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Nursery nurse and nursery assistant

Our nursery nurses and nursery assistants look after pre-school age children in NHS hospitals.

Working life

As a nursery nurse or a nursery assistant, you'll work with our young patients and their families primarily on children's wards. Some will also work in hospital nurseries looking after children of NHS staff. If you're a nursery assistant, you'll work under the supervision of a qualified nursery nurse.

girl looking at camera

The work of nursery nurses and nursery assistant includes:

  • making sure that children are safe, happy and stimulated
  • communicating information to children using play
  • supporting children during clinical procedures
  • encouraging children’s development
  • using play to maintain a child’s level of development during illness
  • creating a child friendly environment
  • maintaining toys and play equipment
  • finding ways to stimulate children particularly those with special and sensory needs
  • supporting carers in the parenting of their children

In addition, qualified nursery nurses may

  • supervise staff
  • coordinate a programme of activities for children
  • set up a daily routine for the nursery
  • attend meetings
  • work with other professionals within and outside the NHS
  • support children who have been abused
  • promote public health and parenting

Where will I work?

You could work in hospitals or in the community. In hospitals, this could include children's wards, nurseries and outpatients departments. In the community, you may work in health centres, community centres or children's centres. You might visit families at home, on your own or with health visitors [1]

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Who will I work with?

As a nursery nurse or nursery assistant, you'll work closely with parents and carers. As well as health play staff [2], you'll work with healthcare professionals such as nurses [3], health visitors [1] and midwives [4]. You may also work with social workers [5]

Entry requirements

There are no set entry requirements for nursery assistants. Employers expect a good level of literacy and numeracy and may ask for GCSEs or equivalent qualifications. Employers may ask for a childcare qualification such as NVQ or BTEC. They usually expect some experience of childcare, which could be voluntary or paid, including experience within the family or babysitting. Apprenticeships in a childcare related role are sometimes available. Find out more about apprenticeships [6].

Nursery nurses have qualifications in childcare or early years. This could be, for example,

  • NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Child Care and Education
  • BTEC National Diploma in Children's Care, Learning and Development
  • NVQ Level 3 in Children's Care, Learning and Development

To get onto a childcare course you need GCSEs, including English and maths, or equivalent qualifications.

The Department for Education’s Early Years Qualifications list [7] sets out the qualifications needed at each level of childcare.

If you're a nursery assistant, you'll work under the supervision of a qualified nursery nurse

Employers may also ask for qualifications in first aid or food hygiene.

Skills and personal characteristics

Nursery nurses and nursery assistants need to be:

  • caring and kind
  • interested in working with children
  • imaginative and fun
  • approachable and reassuring
  • willing to work with parents and carers
  • health and safety conscious
  • aware of child protection and safeguarding
  • excellent communication skills, including listening, with adults and children
  • good organisational skills
  • good observational skills

Training and development

You will get the training you need when you start the job including an introduction to the department and its procedures. Your training is likely to include food hygiene, first aid and safeguarding.

Nursery staff need to keep their skills and knowledge up to date. You will be able to attend ongoing training, sometimes on specific topics such as special needs.

Nursery assistants who do not have a childcare qualification will be encouraged to study for an NVQ, certificate or diploma. Both nursery nurses and nursery assistants may be offered the chance to study for further qualifications.

  • Nursery staff working in the NHS are paid on the Agenda for Change (AfC) [8] pay system. As a new entrant you would typically start on AfC [9] band 2 as a nursery assistant. As a nursery nurse, you would start at band 3 or 4. With further training and experience, you could apply for more senior positions - typically at managerial level - at band 5 or above. 

    Nursery nurses and nursery assistants in the NHS work standard hours of around 37.5 a week. They may work shifts including early starts and evenings.

    Terms and conditions will usually be different for nursery staff working outside of the NHS.

  • You could specialise in an area of childcare, such as special needs.

    With experience and further qualifications, nursery nurses can become managers of a nursery or project. They could progress further to become responsible for childcare provision in an area or NHS trust.

    Nursery assistants can apply to train as nursery nurses. Nursery nurses and nursery assistants can apply to train as a nurse [3] or midwife [4].

    There are opportunities in childcare outside the NHS.

  • If you're applying for a role either directly in the NHS or in an organisation that provides NHS services, you'll be asked to show how you think the NHS values apply in your everyday work. Find out more about NHS values. [10]

    Most NHS trusts advertise their vacancies on NHS Jobs [11]. Just some of the current vacancies are below. 

    Find a vacancy

    • Nursery Apprentice - Woodlands Nursery

      Frimley, GU16 7UJ

      Salary:
      £25427.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Nursery Apprentice - Woodlands Nursery job (opens in a new window) [12]
    • Nursery Nurse, Band 3- Little Apples Nursery

      Cheltenham, GL53 7BY

      Salary:
      £24625.00 to £25674.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Nursery Nurse, Band 3- Little Apples Nursery job (opens in a new window) [13]
    • Nursery Assistant

      Manchester, M13 9WL

      Salary:
      £24169.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Nursery Assistant job (opens in a new window) [14]
    • Nursery Nurse

      Maidstone, ME16 9NW

      Salary:
      £26530.00 to £29114.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Nursery Nurse job (opens in a new window) [15]
    • Nursery Nurse

      Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW

      Salary:
      £24625.00 to £25674.00
      Type:
      Secondment
      Employer:
      South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Nursery Nurse job (opens in a new window) [16]
    • Nursery Assistant

      St Leonards on sea, TN37 7RD

      Salary:
      £24169.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Nursery Assistant job (opens in a new window) [17]
    • Specialist Nursery Nurse

      St Helens, WA10 2DJ

      Salary:
      £26530.00 to £29114.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Nursery Nurse job (opens in a new window) [18]
    • Community nursery nurse

      Strood Rochester Kent, ME2 3FF

      Salary:
      £26530.00 to £29114.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Medway Community Healthcare
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Community nursery nurse job (opens in a new window) [19]
    • Perinatal Nursery Nurse

      Truro, TR1 2JA

      Salary:
      £26530.00 to £29114.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Perinatal Nursery Nurse job (opens in a new window) [20]
    • Band 3 Nursery Assistant

      Reading, RG30 2BA
      Maidenhead, SL6 6DU

      Salary:
      £13.13 to £13.79
      Type:
      Bank
      Employer:
      NHS Professionals Limited
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Band 3 Nursery Assistant job (opens in a new window) [21]
    • Nurseries - Join our Talent Pool!

      Reading, RG30 2BA
      Maidenhead, SL6 6DU
      Slough, SL1 2BJ

      Salary:
      £23615.00 to £26958.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Nurseries - Join our Talent Pool! job (opens in a new window) [22]
    • Community Nursery Nurse - Health Visiting

      Bromley, BR2 9JG

      Salary:
      £31081.00 to £33665.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Bromley Healthcare CIC
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Community Nursery Nurse - Health Visiting job (opens in a new window) [23]
    • Nursery Nurse Transitional Care/SCBU

      Bedford, MK42 9DJ

      Salary:
      £27485.00 to £30162.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Nursery Nurse Transitional Care/SCBU job (opens in a new window) [24]
    • Early Years Practitioner, First Steps Nursery

      Chertsey, KT16 0PZ

      Salary:
      £25883.00 to £26958.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Early Years Practitioner, First Steps Nursery job (opens in a new window) [25]
    • Senior Community Perinatal Mental Health Nursery Nurse

      Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, SE6 4RU

      Salary:
      £35964.00 to £43780.00
      Type:
      Secondment
      Employer:
      South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Senior Community Perinatal Mental Health Nursery Nurse job (opens in a new window) [26]
    • Community Nursery Nurse for Infant Mental Health Team

      Southampton, SO30 3JB
      Basingstoke, RG21 4AP
      Southampton, SO40 2RZ

      Salary:
      £26530.00 to £29114.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Community Nursery Nurse for Infant Mental Health Team job (opens in a new window) [27]
    • Band 4 Nursery Nurse - The Barberry (Chamomile Suite)

      Edgbaston, B15 2FG

      Salary:
      £26530.00 to £29114.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Band 4 Nursery Nurse - The Barberry (Chamomile Suite) job (opens in a new window) [28]
    • Community Nursery Nurse- Health Visiting (AfC equivalent Band 4)

      London, E16 2QU

      Salary:
      £34416.00 to £35448.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      London Borough of Newham
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Community Nursery Nurse- Health Visiting (AfC equivalent Band 4) job (opens in a new window) [29]
    • CACHE [30]
    • Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years [31]

Other roles that may interest you

  • Children's nurse [32]
  • Health play staff [33]
  • Paediatrician [34]
  • Emergency care assistant [35]

Source URL:https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/wider-healthcare-team/roles-wider-healthcare-team/corporate-services/nursery-nurse-and-nursery-assistant/nursery-nurse-and-nursery

Links
[1] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/public-health/health-visitor [2] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/corporate-services/health-play-staff [3] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/nursing [4] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/midwifery/midwife [5] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/clinical-support-staff/social-worker [6] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/i-am/secondary-school-or-fe-college/apprenticeships-traineeships-and-cadet-schemes [7] http://www.education.gov.uk/eypqd [8] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/about/careers-nhs/nhs-pay-and-benefits/agenda-change-pay-rates [9] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#AfC [10] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/about/working-health/nhs-constitution [11] http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/ [12] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9151-25-0696 [13] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9318-25-0550 [14] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9349-25-1686 [15] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9380-25-0465 [16] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9328-25-0608 [17] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9374-25-0595 [18] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9409-25-0498 [19] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/B9813-25-0084 [20] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9201-25-0570 [21] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/M0042-81215C [22] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9371-25-0190 [23] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/B9848-25-0126 [24] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9418-25-0620 [25] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9323-25-0314 [26] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9334-25-0535 [27] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9348-25-1422 [28] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9436-25-0353 [29] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/F0060-25-0010 [30] http://www.cache.org.uk [31] http://www.pacey.org.uk [32] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/nursing/roles-nursing/childrens-nurse [33] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/wider-healthcare-team/roles-wider-healthcare-team/corporate-services/health-play-staff/health-play-staff [34] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/paediatrics/paediatrician [35] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/ambulance-service-team/roles-ambulance-service/emergency-care-assistant