Working in Nurseries: FAQs

At Affinity Workforce, we offer a range of nursery roles, including Nursery Nurses, Nursery Practitioners, Early Years Educators and Nursery Assistants.

Nursery Nurses and Practitioners provide essential support for children’s well-being and development and contribute to planning and implementing educational activities.

Nursery Assistants play a crucial role in day-to-day operations, ensuring a safe and clean environment. These roles collectively cover the early years.

Nursery workers typically work with children ranging from infancy, younger than 18 months, to around 5 years old. These early years are critical for a child’s development, and nursery workers play a vital role in providing care, support, and age-appropriate learning experiences for children during this formative stage.

Depending on the nursery setting, workers may interact with infants as young as a few months old, toddlers who are exploring their world, and pre-schoolers preparing for their transition to formal schooling. Adapting to the needs and developmental stages of children within this age range is central to the role of nursery workers.

To work in a nursery, we typically require the following qualifications and criteria: 

Essential: 

• Previous experience working with young children either in a school/nursery environment or other capacity 
• A good understanding of child protection and safeguarding guidelines 
• Two suitable references covering the last two years 
• Hold a valid DBS or be willing to obtain one 
• Right to work in the UK 
• Some nursery roles will require an NVQ or CACHE Level 2 or 3 or an Early Years qualification. Refer to the description of the job you are applying for 

Desirable: 

• A valid Paediatric First Aid certificate 
• A valid Safeguarding certificate 

If you’re interested in learning more about what nursery roles entail, including the qualifications, education requirements, skills, career paths and more, take a look at our job descriptions for Nursery Nurses and Nursery Assistants.

Working with young children in a nursery setting requires a unique set of personality traits to foster a positive and nurturing environment.

Essential traits include patience, empathy, adaptability, enthusiasm, effective communication skills, creativity, compassion, observational skills, teamwork, resilience, and a sense of humour.

These qualities collectively contribute to creating a warm, secure, and enriching environment that supports the development of young children in a nursery setting. 

Working in a nursery involves a dynamic and varied schedule. This includes morning preparation to ensure a safe and organised environment.

The day includes welcoming children and their parents, facilitating educational activities, overseeing meal and snack times, and allowing outdoor play for physical development. Communication with parents is essential. You will be required to provide updates and address any concerns.

The day concludes with the end-of-day routine, ensuring children are safely collected by their parents or guardians, and providing feedback on the day’s events. The focus is on maintaining a positive, nurturing, and safe environment that supports the well-being and development of the children. 

There are several benefits of registering with us. Here’s just a few:

• We offer a range of Early Years positions, and work with a variety of nurseries across England
• Diverse opportunities and access to a wide range of nursery roles to suit your lifestyle 
• Day-to-day, short-term and long-term cover opportunities
• Access to a dedicated consultant and personalised support throughout your childcare journey 
• Ongoing CPD support and training 
• Competitive pay rates 
• Access to Affinity Extra, our exclusive discounts and cashback offers 
• Earn £200* when you refer a friend 

All nursery staff registered with AWS get access to Affinity Academy, our dedicated hub for learning and development. It provides nursery staff with a wealth of resources, training materials, and information to enhance their skills and knowledge.

All nursery staff registered with us will have the opportunity to participate in online training courses designed to support their professional development. Why not take a look at our upcoming training sessions? 

As a registered candidate of AWS, you also have access to The Skills Network, where you can explore over 30 level 3 online learning courses that will help you upskill, reskill, and personally develop.   

At AWS, nursery staff who work on supply are paid on an hourly basis. These pay rates can vary but they are generally between £11 – £16 per hour. Pay rates will be reflected in the candidate’s experience, qualifications and skills. 

To start your childcare journey with us, simply get in touch by calling 0333 188 5710. Alternatively, apply for one of our nursery roles and we will contact you directly!