Nursery Practitioner (E7157) - Leeds Mencap-Jimbo's Community Nursery
Leeds City Council
£11.44-11.95 per hour
Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS19, United Kingdom
Part time
The Breakroom Take
- Recommended by parents
- Proper breaks
About Leeds City Council
Leeds City Council is a local authority. They oversee local services.
Job description from Leeds City Council
REPORTING TO: Room Leader
Salary: Salary range (depending on level of qualification) £11.44 - £11.95 per hour; £22,369 - £23,369 (pro rata for part time) pay award pending
Hours:
Role 1: Working across all playrooms covering annual leave etc
Hours: 32.5 to 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, term time only or all year round
Role 2: Working in our After School Club, with children aged 4-11 years.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 3-6pm, 15 hours a week, term time only or Monday to Friday, 1-6pm, 25 hours per week, term time only
Annual Leave: 28 days per year plus public holidays. Holiday entitlement is calculated pro rata for term time only and part time contracts. For term time only posts, leave must not be taken during term time.
Location: The Vinery Centre, 20 Vinery Terrace, Leeds LS9 9LU.
Rated as Outstanding by Ofsted. Jimbo's Community Nursery provides both mainstream and specialist early years education and childcare in East End Park in Leeds. We are the only nursery in the city with a specialist playroom that supports children with additional needs.
We are now recruiting two Nursery Practitioner posts, Role 1 is work across all playrooms, Role 2 will include working with children aged 4-11 in our After School Club.
The nursery is part of local charity, Leeds Mencap, and we're based in a friendly, modern, purpose-built centre. We have excellent facilities and resources, and the nursery is expertly managed by our highly experienced, skilled and supportive Childcare Manager.
Some of the children we work with require an especially caring and understanding approach or specialist support to help them flourish, and the work is not always easy, but as part of a strong and experienced team you will be well-supported and have access to specialist training that's relevant to your role.
'Staff report that the support for their emotional wellbeing as being is very good. Staff who require additional support for their own needs are very well supported by managers.' OFSTED March 2024
"I was never really interested in working for somewhere that was just a regular day nursery. I came to Jimbo's because it's so specialist and feels like it's part of something more, that supports Learning Disability and local communities, and feels like a family." Jimbo's Nursery Practitioner.
Alongside the nursery Leeds Mencap also offers services to children and young people with a learning disability, their families and carers. These services include activities such as youth clubs and holiday playschemes and family support, which includes informal stay and play sessions where parents can meet others in similar situations, and advice on navigating through the often-complex systems to access specialist support in school settings.
The nursery and Family Services often work together to support children and their families, and the support we offer is long-term and meaningful. In fact, some of the children who started out accessing our nursery now attend our youth club for 14-18 year-olds for young people with learning disabilities.
Leeds Mencap is committed to safeguarding all children, young people and adults at risk of harm. We expect all staff and volunteers to fully share and demonstrate this commitment. All posts are subject to an enhanced DBS check.
We aim for our team to reflect the diversity of people in Leeds and welcome applications from any community. If you share our passion about all children getting the very best start in life, whatever their background and ability, we would love to hear from you.
To apply please download application pack from our website https://www.leedsmencap.org.uk/jobs
Please note we do not accept CVs.
For more information please contact Abigail Cunningham on 0113 467 3050 or e-mail abigail.cunningham@leedsmencap.org.uk
We would also ask you to complete our Equality and Diversity monitoring form. This form is for monitoring purposes only and will not be treated as part of your application.
Please send completed forms to administrator@leedsmencap.org.uk .
Closing date: Midnight Sunday 27th April 2025
Shortlisting date: Monday 28th April 2025
Interview date: week beginning 5th May 2025
(please note, a mutually agreeable interview date may be arranged prior to this date for the right candidates)
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role.
The above post is not a Leeds City Council vacancy and has been advertised on behalf of the relevant organisation. To apply please follow their application instructions.
Job insights from Breakroom
Nursery nurses and assistants
Nursery nurses and assistants help babies and children up to 5 years old to develop and learn preschool skills
What you’ll do as a teaching assistant:
- Support in the nursery or preschool
- Support children with their educational needs
- Be responsible for the health and safety of children
- Listen, support and care for children
Is it right for you?
This job may involve:
- Standing
- Sitting
- Physical activities
- Using a computer
- Emotionally demanding duties
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What employees say
Pay
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Good
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Most people are paid a living wage
Do Leeds City Council pay a living wage?
Most people are paid a living wage.
How we know this
80% of people say they are paid at or above the Real Living Wage for where they live.Based on data from 65 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should be paid enough to live on.
The Real Living Wage is a voluntary rate employers can sign up to that is based on the real cost of living.
The current rates are £12.60 per hour, and £13.85 per hour in London.
Find out more in our explainer about the Real Living Wage.
Okay
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Only some people are paid market rates
Do Leeds City Council pay market rates?
Only some people are paid above average for their job.
How we know this
43% of people are paid below average for the type of work they do.Based on data from 56 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Pay can vary a lot between types of job. Employers should be ensuring that the rates their staff are paid are in line with similar roles elsewhere.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t get paid breaks
Do workers at Leeds City Council get paid breaks?
No. Most people don’t get paid breaks.
How we know this
87% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.Based on data from 71 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should have paid breaks.
You should be paid for all your time at work, whether you’re on a break or not.
Good
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Most people get sick pay
Do Leeds City Council pay sick pay?
Yes. Most people get proper sick pay.
How we know this
86% of people say they would get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.Based on data from 74 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off without worrying.
At a good job you should still get paid if you’re scheduled to work but can’t due to sickness. Your contract should say how many sick days you can take each year.
This is more than the legal minimum, which says you should only get paid if you are unwell for 4 full days. See Citizens Advice for more details.
Okay
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Some people do unpaid extra work
Do workers at Leeds City Council do extra work that they don't get paid for?
Sometimes. Some people do unpaid extra work.
How we know this
40% of people report that they do extra work that they don’t get paid for.Based on data from 48 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should get paid for any extra work they do, even if it is outside your contracted hours. At a good job, you should be paid for all the time you spend at work.
Hours and flexibility
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Needs improving
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Less than 4 weeks notice of shifts
How much notice do people get of their shift pattern at Leeds City Council?
Most people don’t get 4 weeks notice of when they’re working.
How we know this
- 47% of people with changing schedules report getting one week notice or less.
- 26% of people with changing schedules report getting two weeks notice.
- 6% of people with changing schedules report getting three weeks notice.
- 21% of people with changing schedules report getting four weeks notice or more.
Based on data from 34 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, you get plenty of notice about when you’re working.
This makes it easy for you to plan the rest of life, as well as your finances, because you know how much you’ll be working and when.
Okay
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Some people worry about their hours
Do workers at Leeds City Council worry about hours?
Some people worry about getting enough hours.
How we know this
34% of people report they worry about getting enough hours.Based on data from 44 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting enough hours each week.
A good job should guarantee you a minimum number of hours in a contract, if you want it.
This makes it easier to plan your finances, because you know how much you’ll be earning.
Okay
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Only some people get a choice of shifts
Do Leeds City Council workers get to choose the shifts they work?
Some people don’t get enough choice over which shifts they work.
How we know this
57% report that their manager doesn’t give them enough choice over which shifts they work.Based on data from 44 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. This means you get a say in when you prefer to work.
Okay
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Can be hard to change shifts
How easy is it for Leeds City Council workers to change shifts?
Some people find it hard to change shifts.
How we know this
61% of people report that it’s hard to change shifts if they need to.Based on data from 54 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. It should be easy to change a shift if you need to, whether that’s in an emergency or for planning ahead.
Good
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Easy to book holiday
How easy is it to book a holiday at Leeds City Council?
Most people find it easy to book holiday.
How we know this
67% of people report it’s easy to book holidays.Based on data from 67 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should let you take time off when you need it, and it shouldn’t be a nightmare to arrange.
Good
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Shifts don’t get changed at short notice
Do Leeds City Council managers change shifts at short notice?
Most managers don’t change people’s shifts at short notice.
How we know this
78% of people say their manager doesn’t changes their shifts at the last minute.Based on data from 50 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
If your manager is often changing your shifts at short notice that’s a sign of poor planning. At a good job you won’t be messed around at the last minute.
Good
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Most people find it easy to take sick leave
How easy is it to take sick leave at Leeds City Council?
Most people find it easy to take sick leave.
How we know this
70% of people report that it’s easy to take time off if they are sick.Based on data from 69 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off when you need to.
A good job should support you when you’re unwell and have systems in place that will allow you to take time off to recover when you need it.
Good
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Most parents say it’s good
Is working at Leeds City Council good if you’re a parent or carer?
Most parents and carers say this is a good place to work.
How we know this
67% of people who care for a child or other relative report this is a good place to work.Based on data from 36 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Whether it’s looking after children or caring for a relative, a good job should support your responsibilities outside of work.
Workplace
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Okay
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Only some people feel treated with respect
Do people at Leeds City Council feel treated with respect by their managers?
Some people don’t feel treated with respect by their managers.
How we know this
45% of people say they’re not treated with respect by their managers.Based on data from 62 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should get treated with respect by their managers. You shouldn’t feel discriminated against or bullied, and if you have a problem you should be able to speak to someone about it.
Good
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Most people get proper breaks
Do people at Leeds City Council get proper breaks?
Most people get proper breaks.
How we know this
70% of people report that they get to take proper breaks.Based on data from 69 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
When you take a break it should be a proper rest. It should last the full duration and you shouldn’t get pulled off it.
Needs improving
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Most people are stressed
Is it stressful to work at Leeds City Council?
Most people feel stressed here.
How we know this
82% of people say they often feel stressed at work.Based on data from 71 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Work isn’t always easy, but if you’re frequently feel stressed, that’s not good.
Your employer should support you with enough people and resources to get your job done without feeling overwhelmed.
Okay
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Only some people enjoy their job
Do people at Leeds City Council enjoy their jobs?
Only some people enjoy their job.
How we know this
40% of people report they don’t enjoy their job.Based on data from 58 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2024 and April 2025.
Okay
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Only some people recommend their team
Do people at Leeds City Council recommend working with their team?
Only some people recommend working with their team.
How we know this
60% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.Based on data from 77 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job means enjoying the place where you work.
The people you work with every day really matter. They can be the difference between a terrible day and a great one.
If you’d recommend your team to a friend, this shows that something’s going right.
Okay
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Only some people get enough training
Do people get enough training when they start at Leeds City Council?
Some people didn’t get enough training when they started.
How we know this
41% of people report they didn’t get enough training when they started working here.Based on data from 73 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should give you good training when you start, not just drop you in at the deep end.
This means that you’ll be happier and more productive from day one and shows that your employer values you.
It’s also very important if your job involves anything that could be dangerous. Good training from the outset keeps you and your team safe.
Okay
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Only some people get support to progress
Are people given support to progress at Leeds City Council?
Only some people are given support to progress here.
How we know this
In the last year, 61% of people report not being given an opportunity to get better at their job, learn a new skill, learn to manage a team or get more responsibility in their role.Based on data from 71 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should help you progress at work, if you want to. That might be supporting you to get better at the job you currently have, learn something new, manage a team or take on more responsibilities.
This means you’ll be able to build on your skills and experience, and earn more money.
Needs improving
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Head office doesn’t understand what’s happening
Do people think Leeds City Council head office understands what's happening where they work?
Most people think head office doesn’t understand what’s happening where they work.
How we know this
87% of people think that this employer’s head office or owners don’t have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they work.Based on data from 71 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, the role of head office should be to support the people on the frontline serving customers.
To do that properly, the company’s owners or head office need to have a good understanding of what’s really happening on the frontline. This is especially important when a company owns multiple locations.
Okay
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Only some people feel well informed by head office
Do workers feel well informed about how Leeds City Council is doing?
Only some people feel well informed about how the company is doing.
How we know this
58% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.Based on data from 73 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, there should be a supportive relationship between the people working on the frontline serving customers and the people who own the company or work in head office.
You should be kept informed about how the company is doing as a whole, both in good times and when things get tough for the business.
What Leeds City Council employees say about their job
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Best thing
Flexi-time (if you log it correctly, some people got into arguments about whether they did this), some hybrid working
Worst thing
The culture was repulsive. Mixed signals from mangers, ableism, nepotism. As with anything, those you hear from are miserable in their jobs and rather than do something about it they just roam around trying to make everyone else miserable.
Business support assistant at Leeds City Council, March 2025
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Best thing
My colleagues are amazing and my manager respects me and does not micromanage. There are lots of opportunities to try different things and get involved on projects.
Worst thing
Unfortunately, the rest of the Council. We are often weighed down compensating for lack of IT literacy, and many customers often complain that we cannot meet their demands even though we are often under strict budgetary constraints. The phones get unnecessarily busy due to issues that we are not trained to resolve.
IT support at Leeds City Council, June 2024
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