Deputy Nursery Room Lead (with EYFS SEN Focus)

Deputy Nursery Room Lead (with EYs SEN Focus) – Supporting Inclusive Practice Across a Pioneering Early Years Setting
Location: Woodlands Primary School, Ellesmere Port
Position: 40 hours per week | Term-Time with some additional Holiday hours | Permanent after statutory probationary period if applicable
Salary: NJC Grade 6 £27,269-£30,060 Pro-rata)

Start Date: 1st September 2025

Be Part of a Ground-breaking Early Years Vision

Woodlands Primary School is proud to be home to the first nursery baby room in a CWAC primary school, expanding our popular early years provision to now include children aged 9 to 36 months. As part of this pioneering initiative, we are seeking a Grade 6 Deputy Room Lead to work across both our new 9–24 month baby room and our well-established 24–36 month nursery room.

This key role blends operational leadership support with a specific focus on inclusive practice and SEN support, ensuring every child receives the care, guidance, and provision they need to thrive. The successful candidate will work closely with both nursery room Leads, school SENCo, and the wider EYFS team to create an enabling, nurturing environment for all children — especially those with additional needs.

What Makes Us Unique

The first school-based baby room in CWAC, offering integrated care and education from infancy.

A highly inclusive setting rooted in school-wide values, where emotional wellbeing and individual needs are prioritised.

A chance to work across both nursery classrooms, gaining a broad skillset and developing strong leadership skills.

Direct support from the school’s Senior Leadership Team, SENCo and Early Years Lead, plus access to Local Authority CPD and networking.

An opportunity to influence and embed best practice in early identification and support for SEN.

Key Responsibilities

Support Room Leads in the day-to-day running of both nursery rooms, including planning, resourcing, and delivery of high-quality care and learning.

Deputise for Room Leads in their absence.

Work alongside colleagues to identify and support children with emerging or diagnosed SEND, liaising with the SENCo, parents and external professionals.

Model inclusive strategies and differentiated approaches, including those relating to communication and language, sensory integration, and social-emotional development.

Support implementation of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and SEND Support Plans, ensuring provision is consistent and effective.

Contribute to staff development by sharing expertise and modelling best practice in inclusive pedagogy and child-centred care.

Act as Key Person for a group of children, ensuring their learning and care plans are inclusive, responsive, and regularly reviewed.

Foster strong and trusting relationships with families, especially those whose children require more specialist or targeted support.

What We’re Looking For

A Level 3 Early Years qualification (or above), with recent experience in nursery or pre-school settings.

A strong understanding of child development from 9–36 months, including knowledge of the EYFS, Birth to Five Matters and inclusive teaching practices.

Practical experience supporting children with additional needs, including speech, language and communication, social and emotional needs, and sensory profiles.

Familiarity with EYIF, EHCP processes, SEND Code of Practice (2015), and multi-agency working.

Ability to work flexibly across two rooms, adapting to the needs of different age groups and supporting a collaborative staff team.

Excellent communication, record keeping, and reflective practice skills.

A proactive, compassionate, and team-oriented approach — committed to equity, care and continuous improvement.

What We Offer

A unique opportunity to work in a first-of-its-kind nursery setting embedded within a mainstream primary school.

The chance to shape and influence inclusive early years practice from the earliest stages of a child’s life.

A supportive and ambitious leadership team who value innovation and staff wellbeing.

Access to a wealth of CPD, including Local Authority EY training, and potential routes into SEND coordination or leadership support roles.

A newly developed, well-resourced early years environment with age-specific outdoor learning areas.

A strong team ethos with a focus on professional trust, compassion, and child-centred care.

Visit to school offered on Wednesday 21 May at 4pm.  Please email or phone school to book.

Any questions or to find out more, please contact Sue Moss, 0151 329 3164 /admin@woodlands.cheshire.sch.uk

How to Apply

Closing Date: 12:00, Monday 2nd June 2025
Interviews: 4th–6th June 2025

Woodlands Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to enhanced DBS clearance, Occupational Health questionnaire, online search and satisfactory references.