About this role
Are you a passionate Early Years Practitioner who wants to make a real difference to young children's lives?
We are looking for an enthusiastic, caring and committed qualified Early Years Practitioner to join our friendly and vibrant Day Nursery team.
Our current vacancies are within our baby and 3-4-year-old provision, but we believe strongly in developing our staff across the whole nursery. You will have opportunities to gain experience working with children from 3 months to 5 years, supported by experienced colleagues who will help you develop your knowledge, confidence and practice across all age groups.
We would ideally like you to hold a Level 3 qualification in Early Years, although we would also welcome applications from experienced Level 2 practitioners who are currently working towards their Level 3.
Most importantly, we are looking for someone who is passionate about children, enjoys working as part of a team and wants to create a warm, nurturing and stimulating environment where every child can thrive.
Why join us?
At Epsom Downs Day Nursery, children really are at the heart of everything we do.
We were delighted that our most recent Ofsted in August 2026 inspection recognised the strong practice across every area of the nursery, including our approach to leadership, inclusion, relationships and children's learning and development.
Our nursery provides a unique open-plan environment for children aged 3 months to 5 years, giving children opportunities to explore, make choices, interact with children of different ages and develop at their own pace.
We have fantastic facilities both indoors and outdoors, including:
Dedicated baby and toddler spaces alongside our wider open-plan provisionLarge outdoor play areas with free-flow accessA small on-site farm with pigs, goats and chickensForest School areasSports and playground areasA sensory room and sleep roomLibrary and music opportunitiesA wide range of high-quality, open-ended resources.We believe that when we invest in our staff, they are able to provide the very best experiences for our children.
We are committed to supporting our team to develop their skills and interests, whether that is working with babies, toddlers or pre-school children, or developing a particular area of expertise.
You could have opportunities to develop your interests in areas such as:
Babies and early attachmentSEND and inclusionSpeech, language and communicationForest SchoolOutdoor learningMusic and creativityChildren's emotional wellbeingSupporting school readinessWe are looking for someone who:
Holds a Level 3 Early Years qualification, or is an experienced Level 2 practitioner working towards Level 3Has previous experience working within an Early Years settingIs warm, nurturing and genuinely passionate about working with young childrenBuilds strong, secure and positive relationships with children and familiesUnderstands the importance of children's individual needs and developmentIs committed to inclusion and ensuring every child feels valued and belongsWorks well as part of a team and is willing to support colleaguesIs enthusiastic about learning and developing their own practiceIs willing to get involved in all aspects of nursery lifeYou will be joining a team where professional development is encouraged, ideas are welcomed and staff are supported to grow.
What we can offer you
A permanent, all-year-round position36 hours per weekA predictable rotating shift patternTwo 9-hour days and three shorter 6-hour days each weekShifts between 7.30am and 6.15pmOne or two early finishes each week as part of the rotaA full week off over Christmas using your allocated annual leaveFunded professional development and trainingThe opportunity to gain experience across our 3 months-5 years provisionOpportunities to develop specialist areas of interestA supportive and experienced Early Years teamThe opportunity to work in a unique nursery environment with access to a farm, Forest School and extensive outdoor learning spacesIf you are looking for a nursery where you can build relationships, develop your career, try new things and make a genuine difference to children and families, we would love to hear from you.
Further information about the school can be found on our website. Candidates are also warmly invited to contact our Day Nursery Manager, Samantha Morgan, for an informal chat about the role or to arrange a visit to see us in action.
Applications will be considered upon receipt, and we reserve the right to appoint someone sooner than this if we identify a suitable candidate. You are therefore encouraged to apply for the role as soon as possible.
We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of our Trust. We strive to create a diverse and inclusive environment and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If you need any specific support or require alternative formats, please contact us.
Epsom Downs Day Nursery is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. It is a requirement for the successful applicant to undertake a school issued Enhanced DBS check, subscribe to the update service and accept the responsibility for providing and safeguarding the welfare of all pupils and children. ID documents and evidence of address will need to be produced at interview; which for the successful candidate will form the basis of proceeding with a DBS check.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. All Epsom Downs employees are deemed to be in regulated activity with children and as such, all offers of employment are subject the above mentioned check and any other deemed necessary by the school. All shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a declaration regarding offences and have references requested (unless agreed otherwise), prior to the interview.
Epsom Downs Day Nursery is committed to being an equal opportunities employer promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a supportive and inclusive working environment in which all individuals are able to make best use of their skills. Applications are invited from all members of the community. We do not discriminate against staff on the basis of age; race; sex; disability; sexual orientation; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; religion, faith or belief (Equality Act 2010 protected characteristics). The principles of non-discrimination and equality of opportunity also apply to the way in which we treat our visitors and volunteers.