Nursery Assistant

Place of work: The Lodge Day Nursery

Ipswich School are seeking a Nursery Assistant ( Lunch Time Cover).

What is the main purpose of their role?

As a member of our nursery team, you will help us to deliver the EYFS curriculum, which ensures a high standard of physical, emotional, social and intellectual care for children attending the nursery. You will work closely with other staff to provide a stimulating, safe and caring learning environment appropriate to the needs of the children in our care.

What will the job entail?

We currently have part-time roles available in our nursery team, ideally for qualified people (or those who have relevant experience of working with young children and babies). You will work for 3.5 hours each day, 17.5 hours each week, on Mondays to Fridays throughout the year, to help us make sure we maintain our staffing ratios during the busy nursery lunchtime period.

Your responsibilities

• To work closely with the Room Leader, Deputy Room Leader and other staff to provide a stimulating, safe and caring learning environment appropriate to the needs of the children in the nursery.
• To work as a member of the nursery team to promote the physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of the children in the nursery.
• To plan, prepare and set out in an appropriate way, in cooperation with the room team, activities related to the nursery themes or agreed programme.
• To initiate, facilitate and evaluate programmes of activities (age appropriate) for groups and/or individuals, for example, story sessions, listening and reading, art and craft work, computer activities, cooking, music, dance, special needs activities in consultation with the nursery team.
• To ensure that the materials, equipment and resources are available for groups and/or individuals to undertake planned activities, to tidy up at the end of the session and to encourage children to help whenever possible.
• To share and at times to take sole responsibility for groups of children working in areas (both inside and outside under the direction of qualified staff) where a variety of activities are available, facilitating and enabling them by providing appropriate levels of support and interaction.

What you will need

• Previous experience of working with young children and babies.
• Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Services Check.
• Paediatric First Aid Certificate.

About us

We offer exceptional childcare provision for children aged 3 months to 5 years, in the centre of Ipswich. You will join a team of professional, qualified staff in a caring, supportive setting. The Lodge is easily accessible in the heart of Ipswich. Our attractive buildings offer bright, spacious rooms, a large garden and outdoor environment and we are situated close to Christchurch Park.

We work in partnership with families to ensure each child feels safe, secure and has plenty of opportunities to discover new adventures, learn, grow, and thrive. We have four age ranges: Discoverers, Explorers, Adventurers and Pre School and children move onto the next stage at the appropriate time, when they are ready for the next stage in their development. Our specially designed rooms provide the perfect environment for each age range and children always have regular access to our spacious garden and outdoor areas. Our Pre School class has a full-time qualified teacher during term-time to lead on the EYFS curriculum learning outcomes.

Our delicious food is locally sourced and cooked on the premises by our own chef. We provide food, selected nappies and milk.

The nursery opens all year round from 7.30 am until 6 pm (apart from one week over Christmas and one week in August).

We are thriving and looking for ambitious nursery professionals eager to grow their own careers, whilst helping us to provide the very best care for our growing numbers of children. We are seeking someone with the relevant experience, skills, qualifications and passion to be our part lunch time team.

What will offer you

Why should they choose your school?

What are the benefits about working there and unique selling points?

• You will be entitled to join our defined contribution pension scheme for support staff (the employer contribution rate is an attractive 10% of your gross pay), and you will receive three times your salary as death in service life cover. You will also join Smart Health, a wellbeing scheme for staff offering 24/7 online GP and mental health support.
• You will be able to use the school’s swimming pool and fitness gym free of charge and you will have a free freshly prepared lunch each day in School (when the school is in session). We also have (limited) free parking available for staff.
• We have a review and development scheme for staff, to assist in your professional development, and we have a fantastic track record of supporting our nursery staff in training and development activities and gaining further qualifications.

For more information

Please read the Job Description (pdf)

Please contact our HR department by calling 014730 408300 .

How to apply

To apply, please visit our website

Please submit your completed application form via email to the Director of HR: View email address on suffolkjobsdirect.org or to the school: Ipswich School, 25 Henley Road, Ipswich IP1 3SG

Please mark the envelope private and confidential. Please note that we cannot accept a CV in place of a completed application form for a position which involves working with children and young people.

Closing date: 12 pm, 28 August 2026.

Interview date: 8 September 2026.