Lead Outdoor Early Years Practitioner - HAZLEHEAD OUTDOOR NURSERY

Job Purpose:

Before applying for this job, it is important that you read the Applicant Guidance by clicking on this link and the Job Profile attached. These explain the job role and the type of person we're looking for.

Location: Hazlehead Outdoor Nursery, Hazlehead Avenue, AB15 8QY

Duration: Fixed Term, Term Time Full Time (Also available as a secondment opportunity)

Roles that require PVG Membership

Please note that with effect from 1 April 2023, where a role requires PVG membership, candidates will be required to meet the cost of the PVG membership. This applies only to roles with a full time equivalent salary of £30,000 and above. (Teaching roles and jobs at Grade 12 and above (currently £32,555 per annum / £16.92 per hour)

The Council will pay for the PVG membership cost initially, either £18 for existing PVG scheme members, or £59 for non-members, and this cost will be deducted from an employee’s first FULL month’s salary payment.

About The Role

Does interacting with children bring you joy? Are you eager to be an important part of supporting children's development? Do you have a love of nature and being outdoors? Are you able to inspire and support staff to utilise natural spaces to benefit children's learning and development? If so, this is a great opportunity to lead a passionate and skilled Outdoor Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) team at Hazlehead Outdoor Nursery. Please note that this position is within an Outdoor ELC provision, so desire, ability and love of being outside in all weathers is essential. This role can be offered as a Fixed Term contract or secondment opportunity.

Job Purpose

To provide effective day to day operational leadership of the outdoor Early Learning and Childcare service using local and national policies, guidelines and procedures, to ensure the delivery of high quality outdoor Early Learning and Childcare for children and families.

To lead, supervise and inspire a team of practitioners to deliver innovative, high quality outdoor Early Learning and Childcare, which meets the individual needs of children and families.

To assist the Outdoor ELC Manager in developing the outdoor Early Learning and Childcare provision through family and community engagement/learning services and collegiate working opportunities to ensure improved outcomes for children and their families.

The post holder needs to hold as a minimum:

• HNC Early Education and Childcare /S/NVQ Level 3 Children’s Care and Development
or equivalent.
• Registration with or eligibility to register with SSSC.
• PVG Membership for Regulated work with Children and/or Protected Adults or
willingness to obtain prior to a formal offer of employment being made.

The postholder is able to demonstrate:

Skills and Experience:

• Experience leading a team and/or an area of ELC provision to improve outcomes for
children and families.
• Ability to model, inspire and empower staff to develop a pedagogy which results in
high quality outdoor practice and best outcomes for children and families.
• Experience and/or knowledge of outdoor pedagogy, practice, and research.
• Experience of and/or commitment to developing skills in outdoor practice.
• Ability to lead child-centred planning, implementation, and evaluation of learning,
embedding a meaningful and relevant curriculum in the outdoors.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills (non-verbal, verbal and written),
with the ability to relate to a variety of service users and stakeholders.
• Flexible and creative work ethic with the ability to use initiative.

Knowledge:

• Child development Pre-birth to 8.
• National and local regulatory frameworks related to ELC.
• National and local guidance, policy and procedures related to ELC.
• National and local outdoor play and learning guidance and legislation and how to
embed in ELC practice

Commitments to:

• The principles and aims of Aberdeen City Council.
• Undertake relevant professional learning that meets the requirements of the
registered body.
• Subject to a staffing needs analysis, the post holder must develop their outdoor
practice.
• Maintain registration and Code of Practice with SSSC.
• Children’s rights, wellbeing and development and the importance of extended
outdoor play in all seasons, whilst respecting and caring for the environment.

About Us

Please see Job Profile for further details.

Aberdeen City Council is an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Flexible Working

We are happy to talk flexible working and offer flexible working for most roles in the organisation meaning that many of our employees enjoy the freedom of choosing a working pattern that suits them as much as it suits the organisation.

Disability Confident

We are a Disability Confident Employer.  If you consider yourself to have a disability and think you may require a reasonable adjustment to be made for this part of the selection process, or would like further information in relation to reasonable adjustments, please contact AskHR@aberdeencity.gov.uk.

Armed Forces

We are a forces-friendly employer, have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and are a silver award recipient in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.  We have a specific email address for those in the forces, those who have left the forces, as well as their partners / spouses / families: armedforces@aberdeencity.gov.uk.  We are able to answer questions about jobs and our application / selection process, as well as about our employee support provisions.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

We have a number of guaranteed interview schemes available to applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our roles and who:

• have a disability
• are care-experienced and aged 16-29
• are aged 16-24 and live in Aberdeen City or have been to an Aberdeen City Council school and are applying for a Modern Apprenticeship (except Trades apprenticeships)
• have done a Foundation Apprenticeship with Aberdeen City Council and are applying for any apprenticeships relevant to the area in which they did their Foundation Apprenticeship
• are New Scots aged 16-24 and are applying for any apprenticeships

Further information can be found at https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/jobs