Unit Coordinator (Babies)

Reports to

Nursery Manager

Our mission

To provide exceptional early years care in a safe, nurturing and fulfilling environment whilst inspiring children to unlock their full potential through key skills and values which will establish them as gifted citizens of the world.

Our vision

To be a nursery where teaching is fun, and learning is easy.

Our values

We are caring

We are kind, gentle, calm, and welcoming. We respect the children, each other, and our environment. We teach the children and are ready to listen and learn from them. We build trusting, supportive, and non-discriminatory relationships in the best interests of the child. We have sensitive, responsive, and expressive interactions between practitioner and children. We celebrate each child’s unique perspective and take children seriously as active and competent members of society.

We are energetic

We play, learn, and laugh together, spending time outdoors and encouraging children to be active, confident, and joyful participants. We provide experiences which inspire creativity and nurture curiosity, enabling children to be independent, resilient, and successful. We grow, eat, and cook together, building skills for a healthy future.

We are innovative

We uphold traditional theories and pedagogies, but constantly review, research, and reflect. We listen to ideas and are ready to embrace them. We are proud to be leaders in progressive childcare.

Your duties

Lead & inspire

  • Lead your area of responsibility in accordance with Snapdragons polices & procedures and Ofsted requirements.
  • Ensure supervisions are organised, scheduled and managed within your unit.
  • Liaise with the Early Years Manager for the completion of annual appraisals and six-month reviews at a time to suit both parties.
  • Address matters of poor performance with the individual staff member in an appropriate manner and follow up with the Early Years Manager if performance issues are persistent.
  • Use the Competency Framework to support practice and performance.
  • Ensure the Characteristics of Effective Learning underpin your team’s understanding of learning and development.
  • Demonstrate impeccable interpersonal skills and communicate with colleagues of all levels so common goals can be achieved.
  • Always treat the children with respect and take their voice and views into consideration within everything you do.
  • Role model resilience and a can-do attitude and be able to work under pressure.

Parent Partnerships & Customer Service

  • Ensure that first impressions are professional and long lasting for parents / prospective parents and visitors and these are maintained.
  • Help staff to establish strong professional relations with parents through training and role modelling.
  • Set targets for apprentices and less confident staff about speaking with the parents and monitor handovers.
  • Ensure parents receive timely and appropriate communication about upcoming events, accidents or any other matters concerning their child.
  • Always view feedback from parents positively and take their views into consideration in future planning as much as possible.
  • Provide parents with ways to share their views.
  • Encourage and allow time for parents to discuss their child.
  • Communicate all of the wonderful initiatives we do at Snapdragons with their children.
  • Ensure handovers avoid the generic “they were fine” comments.
  • Role model parent partnerships and customer service standards.

Staff Morale & Training

  • Identify training needs for individual staff members.
  • Utilise the bank of training resources or seek advice on appropriate training.
  • Manage learning time for apprentices within your team.
  • Assign appropriate mentors for all new staff.
  • Complete full unit inductions with new staff members, weekly observations, and performance meetings.
  • Be available for support and guidance when needed and offer strategies for problems that your team face.
  • Complete regular staff observations and encourage peer to peer observations.
  • Ensure all apprentices have a qualified mentor assigned.
  • Ensure your team and any cover staff understand the age and stage norms.
  • Support new colleagues and mentor others who are new to their position or have transferred.

Team, Parents and Children

  • Ensure that first impressions are professional and long lasting for new employees, parents / prospective parents, and children and these are maintained.
  • Ensure transitions are managed effectively for both children and their parents and liaise with all involved in advance.
  • Avoid rigid transition procedures by responding to children’s individual needs / parental preferences and ensure transition documentation is completed ahead of the confirmed date by parents.
  • Use up to date supporting paperwork to support staff with conversations with new parents. e.g. settling in book.

Organisation, Admin & Efficiency

  • Monitor staffing levels, staff absence, annual leave and plan shifts in advance.
  • Ensure staffing arrangements comply with statutory requirements with regards to ratios, qualifications, and specialist training.
  • Ensure registers are completed and children are always signed in and out efficiently.
  • Be visually present in your unit and check in with the teams in case they need support.
  • Be available for support and guidance when needed and offer strategies for problems that your team face.
  • Role model good practice, high levels of motivation, passion, and energy.
  • Support staff in completing additional paperwork relating to your unit, e.g. two-year progress checks, transition documents for school or a new setting, SEND assessments etc.
  • Have an overview of all matters relating to your unit and potential areas of concern.
  • Identify children who would benefit from additional monitoring paying particular attention to vulnerable / disadvantaged groups e.g. SEND, 2YF, EAL, EYPP summer born and looked after children.
  • Ensure all new families are made to feel welcome and have access to ParentZone and things are prepared ahead of their first settling in session e.g. peg picture, keyworker allocation etc.

Policy and Procedure

  • Ensure all policies and procedures are followed at all times.
  • Manage any parent complaints promptly and in line with the complaints policy and procedure and ensure the Early Years Manager is informed.
  • Ensure all relevant documentation is displayed e.g. code behaviour & safeguarding flowcharts, code of kindness etc.
  • Ensure all staff remain up to date with policies updates and maintain their policy checklist.
  • Oversee the staff matrix for your team to ensure compliance & suitability.
  • Follow GDPR and confidentiality processes at all times.
  • Follow and demonstrate our code of professional conduct at all times and role model this to other staff members.

High Quality & Going the Extra Mile

  • Spend time with each group / team so that you can ensure high quality practice is in place and maintained.
  • Plan parent partnership days and special events with your team and ensure they are executed to a high standard and support the Early Years Manager / other senior colleagues with general nursery / company events e.g. open days.
  • Organise and attend regular parents’ evenings, events, and team meetings.

EYFS & Activity, SEND and Planning and Assessment

  • Formulate, operate, and evaluate a programme of activities suitable for your age group in line with the EYFS.
  • Have an awareness of inclusion and differentiation, showing regard to children’s needs and interests.
  • Ensure your team know how to effectively observe, monitor, and record development for children.
  • Assess the quality of the key person relationship within your unit and ensure staff understand the significance of building strong bonds and showing a genuine interest in the children.
  • Cater for individual needs and the development of all children and their health, safety, and wellbeing.
  • Provide opportunities which encourage independence, self-motivation, and eagerness to learn.

Knowing the children and your unit

  • Allocate your time efficiently so that you can spend time within practice with the children and working alongside your team, so you have an overview of all children and staff in your specific unit.
  • Test staff knowledge regularly, so they are able to talk about their key children when questioned and recite policy and procedure knowledge and understanding.
  • Assess the quality of the key person relationship within your area of work and ensure staff understand the significance of building strong bonds and showing a genuine interest in the children.

Safeguarding & Health and Safety

  • Ensure procedures / rotas are in place so the cleanliness and hygiene within the nursery is maintained to the highest of standards at all times.
  • Update risk assessments where necessary and asked to do so.
  • Ensure all new resources to your unit are risk assessed and fit for purpose.
  • Ensure the environment adheres to our health and safety policies and procedures and any required checks are documented in line with our policies e.g. medication, nappy changing, daily building checks, temperature checks etc
  • Make sure all environments are safe, including kitchen & toilet areas, which should be kept to a clean and hygienic standard.
  • Ensure that children’s dietary & medical requirements are always followed, and any changes are immediately reported to the appropriate people i.e. Chef / keyworker.
  • Ensure your team have a secure knowledge and understanding of the safeguarding policies and procedures and the culture reflects this.
  • Regularly audit completed paperwork to ensure compliance and that staff’s knowledge of safeguarding and health and safety is strong and this is openly questioning frequently.

Inspiring Environments

  • Ensure there is an ethos of care towards resources, e.g. not leaving outside, tidied away before going to the garden etc.
  • Ensure resources are labelled to keep toys organised and that more expensive equipment is securely stored between use.
  • Complete regular audits to ensure an adequate and appropriate range of resources is available for continuous provision and planned activities.
  • View your unit with a fresh perspective from the point of entry to the point of exit on a regular basis.
  • Provide an innovative and creative environment.
  • Strive to provide an attractive and stimulating range of age appropriate activities both indoors and outdoors.
  • Ensure environments are safe, including kitchen & toilet areas, which should be kept to a clean and hygienic standard.
  • Ensure displays are innovative, interactive, and changed regularly. Use large images of the children and display their work and achievements.

Expertise, CPD and Personal Development

  • Read up to date guidance and legislation, keeping on top of statutory frameworks.
  • Be aware of supporting documents and how they are used e.g. development matters, differentiated outcomes, SEND code of practice etc.
  • Read relevant magazine articles.
  • Provide an innovative and creative environment.
  • Attend and research training for yourself and your team.
  • Ensure environments are safe, including kitchen & toilet areas, which should be kept to a clean and hygienic standard.
  • Remain up to date with your own CPD including TES Develop online training courses and ensure your policy checklist and training matrix reflects this.

What you need

Essential

  • Enhanced DBS
  • Aged 18 or over
  • Minimum of a Level 3 qualification specific to Early Years as defined by the Department for Education
  • At least one years’ post qualifying experience working within an Early Years setting
  • Specific knowledge and experience of working with your specialised age group
  • Foundation Safeguarding Awareness Training
  • A sound knowledge of child development for children from birth to five years.
  • An understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage
  • An understanding of a play-based approach to children’s learning and development
  • Knowledge and understanding of the statutory framework for the relevant statutory regulations and the inspection processes of regulatory bodies
  • Knowledge and understanding of the key legislation related to childcare and education
  • Knowledge of safeguarding procedures.
  • Ability to engage with colleagues and parents
  • A willingness to undertake relevant further training as and when required
  • Good communication skills both written and verbal
  • Ability to engage and interact positively with children
  • Able to follow instructions and work using own initiative as necessary
  • Reliable, responsible, trustworthy, and motivated
  • Commitment to safeguarding children at all times
  • Previous appointment as a Head of room
  • A good role model who is able to lead and inspire a team
  • Demonstrate reliability and have a good attendance record
  • A confident and sensitive communicator with both adults and children
  • Excellent organisational and time management skills
  • Be able to work under pressure without supervision
  • Be self-disciplined, patient, honest, flexible, enthusiastic, and energetic
  • A confident and sensitive communicator with both adults and children
  • Excellent organisational and time management skills
  • Be able to work under pressure without supervision
  • The ability to ensure the delivery of outstanding care and education
  • Display a professional attitude and manner
  • The ability to implement and manage change
  • The ability to liaise with outside bodies in a professional manner
  • An understanding of and commitment to Equality & Diversity.
  • An understanding of Health and Safety in the workplace.
  • A willingness to support at other units / setting as reasonably required.

Desirable

  • Experience of working with children 0 – 5 years
  • GCSE 4+ in English and Maths (A – C)
  • Food Hygiene Certificate
  • Paediatric First Aid Training (12 hours)
  • Emergency First Aid at Work (1 day)
  • Enhanced Safeguarding Training
  • Managing a team of 5+ people
  • Prior appointment as a Unit Coordinator
  • Experience of quality assurance schemes
  • A higher-level qualification i.e. Foundation Degree in Early Years / Early Childhood Studies Degree / EYP/T / QTS.
  • Level 3 / 5 in Leadership and Management