Early Years Practitioner (Nursery Assistant) (24025-0326)

Location

University of Warwick Campus, Coventry

Department

Wellbeing & Safeguarding - Operations & Community Wellbeing (Nursery)

Position Type

Permanent

Hours

10 Hours Per Week

Salary

£23,915 pro rata

About the Role

Informal Queries

• For informal queries about the role, please contact Jo Warren, Nursery Manager at J.Flowerswarwick.ac.uk, or call the nursery on 02476523389.

Background Checks

• This role will require a Enhanced DBS check.
• If you are included on a Child’s barred list, you will be breaking the law by applying for this role.

As a member of the university nursery team, you will play an essential role in supporting the children and nursery staff over the lunch time and staff breaks.

Working from 12.00noon to 2.00pm Monday - Friday you will work closely with the children to assist them with their lunchtime meal, including helping babies and young children to feed themselves. You will also help the children after lunch to get ready for their afternoon nap, which could include personal care routines, as well as playing with any children who are not napping.

This post is for 52 weeks of the year with 26 days annual leave.

About You

We would not expect you to have any professional childcare qualifications, although applicants with these would be very welcome. However, you must have a genuine interest in working with young children and babies. You must have a strong team working instinct and be able to be flexible in your approach.

Strong, robust Safeguarding policies and procedures exist across the setting to provide a safe environment for all babies and young children, keeping them safe from harm, as well as all adults using the setting. You must have an understand of safeguarding within the Early Years sector and know that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

For details on the experience and skills required, please refer to the job description attached as a PDF below.

About the Department

The university nursery has a long history of providing excellence in Early Years Care and Education, having been judged as outstanding by OFSTED three times since 2011.

The nursery provides full day care for children aged between 3 months and 5 years and is open all year round, except for the period between Christmas and the new year when we are closed.

The nursery is in a beautiful area of the main campus beside the lake in the Lakeside Village. We have a purpose-built nursery which can accommodate up to 78 children. We employ 36 staff including apprentices, Early Years practitioners, admin staff and support staff. You will be joining a well-established team and be part of a supportive organisation.

About the University

We are a world-leading research-intensive university founded in 1965. We are ranked 74th in the world and 9th in the UK.* Additionally, 92% of our research is rated world-leading or internationally excellent.**

Find out more about us at warwick.ac.uk/about/ .

* World University Ranking 2026 , Complete University Guide 2026

** Research Excellence Framework 2021

How to Apply

CLOSING DEADLINE: Monday 30th March 2026 at 11:55pm (UK Time)

To apply, please click APPLY below and submit your application by the closing deadline.

You will be asked to include a CV and cover letter. Within these documents, please:

1. Outline your employment and education history (including your most recent employment).

2. Outline the reasons for your interest in this position.

3. Demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the role with clear reference to each of the essential and desirable criteria in the Job Description (PDF attached below).

Any gaps in employment history must be explained, and r eferences will be requested of all shortlisted candidates before interview.

• Interview Date: To be confirmed
• Start Date: To be confirmed

Applications must be submitted by the closing deadline. Only applications submitted through our Careers Portal ( ) will be considered.

You are welcome to include any careers breaks you may have taken (e.g. parental/caring/long-term sick leave).

Please note that if you do not evidence the essential criteria, the hiring panel may not be able to shortlist your application. For guidance on how to format a cover letter, see here .

What we Offer

We provide a comprehensive range of benefits, including:

• An attractive pension scheme.
• 26 days holiday plus University Christmas closure.
• Generous parental/adoption leave policy.
• Onsite childcare facilities.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.

We recognise the importance of a healthy work/life balance and offer access to flexible working arrangements. Find out more about our flexible working arrangements .

We are proud to be a Living Wage employer .

Our Commitment to Inclusion

To find out more about our commitments to equality, diversity, and inclusion, please see: Our Commitments University of Warwick

Job Description

JD Early Years Practitioner (24025).pdf - 221KB

Right to Work in the UK

We wish to advise applicants that this role is not eligible for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa. If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK you will need to check the UK Government Website to see if you are eligible to obtain the right to work in the UK through one of the other UK immigration routes before you make your application.