Nursery Practitioner

Overview

Closing date: 02 March 2026

Due to expansion, we're looking for full and part-time Level 3-qualified Nursery Practitioners to join our Sunshine Day Nursery teams at Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital and Northern General hospital.

Offering year-round childcare to NHS and hospital staff, each site cares for up to 144 children and features dedicated baby, toddler, and pre-school units, extended opening hours (6.30am to 7pm), alongside a school holiday club at the Northern General.

We pride ourselves on giving children the best start in life, and our great staff are committed to giving children a fun, social, stimulating, and safe environment for them to develop and thrive.

As well as day-to-day child caring, you'll also be responsible for preparing and organising a wide range of learning activities and resources for the children, as well as maintaining good communication and relationships with parents.

We're looking for people who share our enthusiasm, commitment, and high standards to delivering fantastic childcare. To apply, you'll need your Level 3 Early Years / Childcare qualification, and a sound knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) standards.

Being part of the NHS, you'll also have access to a wide range of rewards and benefits you won't find in the private sector - from pay progression, great annual leave and NHS pension, flexible hours, discounts with local and national shops and retailers, discounted travel, childcare with us, and more.

• To support the Senior Nursery Practitioner in ensuring an excellent quality service and to be a good role model and support Childcare Assistants, Apprentices and Students with their development and practice.
• To be responsible for providing an interesting and stimulating environment which is well organised and facilitates independence and resourcefulness for the children.
• To ensure the development of good quality learning opportunities and activities, inside and outside which provide an interesting, inclusive and stimulating environment.
• Providing excellent care and educational opportunities for the children within your care.
• To ensure the organisation, preparation and collection of resources in the nursery in a timely manner.
• Planning and implementing activities and experiences which are appropriate for children of all ages and stages of development using the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework and Ofsted guidelines.
• Preparing children's work for display, ensuring that it is well presented and promotes self-esteem.
• Providing information displays for parents and carers.

You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all of its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its staff. This includes a firm commitment to professional development of its staff together with the provision of an excellent health and well-being support service.

Sunshine Day Nurseries are part of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Staff training and development is really important to us, and we offer the chance to do further childcare qualifications and progression towards childcare coordinator roles, as well as a variety of regular in-house and external courses.

Please note this advertisement is for both permanent and fixed term/secondment opportunities.

Please note this advertisement is for both full time and part time opportunities.

1 x 37.5 hour post for this vacancy is advertised on a fixed term contract basis for a period of a maximum of twelve months due to maternity leave of the substantive post holder. The fixed term contract status of the post holder will be reviewed in accordance with the Trust's legal obligations regarding fixed term contracts and statutory maternity provisions.

Please note all existing NHS staff will only be considered on a secondment basis. This must first be agreed with your current line manager.

Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.

When completing your application please ensure that you clearly…