Vacancies are advertised alongside a job description and person specification. All candidates wishing to apply must fill in an application form. The Manager and Deputy Manager will choose a shortlist of applicants by matching the applicant to the job description and the person specification.

During this time, names and personal details are not looked at. Each shortlisted applicant is invited to spend part of a morning or afternoon at the nursery. Their interaction with the children will be observed by both the Manger and Room Leader

The applicant will then be interviewed by a panel consisting of the Manager and the deputy (and a third person for higher posts). All those on the interview panel will ask questions that have been prepared and agreed between them in advance. Notes are taken during the interview to aid later discussion and decision-making. After all applicants have been interviewed, the interview panel will meet to discuss and choose the correct person for the job.

All posts are subject to a clear enhanced DBS disclosure (which includes the Protection of Children Act list/List 99 check), and references. The results of these checks are kept in the staff members file at all times for Ofsted to see and are updated annually to check for any changes to them.

At Blossom Patch Nursery, we have 3 different categories of contracted staffs:

The first category consists of staffs contracted to term times only. They are contracted to work 38 weeks of the year during term times, but are asked for occasional cover.

The second consist of staffs contracted on full-time basis. They are contracted to work 52 weeks of the year.

The third is our bank staffs. They are called upon to cover holidays booked in advance or occasionally called at the last minute if a regular member of staff is taken ill.

At Blossom Patch Nursery, we don’t have a high turnover of staff because we have a very open relationship between staff and management. The Manager is always available if a member of staff wishes to discuss any aspect of their job, or home life, which affects their working day. We always try to be as flexible as possible with our staff, as long as it bears no negative effect on the children in our care.

If a staff member had a grievance in the first instance they would speak to the Manager and together they would try to find a suitable outcome for both parties. If this could not be resolved we would follow our Grievance Policy. (See separate policy)