Senior Practitioner - Early Learning & Childcare - Whalsay Nursery - SIC07993
Shetland Islands Council
£30.0k–£40.0k per year
Symbister
Full time, part time, permanent
The Breakroom Take
- Good employer
- Proper training
- Learn new skills
- Proper breaks
About Shetland Islands Council
Shetland Islands Council is a Scottish local authority. They oversee local services.
Job description from Shetland Islands Council
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The purpose of this post is to work effectively as a lead member of an Early Learning and Childcare team to oversee the delivery of a high quality, safe and balanced education and care service, which meets the needs of each young child and their families and is in accordance with relevant legislation and guidelines.
This vacancy is being advertised as a Career Graded post, which is a career development opportunity. This means that the Council is committed to supporting the successful candidate to obtain the necessary skills, abilities and knowledge to become fully competent in the role. Please see the Career Grade document attached to this advert that outlines the entry level requirements for the job and the expected career progression route. The successful candidate will be supported to become fully competent in the role and progress through the career grade. Where there is a requirement to achieve a qualification, this will be fully funded by the Council.
More detail is provided in the Job Profile, Person Specification and Conditions of Service Summary attached to the bottom of this advert.
Whalsay School is a non-denominational school located in Symbister, Whalsay. It provides nursery, primary and secondary education up to S4 for children from the whole island of Whalsay. The structure of the school is a nursery setting, 4 composite primary classes and S1-4 secondary classes. There is currently a total of 164 pupils on the roll, inclusive of all phases. The school is managed by a Head Teacher and a Depute Head Teacher (job-share). The current staffing complement is 17 part-time/full time teachers assisted by support staff as required to meet school demands. The Head Teacher is Mr. Niall Healy. Further information can be found on the schools website at https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/sh/whalsayschoolweb/
Additional Information
- The grade of this post is H/I
- This post is career graded - your salary and career progression will depend on your experience and qualifications.
- Rate of pay shown in the advert is inclusive of Distant Islands Allowance of £1.4808 per hour
- Permanent Part Time post for 35.0 Hours per Week , 40.5 weeks per year plus 6.48 weeks (pro rata) paid holiday to be taken during school holidays.
- Preferred candidates will be required to join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update prior to a formal offer of employment being made
- The successful candidate will have to complete registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) when they begin in post
- A relocation package does not apply to this post
- We will pay interview expenses from within Shetland
- We are happy to talk flexible working
During the application process you are required to give the names of two persons not related to you, who we can contact to provide a reference to support your application.
This post is based at Whalsay Nursery, Whalsay, Shetland, ZE2 9AB
For further details relating to this post, please contact: Niall Healy, Head Teacher - 01595743800 - niall.healy@shetland.gov.uk
If you have a disability which prevents you from applying online, please call 01595 744032.
Information about Shetland
Shetland is an archipelago in the north of the British Isles where you'll find freedom, wildlife and wild beauty, but also a rich culture and dynamic, forward-looking society. The Islands have a thriving and diverse economy full of opportunities and offer residents the ideal work/life balance. Shetland combines stunning coastal landscapes and wide open spaces with friendly, bustling island communities. Factor in Shetland's impressive modern amenities, highly regarded schools and the Islands offer a work life balance rarely found elsewhere.
Find out more about:
Living and working in Shetland: here
The Shetland Islands Council: here
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
What employees say
Pay
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Good
-
Most people are paid a living wage
Do Shetland Islands Council pay a living wage?
Most people are paid a living wage.
How we know this
100% of people say they are paid at or above the Real Living Wage for where they live.Based on data from 10 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2023 and March 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.
Good
-
Most people are paid market rates
Do Shetland Islands Council pay market rates?
Most people are paid above average for their job.
How we know this
90% of people are paid above average for the type of work they do.Based on data from 10 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2023 and March 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.
Okay
-
Only some people get paid breaks
Do workers at Shetland Islands Council get paid breaks?
Sometimes. Only some people get paid breaks.
How we know this
36% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.Based on data from 11 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2023 and March 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
-
Most people get sick pay
Do Shetland Islands Council pay sick pay?
Yes. Most people get proper sick pay.
How we know this
83% of people say they would get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.Based on data from 12 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2023 and March 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.
Hours and flexibility
-
Okay
-
Only some people get a choice of shifts
Do Shetland Islands 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
60% report that their manager doesn’t give them enough choice over which shifts they work.Based on data from 10 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2023 and March 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.
Good
-
Easy to book holiday
How easy is it to book a holiday at Shetland Islands Council?
Most people find it easy to book holiday.
How we know this
82% of people report it’s easy to book holidays.Based on data from 11 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2023 and March 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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Most people find it easy to take sick leave
How easy is it to take sick leave at Shetland Islands Council?
Most people find it easy to take sick leave.
How we know this
85% of people report that it’s easy to take time off if they are sick.Based on data from 13 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2023 and March 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.
Workplace
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Okay
-
Only some people feel treated with respect
Do people at Shetland Islands Council feel treated with respect by their managers?
Some people don’t feel treated with respect by their managers.
How we know this
40% of people say they’re not treated with respect by their managers.Based on data from 10 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2023 and March 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 Shetland Islands Council get proper breaks?
Most people get proper breaks.
How we know this
67% of people report that they get to take proper breaks.Based on data from 12 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2023 and March 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 Shetland Islands Council?
Most people feel stressed here.
How we know this
73% of people say they often feel stressed at work.Based on data from 11 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2023 and March 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
-
Only some people recommend their team
Do people at Shetland Islands Council recommend working with their team?
Only some people recommend working with their team.
How we know this
54% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.Based on data from 13 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2023 and March 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.
Good
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Most people get enough training
Do people get enough training when they start at Shetland Islands Council?
Most people got enough training when they started.
How we know this
100% of people report they got enough training when they started working here.Based on data from 11 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2023 and March 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.
Good
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Most people get support to progress
Are people given support to progress at Shetland Islands Council?
Most people are given support to progress here.
How we know this
In the last year, 70% of people report 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 10 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2023 and March 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 Shetland Islands 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
85% 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 13 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2023 and March 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 Shetland Islands Council is doing?
Only some people feel well informed about how the company is doing.
How we know this
36% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.Based on data from 11 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2023 and March 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 Shetland Islands Council employees say about their job
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Best thing
Seeing the kids
Worst thing
It's alot of work for one cook
Employee at Shetland Islands Council, October 2024
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Best thing
Good pay, benefits and holidays
Worst thing
Stress, lack of support, unwarranted behaviours, lack of team spirit
Support worker at Shetland Islands Council, January 2024
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