Windrush Valley Prep School & Nursery is a small, nurturing independent school for children aged 3–11, situated in the heart of the Cotswolds in Ascott-under-Wychwood.

Our size is one of our greatest strengths. Every child is known as an individual and benefits from the warmth, attention and sense of belonging that comes from being part of a close-knit school community.

Our approach combines high expectations with outstanding pastoral care. Through our core values of Effort, Kindness and Responsibility, we encourage children to become confident, independent, curious and compassionate learners.

The Nursery is an integral part of Windrush Valley and provides children with an inspiring and nurturing introduction to school life, establishing strong foundations for their future learning and development.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, caring and experienced Nursery Lead to take responsibility for the day-to-day leadership, organisation and educational provision of our Nursery for children aged 3–4.

The Nursery Lead will create a happy, purposeful and stimulating environment in which children feel safe, secure, valued and excited to learn. They will ensure that the Nursery provides a broad, ambitious and developmentally appropriate curriculum which enables every child to make strong progress from their individual starting points.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a secure understanding of Development Matters and how it supports the implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). They will understand how children’s knowledge, skills and development progress, using this guidance to prepare children for Reception and support them towards the Early Learning Goals (ELGs) at the end of the EYFS.

Working as an important member of the wider Early Years team, the Nursery Lead will combine excellent Nursery practice with strong curriculum knowledge, leadership, organisational and interpersonal skills and will share Windrush Valley’s commitment to providing every child with the best possible start to their education.

Leadership of the Nursery

• Take responsibility for the effective day-to-day running and educational leadership of Windrush Valley Nursery.
• Provide positive, supportive and professional leadership to Nursery staff.
• Maintain high expectations for the quality of education, care, behaviour and professional practice.
• Lead the effective implementation of the Nursery curriculum and ensure consistently high-quality provision.
• Planning and preparation for the Nursery.
• Organise and deploy Nursery staff effectively, ensuring children are appropriately supervised and supported throughout the day.
• Ensure Nursery staff understand the intended learning, developmental priorities and individual needs of the children.
• Support, guide and develop Nursery staff and model excellent professional practice.
• Monitor the quality of adult-child interactions, teaching, continuous provision and the learning environment.
• Maintain a welcoming, stimulating, well-organised and purposeful Nursery environment.
• Work closely with the Headteacher, Head of Early Years, SENDCo and other colleagues to evaluate and continually improve Nursery provision.
• Contribute positively to the wider development of Windrush Valley Prep School & Nursery.

EYFS Curriculum and Learning

• Demonstrate a secure understanding of Development Matters and how it supports the implementation of the EYFS Statutory framework.
• Understand how effective Nursery provision establishes the foundations children need to progress successfully through Reception and towards the Early Learning Goals at the end of the EYFS.
• Ensure the Nursery curriculum is broad, ambitious, appropriately sequenced and responsive to the developmental needs of children aged 3-4.
• Ensure clear progression in children’s knowledge, understanding, skills and development from their individual starting points.
• Provide rich and engaging learning experiences through purposeful play, exploration, conversation, stories, creativity, practical experiences and appropriately planned adult-led learning.
• Provide an effective balance between adult-guided learning and opportunities for children to initiate, explore and develop their own learning.
• Ensure strong provision across all seven areas of learning: Communication and Language; Personal, Social and Emotional Development; Physical Development; Literacy; Mathematics; Understanding the World; Expressive Arts and Design.
• Develop children’s early communication, language, literacy and mathematical understanding through high-quality everyday experiences and interactions.
• Encourage children’s curiosity, confidence, independence, resilience and enthusiasm for learning.
• Ensure the learning environment and continuous provision are purposeful and reflect the curriculum, children’s interests and identified learning priorities.

Assessment, Pupil Progress and Next Steps

• Know every child as an individual and maintain a clear understanding of their starting points, strengths, interests and developmental needs.
• Monitor the progress and development of individual children and the Nursery cohort.
• Use professional knowledge, observation, interaction with children and appropriate assessment information to understand what children know, can do and need to learn next.
• Ensure assessment is meaningful, proportionate and used to improve teaching and provision rather than creating unnecessary paperwork or excessive evidence gathering.
• Identify appropriate next steps for children’s learning and development.
• Use assessment information to adapt teaching, adult interaction, continuous provision and the learning environment.
• Ensure children receive appropriate levels of support and challenge.
• Identify children who are making strong progress and ensure that they continue to be appropriately challenged.
• Identify children who may not be making expected progress or who may have emerging additional needs.
• Work closely with the SENDCo and other colleagues to ensure appropriate support is put in place and its impact reviewed.
• Regularly review pupil progress with the Head of Early Years and/or Headteacher.
• Consider the progress of individual children as well as patterns across the Nursery cohort to identify strengths, gaps and priorities for improvement.
• Ensure Nursery staff understand children’s individual needs and how their interactions and provision can support children’s next steps.
• Contribute to the school’s wider analysis and evaluation of pupil progress and outcomes.

Transition and Continuity into Reception

• Work closely with Reception and the wider Early Years team to ensure clear curriculum continuity and progression.
• Understand how Nursery learning provides the foundations for the Reception curriculum.
• Develop strong links with the Reception teacher so that children’s knowledge, skills, development and individual needs are understood as they move into the next stage.
• Ensure transition arrangements are carefully planned and responsive to individual children’s needs.
• Provide Reception colleagues with relevant information regarding children’s achievements, development, interests, additional needs and appropriate next steps.
• Support children socially, emotionally and educationally so that they approach Reception confidently and positively.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to evaluate the effectiveness of transition and identify opportunities to strengthen progression across the Early Years.

Outdoor Learning and Enrichment

• Make full use of Windrush Valley’s Cotswold setting and outdoor environment to enrich children’s learning.
• Support and contribute to Forest School and outdoor learning opportunities.
• Ensure outdoor provision supports the Nursery curriculum and children’s progress across the areas of learning.
• Encourage children to explore the natural environment, develop confidence and independence and experience appropriate challenge and managed risk.
• Promote creativity, physical development, music, stories, imaginative play and practical learning as integral parts of Nursery life.
• Contribute to the school’s wider enrichment opportunities.

Pastoral Care and Wellbeing

• Create a warm, happy and nurturing environment in which every child feels safe, secure and valued.
• Develop strong and positive relationships with children.
• Promote Windrush Valley’s values of Effort, Kindness and Responsibility through everyday Nursery life.
• Support children’s emotional, social and physical development.
• Encourage positive friendships, sharing, turn-taking, cooperation and consideration for others.
• Develop children’s independence and confidence through age-appropriate responsibilities and routines.
• Promote positive behaviour through strong relationships, clear expectations and consistent routines.
• Ensure children’s personal care needs are met sensitively, respectfully and professionally.
• Recognise that children’s wellbeing and sense of security are fundamental to successful learning and development.

Safeguarding

• Place the safety and wellbeing of children at the heart of all Nursery practice.
• Understand and follow Windrush Valley’s safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures.
• Always maintain appropriate supervision of children.
• Ensure relevant statutory staffing, qualification and supervision requirements are maintained.
• Maintain high standards of health, safety and hygiene within the Nursery.
• Ensure appropriate risk assessments and procedures are followed for activities, outdoor learning, trips and visits.
• Record and report accidents, incidents, concerns and safeguarding matters appropriately.
• Act immediately and appropriately if there are concerns regarding a child’s welfare.
• Ensure Nursery staff understand and fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities.

Relationships with Parents

Strong relationships between school and home are central to the Windrush Valley approach.

• Build warm, professional and trusting relationships with parents and carers.
• Ensure parents feel welcomed and involved in Nursery life.
• Communicate regularly with families regarding their child’s experiences, wellbeing, learning and development.
• Prepare, plan and deliver parents evenings.
• Provide parents with a clear understanding of their child’s progress, strengths and areas for development.
• Value information from parents about children’s interests, experiences and development at home.
• Respond sensitively and professionally to parental questions and concerns.
• Support children and families during the settling-in and transition processes.
• Contribute to Nursery open mornings, prospective-parent visits and admissions activities.
• Represent Windrush Valley Nursery positively and professionally to current and prospective families.

Working as Part of the Early Years and Wider School Team

The Nursery is the beginning of a child’s journey through Windrush Valley Prep School and is an integral part of the school.

• Work collaboratively with Early Years colleagues to provide continuity and progression for children.
• Develop strong links with Reception and the wider school.
• Participate in relevant staff meetings, pupil-progress discussions, training and professional development.
• Contribute to whole-school events, celebrations, assemblies and activities where appropriate.
• Share good practice and work collaboratively with colleagues across the school.
• Support Windrush Valley’s ethos of being a close-knit community where every child is known and valued.

Quality Assurance and Development

• Regularly evaluate the quality and impact of Nursery provision.
• Contribute to Nursery development planning and wider school improvement priorities.
• Monitor the implementation and impact of the Nursery curriculum.
• Support the Head of Early Years and Headteacher in evaluating children’s progress and the quality of education.
• Identify strengths in provision and areas requiring further development.
• Contribute to learning walks, professional discussions and other appropriate quality-assurance activities.
• Ensure Nursery provision reflects statutory requirements and the school’s expectations for high-quality teaching and learning.
• Contribute to preparation for inspection and be able to articulate clearly the Nursery curriculum, how it is implemented and the impact it has on children’s learning and development.

Administration and Organisation

• Maintain appropriate Nursery records and documentation.
• Ensure registers and required records are accurate and up to date.
• Handle confidential information appropriately and in accordance with school policies.
• Monitor attendance and raise concerns where appropriate.
• Ensure Nursery resources, equipment and learning environments are well maintained and organised.
• Ensure policies and procedures relevant to Nursery provision are implemented consistently.
• Ensure documentation relating to children’s development and progress is purposeful, proportionate and useful.

Essential

The successful candidate will:

• Hold an appropriate Level 3 or higher qualification relevant to working with young children.
• Have significant successful experience of working with children in the Early Years.
• Have experience of taking responsibility within a Nursery or Early Years environment.
• Have a secure understanding of the EYFS statutory framework.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of the seven areas of learning and development.
• Understand the Early Learning Goals and how Nursery provision establishes the foundations for children to work towards these during Reception.
• Have an excellent understanding of child development, particularly for children aged 3–5.
• Understand how to plan and implement an ambitious, developmentally appropriate and progressive Nursery curriculum.
• Understand the Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning.
• Demonstrate an understanding of effective Early Years assessment and how assessment should inform teaching and provision.
• Be able to monitor children’s progress from their individual starting points and identify appropriate next steps.
• Be able to identify children requiring additional support or challenge and adapt provision accordingly.
• Demonstrate high standards of Nursery teaching and practice.
• Understand the importance of effective continuous provision and high-quality adult-child interactions.
• Have a strong understanding of safeguarding and children’s welfare.
• Be able to lead, support and motivate colleagues.
• Have excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Be able to develop excellent relationships with children, parents and colleagues.
• Have high expectations for children’s learning, behaviour, development and wellbeing.
• Be enthusiastic about outdoor, creative and play-based learning.
• Be warm, patient, positive and approachable.
• Demonstrate a genuine commitment to ensuring every child receives the best possible start to their education.
• Support and promote the ethos and values of Windrush Valley Prep School & Nursery.

Desirable

• A Level 4, 5 or 6 qualification relevant to Early Years or education.
• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) or other relevant professional status.
• Previous experience as a Nursery Lead, Room Leader, Senior Nursery Practitioner or similar.
• Experience of leading or contributing to Early Years curriculum development.
• Experience of using Tapestry.
• Experience of using the Jolly Phonics scheme.
• Experience of monitoring and evaluating children’s progress and using this to improve provision.
• Experience within an independent or preparatory school environment.
• Paediatric First Aid qualification.
• Forest School experience or qualification.
• SEND experience or relevant training.
• Experience supporting children’s transition from Nursery to Reception.
• Experience contributing to Early Years quality assurance or inspection preparation.

Windrush Valley Prep School & Nursery is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. This post involves regular contact with children and involves engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. Safeguarding responsibilities form an integral part of this role.

The successful applicant will be subject to the school’s safer recruitment and pre-employment procedures, including appropriate identity, qualification, employment history and reference checks, an enhanced DBS check and a children’s barred list check. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, as amended.

All staff are expected to understand and fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities and undertake appropriate safeguarding training.

Windrush Valley Prep School & Nursery is committed to equality of opportunity and welcomes applications from suitably qualified candidates.

The Nursery Lead will be expected to demonstrate high standards of professional conduct, confidentiality and integrity and to act as a positive role model for children and colleagues.

The postholder will take professional responsibility for ensuring that the Nursery provides high-quality education and care and will be able to demonstrate a clear understanding of what children are learning, how well they are progressing and how Nursery provision prepares them for the next stage of their education.

The postholder will actively support the ethos of Windrush Valley Prep School & Nursery and its commitment to Effort, Kindness and Responsibility, helping to create a Nursery in which children are happy, confident, curious, independent and excited to learn.

The Nursery Lead will undertake other reasonable duties appropriate to the role as required by the Headteacher.

This job description is intended to provide an overview of the role and is not exhaustive. It may be reviewed and amended to reflect the developing needs of Windrush Valley Prep School & Nursery.