immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with children, families and colleagues.
• Ensure that mobile phone, camera, social media and confidentiality procedures are followed.
• Understand and comply with the Prevent duty, safer working practices and whistleblowing procedures.
• Ensure that staff within the room understand their safeguarding responsibilities.
• Challenge and report any unsafe, inappropriate or poor practice.

Health, Safety and Wellbeing

• Maintain a safe, clean, secure and welcoming environment.
• Complete and review daily safety checks and risk assessments.
• Ensure accidents, incidents, existing injuries and medication are recorded accurately.
• Follow procedures for allergies, dietary requirements, intimate care and administering medication.
• Ensure children are supervised appropriately at all times.
• Monitor the cleanliness and condition of toys, resources, equipment and furniture.
• Promote good hygiene, infection prevention and safe food-handling practices.
• Ensure that sleeping children are monitored in accordance with nursery procedures.
• Follow fire safety, emergency evacuation and lockdown procedures.
• Report hazards, maintenance concerns or defective equipment promptly.
• Support children's physical and emotional wellbeing through responsive and nurturing care.

Inclusion and Equality

• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion throughout the room.
• Ensure that all children and families are treated with dignity, respect and fairness.
• Adapt activities, routines and environments to meet individual needs.
• Support children with special educational needs and disabilities.
• Work in partnership with the Special Educational Needs Coordinator, parents and external professionals.
• Challenge discriminatory language, behaviour or practice.
• Ensure that resources and experiences reflect a diverse range of families, cultures, abilities and communities.

Partnership with Parents and Carers

• Build positive and professional relationships with parents and carers.
• Ensure that families receive regular information about their child's care, learning and development.
• Respond appropriately to questions, concerns and feedback.
• Address minor concerns promptly and refer more serious complaints to the Nursery Manager.
• Conduct parent meetings and developmental reviews where required.
• Support families during settling-in periods and transitions.
• Maintain confidentiality and communicate sensitive information appropriately.
• Encourage parents and carers to contribute to their child's learning and development.

Administration and Compliance

• Ensure that room records are accurate, complete and maintained securely.
• Monitor registers, staffing ratios, accident records, medication records and other required documentation.
• Support the Nursery Manager with occupancy, staffing and operational requirements.
• Ensure that nursery policies and procedures are implemented consistently.
• Contribute to quality improvement plans, audits and self-evaluation.
• Support preparation for Ofsted inspections and other regulatory visits.
• Ensure that information displayed within the room is accurate, current and appropriate.
• Report significant concerns, incidents or operational issues to the Nursery Manager promptly.
• Maintain confidentiality in relation to children, families, staff and the organisation.

Resources and Environment

• Create a welcoming, stimulating and well organised room environment.
• Ensure resources are accessible, appropriate and used effectively.
• Monitor stock levels and request replacement resources where necessary.
• Encourage staff to use resources creatively and sustainably.
• Ensure indoor and outdoor learning opportunities are available.
• Involve children in caring for and taking responsibility for their environment.
• Ensure displays reflect children's learning rather than adult produced work.

Professional Responsibilities

• Demonstrate the nursery's values and expected standards of behaviour.
• Act as a positive role model for children, families and colleagues.
• Maintain professional knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage and relevant legislation.
• Attend training, meetings and development activities as required.
• Maintain an appropriate level of continuing professional development.
• Work flexibly across rooms or nursery sites when reasonably required.
• Maintain reliable attendance and punctuality.
• Wear appropriate clothing and follow the nursery's dress code.
• Carry out any other reasonable duties appropriate to the role.

Person Specification Essential Qualifications and Experience

• A full and relevant Level 3 early years qualification or above.
• A sound understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
• Experience of working directly with children in an early years setting.
• Experience of supporting or leading other members of staff.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection procedures.
• Knowledge of health and safety requirements within an early years environment.
• Ability to plan, observe and assess children's learning and development.
• Ability to communicate effectively with children, parents, colleagues and professionals.
• Paediatric First Aid qualification, or willingness to complete this.
• Appropriate enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service clearance.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• Previous experience as a Room Leader, Deputy Room Leader or senior practitioner.
• Level 4 or Level 5 early years, leadership or management qualification.
• Designated safeguarding, Special Educational Needs Coordinator or behaviour support training.
• Experience of supporting children with additional or complex needs.
• Experience of conducting staff supervisions, mentoring or performance reviews.
• Experience of supporting apprentices or students.
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