Nursery Practitioner

Newlyn School is seeking a warm, positive and motivated Level 3 trained Nursery Practitioner to join our growing Early Years team on a fixed term basis in the first instance. We are looking for someone with a calm, nurturing approach who also brings ambition, creativity and high expectations for every child. Our ideal candidate will be passionate about supporting young learners to grow, explore and thrive in a rich and inspiring environment. As a Nursery Practitioner at Newlyn School, you will work closely with teaching colleagues and Early Years staff to deliver high‑quality learning experiences through play‑based, child‑centred provision. You will be confident in leading small groups, supporting individual children, and contributing to purposeful activities that promote communication, early literacy, early mathematics, social development and independence. In the Early Years at Newlyn School, every interaction matters. We are looking for a practitioner who can provide: High‑Quality Interactions Engage children in purposeful conversations that extend their language, curiosity and critical thinking. Use open‑ended questions, modelling, repetition and rich vocabulary to deepen learning. Tune in to children’s interests and follow their lead, supporting sustained shared thinking. Emotion Coaching & Nurture Use emotion coaching strategies to help children understand, label and regulate their feelings. Support children to develop empathy, resilience and positive relationships through co‑regulation. Model warm, predictable and emotionally safe interactions that build trust and confidence. Progressive, Play‑Based Learning Plan and facilitate rich, meaningful experiences in continuous provision that link directly to learning goals. Adapt activities so children of all needs and abilities can access, explore and progress at their own pace. Observe children closely and use these observations to shape next steps in learning. Early Phonics & Pre‑Literacy Support children with early phonics, focusing on developing listening skills, sound discrimination, oral blending and segmenting. Create playful, multisensory opportunities for early reading and mark‑making. Build early literacy confidence through songs, rhymes, rhythm, storytelling, and sound‑rich environments. This dedicated EYFS practice is woven into everything we do; the right candidate will bring enthusiasm, curiosity and professional skill to each moment of learning through play. The successful candidate will: Support the planning and delivery of engaging, inclusive Early Years learning opportunities. Work 1:1, with small groups and as part of whole‑class provision under the guidance of the Nursery management team and EYFS Lead. Help create a nurturing, stimulating environment where every child feels safe, valued and able to thrive. Contribute to observations, assessments and next steps that inform children’s progress and development. Support personalised provision, incl