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Nursery Nurse CV Example

A nursery nurse CV demonstrates your qualifications in early years care and education and your ability to plan age-appropriate learning activities.

Recommended template: ExecutivePro

Key Skills to Include

EYFS FrameworkActivity PlanningChild ObservationKey Person RoleSafeguardingBehaviour ManagementParent PartnershipHealth & Hygiene

Quick Tips

  • Include your Level 3 early years qualification and any additional certifications.
  • Highlight experience as a key person and your approach to settling children in.
  • Detail your knowledge of the EYFS framework and how you plan for individual development.
  • Showcase your ability to create a warm, stimulating, and safe nursery environment.

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How to Write Your Nursery Nurse CV

A nursery nurse CV should demonstrate your early years qualifications, practical experience, and genuine passion for supporting children's development. Nursery managers want to see that you understand the EYFS framework, can plan and deliver engaging activities, and are capable of building warm relationships with children and families. Your CV should present a clear picture of your skills, your approach to early years practice, and your career development.

CV Structure

Use a reverse-chronological format with a profile, work experience, qualifications, and skills. Lead with your Level 3 early years qualification and DBS status. For each role, describe the setting, age range, and your key responsibilities. Include achievements that demonstrate your impact on children's learning and development. Keep to one to two pages.

CV Format

Use a clean, simple template with clear headings. Early years recruitment values warmth and professionalism, not creative design. Ensure your qualifications and DBS status are easy to find. Save as PDF.

CV Profile Examples

Experienced Nursery Nurse

CACHE Level 3 qualified nursery nurse with six years of experience in private day nursery and school nursery settings, working with children aged 0 to 5. Skilled in planning and delivering a rich, play-based curriculum aligned to the EYFS framework, with experience as key person for groups of up to ten children. Passionate about supporting each child's unique developmental journey through warm, responsive relationships and carefully planned learning opportunities.

Nursery Nurse — Room Leader

Experienced nursery nurse and room leader with eight years in the sector, currently leading the pre-school room in a nursery rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Manages a team of three practitioners, oversees planning and assessment for 30 children aged 3 to 4, and ensures all statutory EYFS requirements are met. Holds additional qualifications in speech and language support and food hygiene.

Newly Qualified Nursery Nurse

Recently qualified nursery nurse with a CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Educator and 420 hours of assessed placement experience across baby, toddler, and pre-school rooms. Confident in carrying out observations, writing learning stories, and planning next steps linked to the EYFS development matters. Holds a current paediatric first aid certificate and enhanced DBS check.

State your qualification level, years of experience, and the age ranges you have worked with. Mention your key person experience and any specialist skills. Highlight one quality that defines your approach to early years practice.

Key Skills for Your Nursery Nurse CV

EYFS Framework

Planning and delivering activities across the seven areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage to support children's holistic development.

Activity Planning

Designing age-appropriate, engaging activities that respond to children's interests and developmental needs.

Child Observation

Carrying out focused and spontaneous observations of children's play, recording evidence, and identifying next steps for learning.

Key Person Role

Building secure, trusting relationships with a group of children and their families to support emotional wellbeing and development.

Safeguarding

Following nursery safeguarding policies to protect children from harm and reporting any concerns through the correct procedures.

Behaviour Management

Using age-appropriate strategies to support positive behaviour, emotional regulation, and social skills in young children.

Parent Partnership

Engaging parents as partners in their child's learning through daily updates, meetings, and shared learning journals.

Health & Hygiene

Maintaining high standards of cleanliness and following health and safety procedures to keep children safe and healthy.

Transition Support

Preparing children and families for transitions between rooms, to new settings, or to primary school with sensitivity and thorough documentation.

Work Experience Examples

For each role, describe the setting and age group. Detail your planning, observation, and parent communication responsibilities. Include achievements such as Ofsted feedback, programmes you introduced, or developmental outcomes for your key children. If you have led a room, describe your management responsibilities.

Nursery Nurse — Pre-School Room Leader

Bright Beginnings Nursery, Leicester

Led the pre-school room caring for 30 children aged 3 to 4, managing a team of three practitioners and overseeing all aspects of planning, assessment, and parent communication.

Responsibilities

  • Planned and delivered a weekly programme of activities across all seven areas of the EYFS framework, ensuring a balance of adult-led and child-initiated learning.
  • Acted as key person for ten children, maintaining individual learning journals, conducting focused observations, and writing termly progress summaries for parents.
  • Managed the daily running of the pre-school room including staff deployment, resource preparation, and adherence to adult-to-child ratios.
  • Conducted settling-in sessions for new starters and their parents, establishing routines and building relationships to support smooth transitions.
  • Prepared children for the transition to Reception class, liaising with local primary schools and completing transition documents.

Achievements

  • Achieved 92% of children meeting or exceeding expected levels of development across the prime areas at the end of the pre-school year.
  • Designed a woodland learning programme using the nursery garden that was highlighted as an area of strength during the most recent Ofsted inspection.
  • Reduced parental complaints by implementing a daily digital communication system using the Tapestry platform for sharing observations and updates.

Nursery Nurse — Toddler Room

Orchard House Day Nursery, Birmingham

Provided care and education for 16 children aged 18 months to 3 years in a private day nursery, working within a team of four practitioners.

Responsibilities

  • Delivered planned activities focused on the prime areas of learning including sensory play, mark-making, and physical development.
  • Completed daily care routines including nappy changing, feeding, and sleep supervision, following the nursery's health and hygiene policies.
  • Carried out observations of children's play and development, identifying interests and planning next steps in consultation with the room leader.
  • Built strong relationships with parents through daily handovers, development meetings, and written progress reports each term.

Achievements

  • Introduced a treasure basket exploration programme for younger toddlers that was adopted across the nursery as best practice.
  • Supported two children with identified developmental delays to access Speech and Language Therapy services, liaising between parents and the local authority.

Education & Qualifications

List your Level 3 early years qualification first (CACHE Diploma, BTEC, or equivalent). Include your school qualifications highlighting English and maths. Add paediatric first aid, food hygiene, and any specialist training such as Makaton or speech and language support.

CACHE Level 3 Diploma

The industry-standard early years qualification for nursery nurses, covering child development, planning, and professional practice.

BTEC Level 3 in Early Years

A vocational qualification providing comprehensive training in early years care and education.

Paediatric First Aid

A first aid qualification specifically for treating injuries and medical emergencies in babies and young children.

Safeguarding Training (Level 2)

Specialist training in recognising and responding to safeguarding concerns in early years settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a nursery nurse and a nursery assistant?
A nursery nurse holds a Level 3 qualification in early years and takes on more responsibility for planning, assessment, and the key person role. A nursery assistant typically holds a Level 2 qualification and supports the nursery nurse with daily activities and care routines. Nursery nurses may lead rooms, supervise staff, and take greater responsibility for children's developmental progress.
What qualifications do I need to be a nursery nurse?
You need a Level 3 early years qualification such as the CACHE Diploma in Early Years Educator, the BTEC Level 3 in Children's Play, Learning and Development, or an equivalent qualification approved by the Department for Education. You also need an enhanced DBS check and a paediatric first aid certificate. Some employers require additional qualifications in food hygiene or safeguarding.
How do I show my EYFS knowledge on my CV?
Describe how you plan activities linked to the seven areas of learning, how you conduct observations and identify next steps, and how you assess children's progress against the EYFS development matters or early learning goals. Use EYFS terminology naturally in your descriptions. Mention any Ofsted feedback that relates to your practice and the outcomes for children in your care.
Should I include my key person experience on my CV?
Yes, this is essential. Describe the number of children in your key group, the age range, and how you support their development and wellbeing. Mention how you communicate with parents, maintain learning journals, and plan for individual needs. The key person role demonstrates your ability to form secure attachments and take professional responsibility for children's progress.

More Teaching & Education CV Examples

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