Level 3 Early Years Practitioner - Trauma-informed / Mental Health
Mole Valley, Surrey
Permanent Contract, £26,000 per annum
ASAP / Easter start
Full-time, term-time only
*** Interviews are arranged ASAP ***
There are Early Years roles, and then there are roles that genuinely change the course of a child’s life. This is one of the latter.
We are looking for a Level 3 qualified Early Years Practitioner who wants more than a standard nursery or reception setting can offer, someone who understands, or is genuinely drawn to, working with children whose early experiences have made the world feel unsafe, confusing, or overwhelming.
If you have worked with children with SEMH needs, Autism, developmental trauma, or complex communication differences, or if you have personal experience that has given you real insight into what these children need, then this role deserves your attention.
The School
The children here primarily present with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, alongside Autism/ASC, communication differences, and the complex effects of developmental trauma.
This is not a mainstream setting with a resource base bolted on. The entire school has been built around the needs of these children, from the physical environment to the therapeutic model that underpins every interaction. The school holds formal Trauma-Informed status and operates using a PACE-informed approach (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy), grounded in the neuroscience of developmental trauma.
The school has an exceptional in-house therapy offer, including Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Play Therapy, Educational Psychology, therapy dogs, mentoring, and wilderness therapy. You will not be doing this alone.
Main Responsibilities
- Supporting children within small group and one-to-one settings, using a nurturing, relationship-based approach.
- Helping children with sensory regulation, recognising when a child is dysregulated and knowing how to respond calmly and consistently.
- Adapting your communication to meet individual needs, including supporting non-verbal or pre-verbal children.
- Working closely with class teachers, therapists, and wider support staff to implement individual support plans.
- Observing and recording children’s development, progress, and well-being accurately and thoughtfully.
- Supporting transitions, both within the school day and across learning environments.
- Contributing to a structured, predictable, and emotionally safe environment that allows children to engage with learning.
- Attending regular supervision, CPD, and training is taken seriously here.
Requirements
- Qualified Level 3 Early Years Practitioners with experience of SEND, SEMH, or developmental delay.
- Nursery or reception staff who have supported children with Autism, communication difficulties, or dysregulated behaviour and want to specialise.
- Children’s residential support workers or family support workers with a strong understanding of trauma and attachment.
- Learning mentors or behaviour support workers from schools or community settings.
- Psychology or child development graduates looking for a meaningful, hands-on role in practice.
- Those with lived or personal experience of SEND, whether through a sibling, their own child, or care experience, who bring genuine empathy and insight.
- People who have supported non-verbal young people, or those with significant sensory or communication differences.
If you are interested in this Level 3 Early Years Practitioner position, apply now or contact Heeji Moon at Parker Smith Inclusion.