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Job summary

Main area
Childcare and Education
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 2
Contract
Bank
Hours
Flexible working - 0 hours per week (Working Monday to Friday - varied shift pattern)
Job ref
374-TWS/Nursery Assistant
Employer
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
First Steps Nursery
Town
East Sussex
Salary
£12.94 £12.94 + WTD
Salary period
Hourly
Closing
22/04/2026 23:59

Employer heading

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust logo

TWS Nursery Assistant 5

NHS AfC: Band 2

We are proud to provide ‘Outstanding’ care and be a great place to work.

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust provides safe, compassionate and high quality hospital and community care to the half a million people living in East Sussex and those who visit our local area. 


We are one of the largest organisations in East Sussex with an annual income of £700 million and we are the only integrated provider of acute and community care in Sussex. 


Our extensive health services are provided by over 8,000+ dedicated members of staff working from two acute hospitals in Hastings and Eastbourne, three community hospitals in Bexhill, Rye and Uckfield, over 100 community sites across East Sussex, and in people’s own homes. 


The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated us as ‘Good’ overall, and ‘Outstanding’ for being Caring and Effective. The Conquest Hospital in Hastings and our Community Services were rated ‘Outstanding’ and Eastbourne DGH was rated ‘Good’ Our two acute hospitals have Emergency Departments and provide 24 hour a day care, offering a comprehensive range of surgical, medical, outpatient and maternity services, supported by a full range of diagnostic and therapy services. 

 

Job overview

We are looking to recruit nursery practitioners to our Temporary Workforce Services to provide cover for Rainbows Nursery at First Steps Nursery at Conquest Hospital. The ideal candidates will have had some experience with children under the age of 5 years and a level 2 qualification in Childcare & Education (or equivalent) is desirable but not essential. 

The successful candidate also will need to demonstrate they have a good knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage, be an effective communicator and show flexibility in working hours during a week so that we can continue to provide flexibility within our service. 

In addition and as requested by the children within our nursery, they would like the successful candidate to:

be happy with a smiley face

- have lots of fun with us

- give good cuddles

- tell lots of stories (we like using lots of different props)

- do silly dances

- play lots of games with us

- play dressing up with us

- go on our outdoor adventures with us

- like to get messy!

Main duties of the job

To assist the Management team in providing the highest quality Childcare and Education, in a safe, caring and stimulating environment.

To look after and plan Educational Activities for the children attending the full day care services. To maintain child to staff ratios and work within and follow the Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education) and Trust procedures and policies.

Provide appropriate play opportunities and interact in a positive manner with the child/ren whilst in our care.

Assist in setting out rooms with toys and arrange furniture to enable children to access them.

Communicate effectively and with added detail to enhance child’s language and learning opportunities on one to one basis or within a group.

Communicate effectively to parents/carers and with concise detail about their child’s day ensuring good practice of shared information, which will benefit the child and parents/carers

Work within the framework of the nurseries behaviour management procedures when needing to discipline children.

Working for our organisation

We are proud to provide ‘Outstanding’ care and be a great place to work

We provide safe, compassionate and high quality care to half a million people living or visiting East Sussex. We are one of the largest organisations in East Sussex, the only integrated provider of acute and community care in Sussex. Our extensive services are provided by  7000 + members of staff working from acute hospitals in Hastings and Eastbourne, three community hospitals in Bexhill, Rye and Uckfield, over 100 community sites and in people’s own homes.

In 2020 the Care Quality Commission rated us as ‘Good’ overall, and ‘Outstanding’ for being caring and effective. The Conquest Hospital and our Community Services are rated ‘Outstanding’. Eastbourne DGH rated ‘Good’.

In 2020, the Trust launched its ambitious ‘Building for our Future’ programme. This once in a lifetime programme aims to repair, redevelop and expand our hospitals, transforming the environment in which we provide care for generations to come.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the job description attached.

 

If you have any questions about this position please do not hesitate to contact us.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Good general level of education including Maths and English
  • NVQ level 2 in Childcare and Education
Desirable criteria
  • Level 3 in Childcare & Education
  • Paediatric First Aid

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Previous experience working in a setting with the under 5’s age group
Desirable criteria
  • Experience working with babies
  • Experience working with children at holiday clubs
  • Experience of working with children with additional needs

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Understanding of the Early Years Goals and Foundation stage
  • Good organisational skills
  • Effective communication skills both verbal and non-verbal
Desirable criteria
  • Safeguarding training

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyDisability confident leaderImproving working livesCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality MarkGold Award 2026 - Wellbeing at Work - East Sussex

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Ciara Adam
Job title
TWS Office Supervisor
Email address
[email protected]
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