Great Care Starts on the Floor: 3 Tips Every Nursery Temp Should Know This Week

Keeping children safe and giving them great care is everyone’s job. That goes for the manager, the room leader, the apprentice and the temp who walked in at 07:30 this morning. Children don’t know who’s on a permanent contract. They only know who’s kind, who’s paying attention and who makes them feel safe.

As a temp, you often have to settle into a new room, new routines and new faces in a few minutes. That’s a real skill. The practitioners settings ask for by name tend to do a handful of small things consistently well from the moment they arrive.

This week we’ve picked three floor-level focuses, one each for Safeguarding, Ofsted and the EYFS. There’s no paperwork in any of them, just habits you can use on your next shift.

1. Safeguarding: dignity during nappy changes and toileting

Intimate care is one of the most trusted parts of the job. The latest EYFS update puts extra focus on children’s privacy and safety during nappy changing and toileting, and every setting has its own procedure for it.

Ask before you change. On arrival, ask the room leader how the setting handles nappy changes and toileting (where, when and who does them) and follow it exactly.
Talk the child through it. Tell them what’s happening, ask before you touch (“Can I wipe you now?”), and let them do what they can themselves. Keep the door or screen as the setting expects.
Notice and pass it on the same day. If you spot a mark, a bruise or anything that worries you, tell the setting’s DSL before you leave. Stick to what you saw, then let Nick Breeze at Nexter know.

2. Ofsted: inclusion that inspectors can see

Ofsted’s renewed early years inspections look closely at inclusion: whether every child, including those with SEND or EAL and quieter children, is noticed, included and helped to join in. Inspectors watch the floor, so your interactions count.

Find the quiet ones. In your first 30 minutes, look for children on the edges of play and join them at their level.
Learn the adjustments. Ask the key person what helps particular children, such as visual timetables, signing, key words in home languages or comfort items, and use them straight away.
Make sure everyone gets a turn. At carpet time and in group activities, offer choices with objects or pictures so every child can take part, whether they speak or not.

3. EYFS: safe, sociable mealtimes

The EYFS requires children to be within sight and hearing of staff while they eat, and mealtimes are a key moment for choking prevention. They’re also great for language and independence.

Sit down and stay put. Eat alongside the children (or sit with them) and keep watching them. Don’t clear tables while children are still eating.
Check the food and the list. Check allergy and dietary information before serving, every time, even if you were in the same room yesterday. Make sure food is cut the way the setting specifies for that age group.
Talk while they eat. Ask about colours, tastes and textures. Let children pour and serve where it’s safe. It builds independence and keeps everyone settled.

Grow the Nexter Team

We love working with professional, safety-conscious practitioners who stay informed and reliable. If you know a friend, former colleague, or student looking for flexible nursery work, refer them to the Nexter family!

The Reward: Receive £100 bonus
The Condition: Your referral simply needs to complete their first 100 hours with us.
How to Refer: Reply to this email with their contact details or have them mention your name when they register.

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To speak to us about our job opportunities or if you need cover in your Nursery then call us on 0113 328 0668 or 020 3337 6363.

November 2026- Emma Pink, West Yorkshire Consultant (BA Hons, PCGE- Primary 3-11, Previous Early Years Manager)