Childcare Worker at Damers First School Job at Dorchester, England, United Kingdom Full Time

Damers First School is thrilled to offer a unique opportunity for an experienced childcare worker to play a role in shaping our brand‑new, school‑based nursery, opening September 2026.

Annual Salary £19,848 to £20,162. Term time only, 39 weeks.

Damers School is a unique, child-centred, caring school with high aspirations for all pupils. We are an Eco school with big ideas and pride ourselves in helping every child thrive with a broad and balanced curriculum that offers many opportunities for each child to achieve their potential. We are delighted to be now adding provision for children aged 2 and up from September. Damers is located in the heart of Poundbury, an extremely supportive community in a fantastic Dorset location.

This exciting new provision will extend our current offer for children aged 4-9 and will be rooted in the strong ethos that defines Damers. Everything we do is guided by the Damers Way of Being: Brave, Unique, Caring & Kind. Alongside this, we have a long‑standing commitment to environmental responsibility and proudly hold Eco Green Flag status.

If you are passionate about early childhood education and excited by the idea of helping to design and grow a new nursery from the ground up, this role offers a rare and rewarding career opportunity.

As an Early Years Practitioner, you will play a key role in shaping the very first steps of our children’s learning journeys. Working within a safe, nurturing, and stimulating purpose‑built environment, you will help create the foundations for future success, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning.

We Are Seeking Practitioners Who

• Are enthusiastic, nurturing, and deeply committed to early childhood development
• Build warm, positive relationships with children and families
• Bring creativity and energy to designing engaging learning experiences
• Champion inclusion, equity, and high‑quality practice for every child
• Thrive as part of a collaborative, supportive school team

If you are excited by the opportunity to help establish and shape a brand‑new Early Years setting within a well‑respected and forward‑thinking school, we would love to hear from you.

Duties

• To assist the nursery teacher in providing a warm, welcoming, and inclusive atmosphere for children, ensuring their emotional and physical well-being.
• To carry out planned activities under the general guidance, direction and supervision of the EYFS lead and nursery teacher to maximise the development of each child.
• Contribute to the planning and delivery of a curriculum, which leads towards the meeting of agreed objectives and targets.
• Observe and assess children’s progress, providing feedback to parents and guardians on their development.
• Foster positive relationships with children, encouraging their social skills and independence.
• Collaborate with colleagues to maintain a high standard of care and education within the nursery setting.
• Manage behaviour effectively, ensuring a positive learning environment for all children.
• Drive initiatives that promote parental involvement in their child’s learning journey.
• Promoting and safeguarding the welfare of all children.

Essential Requirements

• Relevant level 3+ qualification in Early Childhood Education/working towards
• Be able to act under own initiative and make decisions.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both verbal and written, to engage effectively with children, parents, and staff.
• Experience working with children in a nursery or educational setting is essential.
• Strong organisational skills to manage daily activities efficiently while ensuring high standards of care.
• A genuine passion for working with young children and supporting their growth and development.