Recruitment FAQS

There are lots of different ways to build your career at Wildflower. From starting your journey as an Apprentice, through to becoming a Practitioner, Senior Practitioner, Room Leader, Third in Charge, Deputy Manager, Nursery Manager, Senior Manager or Head of Nurseries, there are opportunities to learn, develop and progress with us.

We also have a growing Support Centre team, with roles across areas such as Recruitment, Finance, HR, Marketing, Operations and other specialist support functions.

Whether you’re taking your first steps into early years or looking for your next leadership opportunity, there could be a place for you at Wildflower.

Not always. It depends on the role you’re applying for.

Some positions require specific early years experience or qualifications, while others are ideal for people who are just starting their career. Our apprenticeship opportunities are a great way to get into early years while gaining practical experience and working towards a qualification.

If you’re passionate about working with children, enjoy being part of a team and have the right attitude, we’d love to hear from you.

The requirements for each role will always be clearly outlined in the job advert, so you’ll know what we’re looking for before you apply.

The qualifications you need will depend on the role.

For early years positions, some roles require a recognised childcare qualification or relevant experience, while others may allow you to work towards your qualification with us.

Leadership roles will generally require previous experience and the relevant qualifications for the position.

If you’re unsure whether your experience or qualification is suitable for a role, don’t be afraid to apply or speak to our Recruitment Team. We’re happy to talk it through with you.

Yes! Apprenticeships are an important part of how we bring new talent into Wildflower.

They’re a great way to start your career in early years while learning on the job, gaining practical experience and working towards a recognised qualification.

You’ll be supported by your nursery team throughout your apprenticeship, giving you the opportunity to learn from experienced colleagues while developing your skills and confidence.

For us, an apprenticeship isn’t just about completing a qualification, it can be the first step in building a long-term career at Wildflower.

Absolutely. If you see more than one role that you genuinely feel would be a good fit for you, you can apply for each one.

We’ll look at your experience, qualifications and what you’re looking for in your next role to help understand which opportunity might be the best match.

If we think another role would be better suited to your experience, we’ll always try to have that conversation with you.

If you can’t find the right role for you right now, don’t worry.

We’re constantly growing, and new opportunities become available across our nurseries and Support Centre. Keep checking our careers site for new vacancies, or get in touch with our Recruitment Team if you’d like to have a conversation about future opportunities. 

Set up alerts! The role you’re looking for might just not have opened yet!

We aim to keep our recruitment process as straightforward and efficient as possible.

The time it takes can vary depending on the role, interview availability, references and any checks that are required. We’ll keep you updated throughout the process so you always know what’s happening.

Once you’ve been offered a role, we’ll work with you and the relevant manager to agree your start date as soon as your required checks and references are complete.

There’s no need to worry about wearing a suit or anything overly formal.

We want you to feel comfortable and, most importantly, be yourself. We’d recommend wearing something smart, comfortable and appropriate for spending time in a nursery environment, particularly as your interview includes a Stay & Play.

If you’re unsure, smart-casual is always a safe choice.

Your Stay & Play is an opportunity for you to experience Wildflower for yourself.

After your interview, you’ll spend around an hour in the room you’re likely to be based in. You’ll get to meet the team, see the environment, spend time with the children and get a feel for what a typical day could look like.

It’s also an opportunity for us to see you interacting with the team and children in a more natural environment.

Most importantly, it works both ways. We get to know you, but you also get to decide whether Wildflower feels right for you.

Your interview confirmation email will include everything you need to know, including the date, time and full address of your interview, as well as who to ask for when you arrive.

Please make sure you bring the required ID documents with you.

If you’re unsure what documents you need to bring, just contact our Recruitment Team before your interview and we’ll be happy to help.

Don’t panic. If you’re missing a document or weren’t able to bring something with you to your interview, our Recruitment Team will let you know what’s needed and how you can provide it.

For example, if you need to provide proof of address, you’ll be able to upload this through our onboarding system.

We’ll guide you through each step so you know exactly what’s required.

Some of our roles require a DBS or PVG check before you can start.

If this applies to your role, our Head of Recruitment will contact you during the onboarding process to explain what’s required and talk you through the options and next steps.

We’ll make the process as simple as possible and keep you updated while your check is being completed.

We’ll keep you updated throughout the recruitment process.

Your application and onboarding are managed through the same online platform, so you’ll receive updates and requests for information through the system and by email.

Please keep an eye on your inbox, including your junk or spam folder, so you don’t miss anything from us.

If you’re ever unsure about where things are up to, you can contact our Recruitment Team and we’ll be happy to help.

Of course!

Choosing your next role is a big decision, and we want you to have all the information you need before applying.

If there’s something you’re unsure about, you can contact our Recruitment Team and we’ll do our best to answer your questions.

Drop us an email - careers@wildflowerchildcare.co.uk

We’d much rather you ask a question than not apply because you weren’t sure about something.

We understand that everyone has different commitments outside of work, and where possible, we want to support a healthy balance between work and home life.

Flexible working arrangements will depend on the role, the nursery and the needs of the children and team.

If flexible working is important to you, we encourage you to discuss this with us during the recruitment process. We’ll always be open and honest about what may be possible for the role you’re applying for.

We’re passionate about helping our people build careers rather than simply finding their next job.

There are opportunities to progress throughout our nursery teams, from Apprentice to Practitioner, Room Leader, Deputy Manager, Nursery Manager, Senior Manager and Head of Nurseries.

As we continue to grow, new opportunities also become available within our Support Centre, giving our people the chance to explore different career paths across the wider business.

We encourage our teams to develop their skills, take on new challenges and have conversations about where they want their career to go.

Your next step doesn’t always have to be somewhere else — it could be right here at Wildflower.

Yes. Learning and development is a big part of life at Wildflower.

When you join us, you’ll complete our six-month induction, which gives you the information, knowledge and support you need to get started confidently. It includes helpful tips and tricks, useful resources, interactive quizzes and regular check-ins.

You’ll also have a buddy to support you when you first join, with weekly check-ins during your first month and monthly check-ins from months two to six.

Your development doesn’t stop when your induction finishes. We want to continue supporting you to build your skills, grow your confidence and progress throughout your career.

We want Wildflower to be somewhere people genuinely enjoy working.

Our nurseries are built around strong relationships, supportive teams and creating the best possible experiences for children. We want our people to feel trusted, listened to and able to make a difference.

Every nursery has its own personality, but across Wildflower we share the same commitment to supporting our teams, developing our people and creating environments where everyone can grow.

And because we’re continuing to grow, there are plenty of opportunities to learn, take on new challenges and build your career with us.

For us, it’s our people.

We believe that great experiences for children start with great teams. That means investing in our people, supporting their development and creating an environment where they feel valued.

We’re growing, but we want to maintain the things that make Wildflower special — our focus on children, our supportive teams, our individuality and our commitment to doing things well.

We’re not just looking for people to fill vacancies. We’re looking for people who want to be part of Wildflower and grow with us.

You won’t be expected to figure everything out on your own.

From your first day, you’ll have access to our six-month induction, a dedicated buddy and regular check-ins to help you settle into your role.

Your induction includes everything you need to know to get started, along with useful resources, tips, tricks and quizzes to help make learning more engaging.

You’ll also have access to our Welcome Hub, where you can find useful information to help you prepare for your first day and get to know Wildflower.

Our Recruitment Team is always happy to help.

If you have a question about a vacancy, your application, your interview or the onboarding process, please get in touch with us and we’ll do our best to help.

Drop us an email - careers@wildflowerchildcare.co.uk

We want you to feel supported throughout the process, so never worry about asking a question.