Job Description:

Level 3 Nursery Practitioner / Early Years Educator

Locations: Lewisham, Vauxhall, Tooting and Balham
Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week
Shifts: Between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, including 8:00 am–6:00 pm or 9:00 am–6:00 pm depending on the nursery
Salary: Competitive and dependent on experience, qualifications and location

Are you a Level 3 qualified Nursery Assistant, Nursery Practitioner, Early Years Educator or Early Years Practitioner ready for a fresh start?

Perhaps you enjoy working in early years but need:

• A nursery closer to home

• A better salary

• A more supportive working environment

• A different age group or room

• Greater responsibility and progression into leadership

• A setting where your ideas and experience are valued

Tendly Recruitment is recruiting for welcoming nurseries across Lewisham, Vauxhall, Tooting and Balham. We have opportunities for experienced practitioners, passionate newly qualified Level 3 educators and ambitious Level 2 practitioners who want to complete their Level 3 qualification and progress towards Room Leader responsibilities.

Choose the room that suits you

Baby Room

You will build close, reassuring relationships with babies and their families while supporting feeding, bottles, sleep routines, nappy changes and sensory play. You will observe each baby’s development, plan suitable activities and provide thoughtful handovers to parents about their child’s meals, sleep, mood and progress.

Toddler Room

You will support toddlers through a busy stage of language development, growing independence and emotional expression. Your day may include toilet training, messy play, stories, outdoor learning, helping children manage feelings and supporting positive interactions. You will work with your team to organise routines, maintain ratios and make transitions calm and enjoyable.

Preschool Room

You will help children develop the confidence and independence they need before starting school. You will plan purposeful activities around children’s interests, complete observations and next steps, support early communication, literacy and maths, and encourage children to solve problems, make choices and manage everyday tasks independently.

What you will be responsible for

As a Nursery Practitioner or Early Years Educator, you will:

• Take responsibility for a key group of children and build strong relationships with their families

• Complete meaningful observations and use them to plan realistic next steps

• Set up engaging activities based on the children’s interests and stage of development

• Support daily room routines, staff deployment and safe ratio coverage

• Give parents clear, professional updates at collection time

• Work closely with Room Leaders and contribute ideas during planning and team meetings

• Maintain safe, inviting play spaces without losing valuable interaction time with the children

• Recognise and report safeguarding concerns promptly

• Support new or less experienced team members as you develop towards leadership

Who we would love to hear from

You may currently be working as a:

• Level 3 Nursery Practitioner

• Level 3 Early Years Educator

• Level 3 Early Years Practitioner

• Level 3 Nursery Assistant

• Nursery Nurse

• Baby Room Practitioner

• Toddler Room Practitioner

• Preschool Practitioner

• Level 2 Nursery Practitioner looking to progress to Level 3

You should be warm, dependable and genuinely interested in children’s development. Experience is welcomed, but we will also consider newly qualified Level 3 practitioners who can demonstrate passion, initiative and a strong understanding of the EYFS.

If you are Level 2 qualified, we would still like to hear from you if you are serious about completing your Level 3 qualification and progressing towards senior or leadership responsibilities.

Why apply through Tendly?

We take the time to understand what you want from your next nursery role—including your preferred location, age group, salary, working environment and career goals. We can then introduce you to suitable nursery opportunities across Lewisham, Vauxhall, Tooting and Balham.

Apply today to discuss your next Level 3 Nursery Practitioner, Nursery Assistant, Early Years Educator or Early Years Practitioner opportunity.