Nursery Assistant

Role overview

Grandir UK is hiring a caring and energetic Early Years Assistant for Toad Hall nursery in Rayleigh. This position sits within a child-centred setting where the main focus is to support children’s wellbeing, spark curiosity, and help them develop and flourish each day. The nursery offers a supportive team culture, flexible working, strong employee benefits, and opportunities to build a long-term career.

The salary for this role is £20,800 to £25,396.80, depending on experience and qualifications, with regular pay reviews.

About the nursery

Toad Hall is a purpose-built nursery with four spacious and bright playrooms, including dedicated spaces for different age groups and a sensory room for quieter or more focused activities. Children transition between rooms according to readiness. The typical group structure includes Otters for babies, Toads for toddlers, Badgers for preschool children, and Moles for older preschoolers.

The nursery also has a woodland-style outdoor garden designed to support active play and development. It includes climbing equipment, a sandpit, a mud kitchen, and a gardening area. In addition, children take part in local community visits, with families sometimes joining as helpers for trips such as visits to the library and other nearby attractions.

The nursery is located on the grounds of Wyburn Primary School on the outskirts of Southend-on-Sea, with good access by car and direct bus routes from Southend-on-Sea and surrounding areas.

Key duties

• Provide close supervision and continuous support for children throughout the day.
• Help set up and oversee activities under the direction of Level 3 qualified practitioners.
• Play a part in keeping the nursery environment attractive, warm, and engaging for children.
• Follow company policies, procedures, and day-to-day operational practices carefully.
• Maintain a consistently positive approach with children, parents, visitors, and colleagues.
• Join team meetings, planning sessions, and training whenever required.

Benefits

• 35 days of annual leave including bank holidays, with 3 of those days taken during the Christmas shutdown.
• Christmas and New Year closure period.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Substantial childcare discount.
• £500 refer-a-friend incentive.
• Pension plan with employer contributions.
• Statutory Sick Pay available from the first day.
• Life assurance cover for employees aged 18 to 65.
• Recognition as a Great Place to Work, based on colleague votes.
• Enhanced maternity and adoption pay at 100% for the first 12 weeks.
• Paternity leave paid at 100% for 4 weeks.
• Up to 4 weeks of paid parental bereavement leave.
• Up to 2 weeks of paid compassionate leave.
• Up to 2 weeks of paid miscarriage leave.
• An additional Wellbeing Day for personal time off.
• After 2 years of service, access to The Grand Event, which can provide up to an extra week of annual leave for a major life event.
• Employee discounts through a benefits portal, including retail brands, gym memberships, cinemas, M&S, and major supermarkets.
• 24/7 remote GP access.
• Medical cashback support for dental care, physiotherapy, and alternative treatments.
• Year-round recognition, rewards, and team celebrations.
• In-house training tailored to the role and real chances to progress.
• Strong sustainability commitment, including Carbon Literacy trained teams and Eco Schools accreditation.

Additional information

Grandir UK is dedicated to safeguarding children and young people. An enhanced DBS check is required and will be arranged through an approved third-party provider.

The organisation is an equal opportunity employer and makes hiring decisions based on merit. AI-assisted tools may be used during recruitment for tasks such as application screening and reference checks, but final decisions are made by the hiring team.

Applications are reviewed as they come in, and the employer may close the role earlier than expected.