Early Years Educator

The Independent Schools Council; Chelmsford; Hybrid; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 days’ holiday

Excellent benefits & CPD

Lunch in term time

Discounted annual membership for New H

Lunch without charge in term time

Job summary

New Hall School is seeking an Early Years Educator for the Nursery to support its nurturing EYFS environment in line with safeguarding and welfare requirements.

You will work as part of the Nursery team, delivering high-quality early years education, observing progress, and engaging with parents to support each child’s development and wellbeing.

Qualifications

• NNEB or NVQ Level 3 in Childcare (or equivalent).
• Experience in an Early Years setting.
• Excellent communication, organisational, IT and leadership skills.
• Commitment to the ethos of a Catholic independent boarding and day school.

Responsibilities

• Act as Key Person for a group of children, overseeing care, learning and development.
• Plan and deliver age-appropriate learning activities.
• Observe, assess and record progress with Learning Journeys and online assessments.
• Engage with parents through meetings and communications.
• Support Nursery Manager with behaviour management and pastoral care.
• Maintain safeguarding and health and safety in line with school policies.
• Prepare learning resources and assist with daily planning.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and well-organised Nursery environment.
• Accompany and supervise children on outings and educational visits.

Skills

Excellent communication

Organisational skills

IT skills

Leadership skills

Child development understanding

Safeguarding knowledge

Education

NNEB/NVQ3 in Childcare

Job description

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)
• Excellent benefits & CPD
• 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.

Application closing date: midday, Monday 12 October

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.