Level 3 Early Years Practitioner - Mole Valley, Surrey
SEMH, Autism, ADHD support
Full-time (term time only), Permanent Contract
Easter Start
Interviews taking place ASAP
If you have worked in Early Years for any length of time, you will already know that the earliest experiences matter more than anything else that comes later.
For some children, nursery and early education are the first places where they learn whether adults can be trusted, whether their needs will be noticed, and whether they are safe enough to explore the world around them.
This role is for someone who understands that deeply.
I am working closely with a small, independent specialist setting in Surrey that supports young children with additional needs and early developmental trauma. Almost all placements are funded through EHCPs, and the provision has been designed from the very beginning to be trauma-informed and relationship-led.
The setting
This is a specialist Early Years provision supporting children who may present with:
- Early indicators of SEMH
- Developmental delay
- Communication and interaction needs
- Sensory processing differences
- Attachment and regulation needs
The environment is low-arousal and predictable, with a strong focus on emotional safety and co-regulation. There are no reward charts or punitive approaches. All behaviour is viewed as communication, and adults respond with patience and curiosity rather than correction.
Children are supported to feel regulated and secure first, knowing that learning grows naturally from there.
The role
As a Level 3 Early Years Practitioner, you will play a key role in supporting children at a crucial stage of their development.
Your role will involve:
- Creating a safe, nurturing, and predictable environment
- Supporting early communication, play, and emotional regulation
- Building strong, trusting relationships with children and families
- Observing children carefully and contributing to individual support plans
- Working closely with teachers, therapists, and families
This is a hands-on role where presence, warmth, and consistency matter more than pace or paperwork.
Therapeutic support
You will be working within a setting where therapy is embedded into daily practice, not added on later.
The wider team includes Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Educational Psychology, and creative therapies. You will be supported to understand how therapy strategies translate into everyday interactions with young children.
You are not expected to have all the answers; you are expected to be open to learning and reflection.
Support for staff
This setting takes staff wellbeing seriously because regulated adults create regulated children.
Staff benefit from:
- Daily reflection practice is built into the working day
- A supportive, open culture where questions are encouraged
- Friday afternoons are dedicated to team planning and reflection
- Protected 30-minute lunch breaks
- A structured induction programme over your first several weeks
You will not be rushed, thrown in, or left to figure things out on your own.
Who this role suits
This role would suit someone who:
- Holds a Level 3 Early Years qualification
- Has experience supporting young children with additional needs
- Is calm, patient, and emotionally attuned
- Understands the importance of early attachment and regulation
- Wants to work in a setting that aligns with their values
It is not suited to someone looking for a fast-paced, numbers-driven nursery role.
If this Early Years Practitioner position interests you, please apply today or contact Heeji Moon at Parker Smith Inclusion.
INDQUAL