Job summary
- Main area
- Early Years Childcare
- Grade
- Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent: Maternity Cover Opportunities Also Available
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Flexible working
- Compressed hours
- Job ref
- 188-FTTHQ020326
- Employer
- University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- University Hospital Southampton
- Town
- Southampton
- Salary
- £25,760-£27,476 Per Annum (Pro rata for part-time)
- Closing
- 08/04/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Qualified Nursery / Early Years Practitioner
Band 3
Job overview
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS) is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.
Please see below for detailed job description of the role.
This vacancy does not meet the Home Office threshold for sponsorship; therefore we are unable to accept applications from candidates who do not have the right to work in the UK.
Main duties of the job
Taplins Nursery is proud to offer opportunities for Level 3 Qualified Early Years Practitioners to join our exceptional team. If you’re passionate about giving children the best start in life and want to work in a nurturing environment where you are genuinely valued, we’d love to hear from you.
Our nurseries are part of University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS), one of England’s leading NHS Trusts, offering excellent benefits, strong job security, and outstanding development opportunities.
We are recruiting full‑time and part‑time practitioners across permanent roles and a 12‑month maternity cover. Please indicate your preferred working hours in your application, as we offer genuine flexibility wherever possible.
You will be based at either Taplins SGH (Southampton General Hospital) or Trust Taplins (Western Community Hospital). Both nurseries are modern, purpose‑built, and dedicated to supporting NHS families.
As part of our team, you’ll enjoy a supportive working culture, generous NHS holiday allowance, excellent training opportunities, and access to staff discounts and wellbeing resources.
Our nurseries are open Monday–Friday, 7:00am–6:30pm, and closed on bank holidays. Full‑time roles typically offer a 4‑day working week, supporting a positive work–life balance.
If you meet the essential criteria in the person specification, we will contact you to discuss your application and current vacancies further.
Working for our organisation
University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.
Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.
We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalizing your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.
At UHS we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.
At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
At Taplins, we care for children aged 3 months to 5 years in bright, welcoming spaces including:
- Spacious outdoor play areas
- Craft and messy‑play rooms
- Sensory and cosy sleep spaces
- High‑quality resources and equipment
As an Early Years Practitioner, your responsibilities will include:
- Creating a safe, secure and stimulating environment
- Planning and delivering engaging EYFS‑based activities
- Acting as a key person and building strong relationships with children and families
- Maintaining developmental records and online journals (Tapestry)
- Supporting children with additional needs in partnership with our SENDCo
- Ensuring high standards of cleanliness, hygiene and safety
- Assisting with meal preparation and supervision
- Working collaboratively as part of a positive and supportive team
Why work for Taplins?
- Generous NHS holiday allowance – 35 days’ leave including bank holidays, rising with length of service and exceeding most private nursery offerings
- NHS Pension Scheme – one of the highest‑value and most secure pension schemes in the UK
- Excellent job security – working within an NHS Trust with robust HR policies that ensure fair treatment, consistency, and proper procedures, so you can trust that your contract and terms are respected
- Clear pay progression – annual incremental increases linked to experience and length of service
- Stable, contracted hours – consistent and reliable working patterns with no weekend working, no bank holidays, and no last‑minute shift change
- Flexible working opportunities – including a full‑time 4‑day working week option to support a healthier work–life balance
- Generous NHS paid leave – providing financial security during unexpected times
- Enhanced family‑friendly policies – including maternity, paternity, adoption, and parental leave in line with NHS standards
- Outstanding training and development opportunities – supporting continuous learning, professional development, and career progression
- Supportive, experienced management team – committed to staff wellbeing, development, and creating a positive, inclusive working culture
- Robust governance and safeguarding standards – giving confidence you are working in a safe, well‑regulated environment
- Modern, purpose‑built nursery environments – bright, spacious settings designed to support high‑quality early years care
- Blue Light Card eligibility and staff discounts – access to a wide range of savings, offers, and everyday discounts
- Meaningful work within the NHS – contributing to a public service that supports healthcare staff, families, and the wider community
Safeguarding
Taplins Nurseries and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
All roles are subject to appropriate pre-employment checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and verification of qualifications and references.
The successful candidate will have specific safeguarding responsibilities, as outlined in the job description and person specification.
We look forward to receiving your application. If you meet the essential criteria included in the person specification document, a member of our team will be in touch to find out more and discuss available opportunities.
Person specification
Qualifications, Training and Experience
Essential criteria
- Good standard of secondary education with literacy and numeracy skills demonstrable to GCSE pass level or equivalent standard
- Willingness and ability to undertake Food Safety training
- Recent previous experiences of working with 3 months – 5-year-olds within a childcare setting
- To hold a full and relevant Level 3 Early Years Qualification (in accordance with https://www.gov.uk/guidance/early-years-qualifications-finder ) or above. If level 3 qualified post June 2016, to also hold a full paediatric first aid (PFA) or an emergency PFA certificate
Desirable criteria
- Current paediatric and/or first aid at work certificate if qualified pre- June 2016, or if candidate holds a qualification higher than level 3
- Current food hygiene certificate
Alignment with Trust Values
Essential criteria
- Patients First
- Working Together
- Always Improving
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Anna Rixon
- Job title
- Senior Nursery Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
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