Early Years Educator

Imperial Enterprise; Greater London; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

43 days annual leave

Generous pension schemes

On-site leisure facilities

Cycle-to-work scheme

Job summary

Imperial College London is recruiting two Early Years Educators to join our team at the South Kensington campus. You will work full time, on-site, delivering high-quality care and education to children aged 6 months to 5 years, with a focus on the Froebelian approach and nature-based learning.

Applicants must hold a Level 3 childcare qualification, have strong knowledge of child development (0-7 years), and understand safeguarding requirements.

Qualifications

• Must have full and relevant childcare qualification (Level 3)
• Knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
• Understanding of safeguarding obligations and child welfare
• Ability to plan and implement engaging learning experiences for 6 months to 5 years

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver stimulating learning activities for children aged 6 months to 5 years
• Maintain accurate developmental records and observations
• Support high standards of care and education in line with policies
• Engage with parents and carers to discuss progress and concerns

Skills

Childcare knowledge

Plan learning experiences

Communication skills

Record keeping

EYFS knowledge

Safeguarding awareness

Teamwork

Education

Level 3 childcare qualification

NNEB / BTEC Level 3

Job description

It is essential that all applicants have the full and relevant level 3 qualification and are prepared to work with babies and children up to 5 years.

About the role

***Please note that if you have applied for this role within the last six months and were unsuccessful, please do not reapply at this stage unless you have since gained additional relevant qualifications, skills, or experience that meet the requirements of the role.***

For over 50 years, we have been providing high quality care and education to children of Imperial’s staff and students aged from 6 months to 5 years old. We are based at South Kensington campus and are a three-times awarded outstanding Early Years provider by Ofsted. Our well-resourced rooms as well as bespoke designed garden were developed to provide an excellent stimulating environment for children to thrive and learn in. This allows them to reach their full potential alongside our passionate and dedicated team. Our curriculum incorporates the Froebelian approach to learning, where we understand the importance of how a child’s connectiveness with nature, personal experiences and their family and community makes them all unique.

What you would be doing

We are currently looking for two Early Years Educators who are enthusiastic, hardworking, and Level 3 Qualified to join our well-motivated team. The roles are full time, permanent positions with an immediate start. You will have excellent childcare and developmental knowledge, confident written and spoken communication skills and can plan and implement exciting learning experiences for children of all ages between 6 months - 5 years.

Candidates must have Full and relevant qualifications – please check your qualifications here Early years qualifications achieved in the United Kingdom - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) before applying.

You will be required to have a sound knowledge of the Children’s Act, Every Child Matters document, the Early Years Foundation Stage and latest legislation. In addition to have a sound knowledge of child development 0-7 years. You will need to have the ability to promote and maintain high standards of care and education and be understanding of children’s emotional needs and be able to respond appropriately. To be able to recognise good practice and have the confidence to challenge bad practice (See Whistle Blowing Policy).

Safeguarding children is our priority, and all post holders are required to adhere to the EYEC’s Safeguarding children and Whistle blowing policy. All post holders will be required to obtain a satisfactory enhanced level Disclosure and Barring check.

What we are looking for

• Full and relevant childcare qualification e.g. NNEB, BTEC a minimum Level 3
• To have a sound knowledge of child development 0-7 years
• To have an understanding of Safeguarding children and own responsibilities to protect children
• To build positive caring relationships with all children attending the Centre ensuring that their needs take priority
• To work as a key person to a group of designated children
• To keep accurate, clear, up to date developmental records and observations on children
• To have a working knowledge and understanding of the Early Years foundation Stage framework
• To plan and organise daily learning experiences with the team to promote the development of each individual child taking into consideration their varying interests and needs
• To develop and maintain professional relationships with parents and carers by warmly welcoming them to the Centre daily and communicating with them effectively about matters concerning their child
• To arrange to meet with parents regularly to discuss children’s progress and any concerns

What we can offer you

• Working hours are Monday to Friday from 08:30-17:30
• Events to come together and celebrate from summer parties to Christmas breakfasts
• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to use science for humanity
• Benefit from a sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 43 days’ annual leave and generous pension schemes)
• Access to a range of workplace benefits, generous family leave packages, on-site leisure facilities and cycle-to-work scheme
• Interest‑free season ticket loan schemes for travel
• Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing

Further information

Please note that if you have applied for this role within the last six months and were unsuccessful, please do not reapply at this stage unless you have since gained additional relevant qualifications, skills, or experience that meet the requirements of the role.

All appointments will begin at the bottom of the salary range (plus 2.5 hours of guaranteed contractual weekly overtime).

If you require any further details on the role, please contact: Tracy Halsey, Head of EYEC – [e-mail]

Closing Date: Midnight on Sunday, 01 November 2026

Available documents

Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

• download: Early Years Educator Job Description.pdf

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.

We reserve the right to close the advert before the stated closing date, should we receive a high volume of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you encounter any technical issues while applying online, please don't hesitate to email us at [e-mail]. We're here to help.

About Imperial

Welcome to Imperial, a global top‑ten university where scientific imagination leads to world‑changing impact.

Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world’s toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.

As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you’ll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.

This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you’ll join us at Imperial College London.

Our Culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our web pages .

Proud signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. We welcome applications from the Armed Forces community.

Our values are at the root of everything we do, and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.