Jobs and Careers

Are you passionate about creating magical moments for young children?

If you’re a playful and energetic individual with a heart for inspiring children’s young minds, we invite you to join our dynamic nursery team!

We are looking for two fun and engaging practitioners (one Pre-School Assistant and one SEN Pre-School Assistant), who do not mind getting messy, whether this be in our grand art studio, painting and exploring our slime tray or in our mud kitchen making mud pies and potions with our children. Our children love to sing, dance and make lots of noise, therefore practitioners applying should be aware that this is not a quiet nursery. It is a nursery full of laughter, music and loud noises!

Two caring practitioners who have a genuine love and passion for working with children and who will help us create a nurturing environment for them on their journey at St Oswald’s are encouraged to apply.

You will need to be a strong communicator, work well within in a team, be enthusiastic and good at multi-tasking.

The SEN Assistant should also be able to manage children with high level needs and challenging behaviour, communicate effectively, have knowledge of carrying out support plans, targets and developmental journals, have good communication skills with parents and professionals and some understanding of strategies for managing children’s individual needs and know how to implement them.

Salary Scale 1(i) 3-5 Salary Point 3 bar at SCP 4

£24,027 – £24,404 per annum (£12.45 – £12.65 hourly rate)

To start Wednesday 3^rd September 2025, fixed term until 17^th July 2026

Term-time with holiday / retainer pay (as appropriate) during school holidays

35.75 hours per week per week Monday to Friday

8:30am – 3:45pm plus two hours planning on a Monday evening

St. Oswald’s Pre-School is an Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ facility, providing care and education during school term-time only, for children from 2 years of age. 

The roles will be based across both the pre-school room (ages 3-4) and the ‘tots’ room (ages 2-3) where required.

Applicants must hold a Level 3 Diploma or higher childcare qualification, with sound knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage and have previously worked in an early years setting. Experience of working with SEN children is preferred, and for the SEN assistant post, this is essential.

A current Disclosure and Barring Service check will be required for this post.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please note CVs will not be accepted for this post. Application forms can be obtained by telephoning 01325 300700, e-mailing info@great-aycliffe.gov.uk and are linked below – please ensure you clearly identify which position you are applying for (Pre-School Assistant or SEN Pre-School Assistant).

If you would like to complete the application form electronically and email it back to us or submit it via the form below, please use the attachment in green below.

If you would prefer to print the application form and complete it by hand, please click here to download: FINAL PRINTABLE Application Form 2025 PDF

Closing Date: Thursday 17th July 2025 12noon.

Interviews to be held Wednesday 23rd July 2025.

For further details or an informal discussion about the post, please telephone Julie Gale, Pre-School Manager on 07968 379009.