Job at a glance
Ark Start is growing - come and join us and be part of the founding team opening our first setting in Yorkshire! We are looking for a Level 3 qualified Room Leader to join the team at our brand new setting - Ark Start Priestthorpe in Bingley. In this role you will provide the highest standards of physical, emotional, social, and intellectual care for all children in your care, you'll ensure all children are safeguarded and their welfare and safety are promoted, and you'll work to provide an enabling environment in which all children can play, learn and develop.
We are looking for people with genuine passion for young children, with the skill, creativity, commitment, energy, and enthusiasm required for leading room practice. You'll be able to take learning beyond the classroom and interact with outdoor and forest learning, cooking, and gardening - this won't just be another day in the classroom!, Lead the planning and delivery of high-quality learning experiences, adapting activities in response to children's interests, needs and teachable moments.
Create and maintain an engaging, stimulating and inclusive environment that reflects the Ark Start vision and supports children to learn, play and thrive. Work collaboratively with colleagues to implement the curriculum effectively, identifying resource requirements and supporting the development of inspiring learning opportunities. Lead by example in all aspects of practice, modelling the Ark Start approach and supporting colleagues to deliver consistently high standards of care, learning and professionalism.
Build strong partnerships with families, leading settling-in visits, nursery tours and, where appropriate, supporting sensitive conversations to ensure the best outcomes for children. Foster a welcoming, open and supportive culture for families, providing guidance and signposting to additional services where appropriate. Champion safeguarding, compliance and operational excellence, ensuring policies, procedures and daily checks are consistently followed and concerns are escalated appropriately.
Support the accurate maintenance of children's records and family communications, ensuring information is kept up to date through nursery systems. Work closely with the SENDCo and wider team to identify and support children with additional needs, contributing to support plans and ensuring strategies are effectively embedded in daily practice. Promote a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and teamwork, ensuring the room operates to the highest standards.
Genuine Work-Life Balance: Our full-time roles are based on 37.5 hours per week, and we don't expect you to work beyond that. We are able to offer the working hours for this role to be worked over a four-day working week. We recognise that our practitioners do their best work when they have time to recharge, which is why we are committed to maintaining clear boundaries between work and personal time.
Training and Development: We are passionate about continuous professional development, but we don't believe learning should come at the expense of your personal time. Any required training or development will be scheduled within your working hours. It's our responsibility to fit development opportunities into your work schedule, not yours to complete them outside of work. A Culture of Learning: As part of the wider Ark network, you'll benefit from access to a wealth of expertise, resources, and professional development opportunities.
You'll join a collaborative community where continuous learning, knowledge-sharing, and career progression are actively encouraged and supported. A Team That Values You: At Ark Start, you're more than a practitioner. You'll be part of a mission-driven organisation that values your contribution, invests in your development, and supports you to build a rewarding and sustainable career in early childhood education.
About Us Our dedicated team work together to ensure that every child has a joyful, enga