Open to work
JACKIE HAY
midlothian council
Gorebridge,Midlothian
Work preference
Job search status:
Open to work
Desired job title
Learning AssistantNursery Teacher
Work Type
Part time
Minimum Desired Compensation
£15/hr
Important to me
Work-life balancePaid time offPaid sick leavePersonal development programmes
2027
Years of experience
1
year of post-secondary education
An autistic professional with a profound understanding of neurodiversity, excelling in connecting with children through sensory-aware techniques. Demonstrates expertise in creative engagement, utilising drama and storytelling to enhance early years education and build children's confidence. Proven track record in community building and intergenerational care, fostering empathy through shared activities. Skilled in event coordination, adept at transforming ideas into successful community projects.
Work history
catering assistant
1 Year 11 Months- - Allergy Awareness: Managed special dietary requirements and allergies, ensuring every child received a safe and suitable meal.
- - Nutrition & Safety: Assisted in preparing healthy meals for students, upholding all food hygiene and safety standards (HACCP).
- - Collaborated with catering team to serve meals during busy lunch periods, contributing to efficient service and a positive dining experience.
- - Engaged with children during lunch to foster a welcoming atmosphere.: Provided a friendly and welcoming environment for children during their lunch break, encouraging good manners and healthy eating habits.
- - Ensured cleanliness of kitchen and dining areas by washing dishes and sanitising surfaces.: Maintained a high standard of cleanliness in the kitchen and dining areas, including washing up and sanitising food preparation surfaces.
Nursery practitioner
3 Months- Cultivated positive relationships with parents and carers through consistent updates on children's progress.
- Communicated child achievements and collaboratively identified areas for improvement with parents and carers.
- Ran creative storytelling sessions to strengthen children’s language skills.
- Coached behaviour to foster calm, harmonious learning environments and enhance children's engagement.
- Recorded each child’s progress in detail to support personalised plans.
playworker
1 Year 8 Months- - Specialist Support (Key Worker): Provided 1-on-1 dedicated support for a child with Autism, tailoring activities to their specific sensory needs and communication style to ensure they felt safe and included.
- - Inclusive Play: Designed and led inclusive play sessions for diverse groups of children, ensuring that every child—regardless of their ability—could participate and thrive.
- - Behavioral Support: Used calming techniques and visual aids to help children navigate transitions and manage "big feelings," maintaining a positive and stable environment.
- - Observation & Reporting: Monitored children’s progress and well-being, sharing key updates with parents and senior staff to ensure a consistent approach to care.
- - Safety & Supervision: Maintained a high level of supervision during indoor and outdoor play, prioritizing the physical and emotional safety of all children in the setting.
- - SEND Support: Experience working 1-on-1 with children with Autism and additional support needs.
- - Adaptability: Ability to modify activities on the fly to meet a child’s sensory or emotional requirements.
- - Patience & Empathy: Proven track record of building strong, trusting bonds with children who require extra support.
playworker
- Ensured clean play area by regularly tidying up after each activity session.
- Created fun, educational games for improved cognitive development in children.
- Initiated outdoor exploration trips, encouraging curiosity about nature in young minds.
- Improved social skills amongst the group with collaborative games and team-building exercises.
- Created and maintained safe, creative and stimulating environment for children's play.
- Kept confidential all matters related to children, staff members and management or operational issues.
- Prepared safe and nutritional snacks and promoted good manners at meal times.
- Provided opportunities for creative learning through fun and educational games.
- Designed range of fun and engaging activities including group games, excursions and arts and crafts, specifically tailored to needs and interests of children.
Nursery Practitioner
- Led storytelling sessions, stimulating imagination amongst kids.
- Facilitated early childhood education through age-appropriate games and play.
- Ensured compliance with all nursery policies and procedures, providing quality care for the children.
- Provided emotional support for distressed children, ensuring a comforting environment.
- Collaborated effectively with other practitioners to plan daily routines for optimal learning opportunities.
- Supported special needs students by adapting standard teaching techniques according to their unique requirements.
- Observed and assessed each child's growth and development using early years foundation stage guidelines.
- Developed strong relationships with parents, promoting open communication about their child's needs and progress.
- Maintained detailed records of each child's developmentally milestones as per EYFS guidelines.
- Promoted diversity and inclusivity amongst the children through various cultural activities.
- Organised fun and educational trips to enhance the children's real-world experiences.
- Assisted in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene standards to ensure a safe environment for the children.
Play worker
1 Year 2 Months- Coordinated special events like holiday parties to create celebratory moments for both kids and their families.
- Developed strong rapport with children by actively engaging in creative play and learning activities.
- Provided emotional support during times of distress, promoting mental well-being of all attendees.
- Conducted informal assessment methods to track growth and development in key areas.
Skills
- "LAs an autistic professional
- I have a deep
- firsthand understanding of neurodiversity. I excel at connecting with children who may communicate differently
- using patience and sensory-aware techniques to make every child feel understood and safe."
- - Creative Engagement (Drama & Storytelling): "I bring a high-energy
- creative approach to early years education. My passion for drama allows me to lead engaging storytelling
- role-play
- and imaginative play sessions that build children’s confidence and language skills."
- - Community Building & Intergenerational Care: "I have a proven track record of bringing people together. I am passionate about connecting children with the wider community and older generations
- fostering empathy and social skills through shared activities."
- - Event Coordination & Initiative: "Experienced in setting up community groups and organizing large-scale events (including local 'Grammy'-style celebrations and rummage sales). I am a 'doer' who can take an idea and turn it into a successful community project." (expert)
Education
svq level 3 - children learning and development
- - Hands-on Training: Completed a full-time apprenticeship, gaining hours of practical experience in a busy nursery setting while studying child theory and development.
- - Theory into Practice: Successfully applied classroom learning directly to the playroom, focusing on early years foundation stages, safeguarding, and health and safety.
- - Professional Responsibility: Balanced a full workload of childcare duties—including observations, feeding, and leading play—with rigorous academic assessments.
- - Reflective Practice: Worked under the mentorship of senior staff to constantly improve my care techniques and communication with parents.
- leadership of teaching cpd
- phonncis teaching level 3 diploma
Personal Information
Title: NURSERY NURSE
REFERENCES
Available on request.
SUMMARY
- Recipient of the Princess Diana Award for my commitment to supporting young people.
- Community Impact: Dedicated over 400+ hours to community service, earning the 50, 100, and 250-hour Saltire Volunteer Awards.
EXTRA INFO
- Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP) / Youth Leader
- - Advocacy & Leadership: Represented the voices of young people at a national level, developing strong communication skills and an understanding of children’s rights.
- - Group Founder: Successfully established and ran a local youth group specifically for looked-after and accommodated children, providing a safe, consistent, and fun environment for those who need it most.
Interests
- Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP) / Youth Leader
- - Advocacy & Leadership: Represented the voices of young people at a national level, developing strong communication skills and an understanding of children’s rights.
- - Group Founder: Successfully established and ran a local youth group specifically for looked-after and accommodated children, providing a safe, consistent, and fun environment for those who need it most.
Affiliations
Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP) / Youth Leader
Timeline
aoex learning
from leadership of teaching cpd
2026.08 - 2026.09Read More
Apex learing
from phonncis teaching level 3 diploma
2026.08 - 2026.09Read More
catering assistant
midlothian council
2024.10 - 2026.09Read More
Nursery practitioner
honest town nurseryf
2017.01 - 2017.04Read More
playworker
oscawr
2015.04 - 2016.12Read More
Nursery Practitioner
playdays nursery
Jul 2013 - Nov 2013Read More
Play worker
liberton after school club
2012.04 - 2013.06Read More
carsaousel training center
svq level 3 from children learning and development
2012.02 - 2013.06Read More
playworker
gorebridge after school club
Aug 2013 - May 2014Read More