Essential Information for Nursery Staff

1. Research

You will always be asked what you know about the nursery and the company that you are attending the interview with. It is therefore crucial that you have looked at their website and are aware of the setting’s background e.g. Are they part of a chain? How long have they been open for? How many staff do they employ? How many children do they look after at the setting? These are just a few suggestions, it is important to find out as much as possible and if time permits obtain a brochure for the nursery prior to the interview.

2. Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

Make sure you really understand the EYFS as your knowledge of this framework will form part of your interview. Full details can be found here. The EYFS is the statutory framework that sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. It promotes teaching and learning to ensure children are ready for school and provides them with a broad range of skills and knowledge.

3. Practice your answers to typical questions

There are several questions that frequently arise at interviews. The more you prepare for these, the better the interview will go. We have listed some typical interview questions below. Read through them carefully and think about your possible answers based on your experience and training.

Some Typical Interview Questions

• What is it you like about working with children?
• Do you have a preferred age group within a nursery that you like to work with?
• Give an example of an activity that works well with children and provide several examples for different age groups within a nursery.
• How do you develop children’s language and why is talking to children so important?
• How do you support the needs of individuals? Provide an example from experience.
• Why is observing children playing important?
• How would you set out a room in the morning? Which resources might you choose and why? Remember to prepare different scenarios for different age groups.
• Do you have any special skills and talents that you could share?
• If a child needs reminding about behaviour – how would you go about this?
• How would you deal with conflict amongst children?
• How would you establish and maintain relationships with parents and respect confidentiality?
• How does your role differ from that of teacher?
• What would you do if a parent approached you about a child’s progress?
• What would you do if a child had an accident and you were alone in the room?
• What are the four principles of EYFS?

4. Look the part

It is essential that you look smart, tidy and well presented. Working in a nursery setting means you are often seen by parents and it is essential that you put are well presented. Often, as part of a second interview (sometimes the first) you may be asked to take part in a trial with the children. You would be advised of this prior to the interview. If so, it is important that you dress in practical clothing so that you can plan and interact easily with the children i.e. trousers (usually black or navy) and flat shoes, worth taking wellies or outdoor shoes in the winter or wet summer days.

5. Arrive early

It is very important to give a great first impression. Never be late for an interview and aim to arrive 10 minutes early. If you haven't been to the Nursery setting before, it is a good idea to test out the trip before the actual interview and check out the best route. If travelling by public transport allow plenty of time, don’t rely on the bus or train that gets in just in time as it may be late or cancelled.

6. Be relaxed and confident

Speak clearly and smile. Remember that your interviewer may be nervous to!

7. Be positive

Never speak negatively about previous employers, children or agencies. This is absolutely essential as employers will always regard criticism and negativity as a flaw with the interviewee.

8. Be organised

You will need to take your CV and other documents with you to the interview. Make sure they are presented smartly in an appropriate document holder.

9. Be honest

However tempting it may be to exaggerate your experience and achievements... DON'T! Experienced interviewers will spot these things and not invest their trust in you.

10. Be polite at all times

Some employers will test your patience and ability to deal with situations. Always be polite irrespective of the questioning and thank the employer for their time at the end of the interview.