Early Years Educator

Shorefields; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 days' holiday (including bank hols)

Lunch provided in term time

Discounted Sport Club membership

Job summary

New Hall School in Chelmsford is seeking an Early Years Educator for the Nursery. The role centers on caring for a group of children as Key Person, planning age-appropriate activities and observing progress.

You will maintain Learning Journeys, engage with parents, and support the Nursery Manager with behaviour and safeguarding. The school emphasises a nurturing, well-resourced EYFS environment in a Catholic independent setting.

Qualifications

• Proven understanding of EYFS and safeguarding requirements.
• Ability to observe and record progress and communicate with parents.
• Commitment to the aims and ethos of a Catholic independent school.

Responsibilities

• Act as Key Person for a group of children, overseeing care, learning and development.
• Plan and deliver age-appropriate learning activities.
• Observe and record progress using Learning Journeys and online tools.
• Contribute to written reports and maintain parent communication.
• Support Nursery Manager with behaviour management and pastoral care.
• Promote children’s welfare, safeguarding and safety in line with school policies.
• Maintain consistent care routines including sleep and first aid as needed.
• Prepare learning resources and contribute to daily planning.
• Ensure a safe, clean and well-organised Nursery environment.
• Supervise outings and educational visits.
• Build strong home–school links and high-quality Early Years practice.

Skills

Excellent communication

Organisational skills

IT skills

Leadership

Safeguarding knowledge

Teamwork

Education

NNEB or NVQ Level 3 in Childcare

Job description

Job Ref No. ECC0-668S Position Type: Early Years Pay Range: £27,187.00 - £29,278.00 Annually (Actual)

Position Start Date: Immediate Contract Type: Full-time Contract Term: Permanent

Application Close: 02/07/2027 Midday Date of Interviews: as soon as possible

New Hall School is seeking to appoint an Early Years Educator for the Nursery. This role is central to the School's commitment to providing a nurturing, stimulating, and well-resourced environment that supports young children during their crucial early years of development.

The Early Years Educator role serves as a key position within the Nursery team, working closely with colleagues to deliver high-quality early years education in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), the School's Mission and Ethos, and all relevant safeguarding and welfare requirements. The successful candidate will play a vital role in ensuring that every child feels safe, valued, and supported to achieve their full potential.

Key responsibilities:

• to act as a Key Person, taking responsibility for the care, learning, and development of a group of children
• to take ownership of planning and delivery of age-appropriate learning activities
• to observe, assess, and record children's progress, maintaining accurate Learning Journeys and online assessments
• to contribute to written reports and engage positively with parents through meetings and formal communications
• to support the Nursery Manager with behaviour management and pastoral care
• to promote children's welfare, safeguarding, and health and safety at all times in line with School policies
• to maintain consistent care routines, including sleep, personal care, and first aid as appropriate
• to prepare learning resources and contribute to daily planning
• to help maintain a clean, safe, and well-organised Nursery environment
• to accompany and supervise children on outings and educational visits
• to promote strong home-school links and high-quality Early Years practice

The successful candidate will be expected:

• to have a clear understanding of, and commitment to, the aims and ethos of a Catholic independent boarding and day school
• to have an NNEB or NVQ Level 3 qualification in Childcare (or equivalent)
• to have experience of working in an Early Years setting
• to have excellent communication, organisational, IT and leadership skills
• to have a secure understanding of child development and safeguarding
• to have the ability to motivate others, build effective teams and work positively with parents
• to have a willingness to engage in ongoing professional development and to work flexibly as required

What New Hall offers:

• 35 days' holiday (including bank holidays)
• Lunch without charge in term time
• Discounted annual membership for New Hall Sport Club

New Hall School offers an exceptional working environment. The main campus occupies the stunning Grade I listed former Tudor palace of Beaulieu. The School's conference and events venue is at the Grade I listed Boreham House, one mile away. New Hall is a warm, welcoming, and supportive community, with a staff of around 300.

Beaulieu Park railway station is at the entrance to New Hall's Avenue: 30 minutes to Stratford and 38 minutes to London Liverpool Street.The Elizabeth Line at Shenfield (13 minutes by train) terminates at Heathrow airport. There are nearby airports: London Stansted, London Southend and London City.

All adults employed by the New Hall School have a responsibility for data protection and have a duty to observe and follow the principles of the GDPR Regulations. All applicants must be able to provide evidence of their Right to Work in the UK prior to commencement of employment. As part of our need to comply with UK immigration rules, you will be required to provide Home Office stipulated documentation prior to interview.

As well as verification of identity, we ask all successful candidates to undertake an enhanced DBS disclosure. In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance, we may also conduct an online search about any shortlisted candidates as part of our due diligence to identify any matters that might relate directly to our legal duty to meet safeguarding duties, in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE). New Hall School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

SAFEGUARDING AND FURTHER INFORMATION

Due to the nature of this role, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. In making your application, it is essential you disclose whether you have any pending charges, convictions, bind-overs or cautions and, if so, for which offences. This post will be exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Therefore, applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are 'spent' under the provision of the Act, and, in the event of the employment being taken up; any failure to disclose such convictions will result in dismissal or disciplinary action. The fact that a pending charge, conviction, bind-over or caution has been recorded against you will not necessarily debar you from consideration for this appointment.

Information about the School

New Hall is a Catholic independent boarding & day School for girls and boys aged 1-19. New Hall School operates the highly successful "diamond model", where students are educated in co-educational classes from ages 1 to 11 and at Sixth Form. However, from ages 11 to 16 they are taught in single-sex lessons.

From the moment New Hall students first travel up the mile-long, tree-lined avenue that leads to the grand façade of the former Tudor palace, they will be given individual opportunities to grow, learn, be challenged and to develop into confident young men and women. New Hall is set in an idyllic and convenient location, on the outskirts of the City of Chelmsford, just 30 minutes by train from London and within easy reach of all major London airports.

As a Catholic independent boarding & day school, we aim to educate the whole person: academically, creatively and socially, in a community which also nurtures the spiritual dimensions of human life.

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances.

Documents

Please be aware that some uploaded documents may require special software such as Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.

HR Department
The Avenue
Boreham, Chelmsford
Essex, CM3 3HS Telephone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]