Outdoor Early Years Practitioner

We’re Growing! The Forest at Merchiston is looking for a passionate, enthusiastic, and outdoor-trained Early Years Practitioner to join our incredible team.

Our Forest Nursery is a truly special place — a nurturing, inspiring environment where young minds are supported to grow, develop, and thrive.

If you're Forest School trained or have strong outdoor early years experience, and you're ready to be part of a dedicated and growing team, we’d love to hear from you!

This is a full-time, term-time only role based in the stunning grounds of Merchiston Castle School, where outdoor learning, exploration, and child-led experiences are at the heart of everything we do.

Our Forest Nursery is a truly special place — a nurturing, inspiring environment where young minds are supported to grow, develop, and thrive.

Key Responsibilities

· Deliver outstanding quality early learning and childcare services, emphasizing outdoor experiences.

· Provide focused care for assigned children, ensuring their active participation in high-quality early years activities.

· Cultivate a positive and welcoming atmosphere for children, parents, staff, volunteers, and visitors.

· Ensure adherence to all Forest Nursery policies and procedures.

· Collaborate effectively with parents, colleagues, and external professionals.

· Provide regular and constructive feedback to parents regarding their child's progress.

· Maintain accurate records of children's development and daily activities, updating Learning Journals portfolios and files accordingly.

· Plan engaging activities aligned with the Early Level of the Curriculum for Excellence, prioritizing children's developmental needs.

· Contribute to the ongoing enhancement of outdoor learning initiatives within the Forest Team.

· Actively engage in self-assessment and review processes to drive continuous improvement.

· Source and prepare materials necessary for delivering effective sessions.

· Pursue and engage in agreed upon continuing professional development opportunities.

· Assist in organizing and executing special nursery events.

· Mentor and support apprentices as directed, fostering their growth within the team.

· Represent the organization at external meetings and events as delegated by the Head of Nursery.

· Ensure the care, maintenance, and security of nursery premises and equipment.

· Participate in early learning and childcare events, marketing initiatives, Forest activities, and training beyond standard working hours as required.

Qualifications

· Qualified to at least SVQ level 3 or equivalent in childcare or holds a teaching qualification;

· Outdoor Learning training FOLA, Forest Kindergarten or FSA equivalent

· Registered, or eligible to register, with SSSC

Experience

· Experience of working with children within the age range 3 to 5 years

· Experience of planning, implementing, recording and evaluating stimulating and productive play and learning experiences for Early Years children in line with CfE

· Experience of planning, implementing, recording and evaluating outdoor learning experiences for children

Experience of implementing risk assessments and risk positive procedures in the early years outdoor setting

Skills/Knowledge

· Excellent working knowledge of the early level within the Curriculum for Excellence or EYFS

· Excellent knowledge of outdoor learning, including the underpinning history, ethos and processes, and how it can be used to facilitate the development of children

· Be familiar and effective in planning and assessing within the Early Years setting

· Excellent communication skills

· Ability to represent The Forest team in a professional manner and to build positive relationships with parents, childcare professionals and members of the community

Ability to work effectively within a team and collaborate with other team members

Benefits

• Company pension

• Cycle to work scheme

• Discounted or free food

• Employee discount

• Free parking

• Health & wellbeing programme

• On-site parking

Please email a copy of your CV to hr@merchiston.co.uk along with any other documents you wish to use to support your application. Please note, due to the high volume of applications expected for the role, we will only contact those who successfully move to the next stage.