Early Years Educator with German - 12 months Maternity Cover - start 21st August 2025

German School Association Ltd; Richmond; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

The German School Association Ltd is seeking a dedicated Early Years Educator for a maternity cover role. The position, which starts on August 21, 2025, involves supporting children's development in a bi-lingual environment. Applicants should be qualified at NVQ Level 3 and possess excellent English skills; German proficiency is advantageous. This full-time role includes competitive pay, a beautiful setting by the River Thames, and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Competitive salary depending on experience

39 hours week

Paid DSL school holidays

Cycle to work scheme

Team collaboration with idea generation

Qualifications

• Qualified Early Years Educator NVQ Level 3 or similar qualification.
• Excellent command of the English language, oral and written.
• Some German would be a distinctive advantage.

Responsibilities

• Engaging with groups of children and ensuring their safety.
• Participating in school events and planning group activities.
• Supporting children with individual needs and providing guidance.

Skills

Engagement with children

Reliability

Ability to work independently

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Early Years Education

Job description

Early Years Educator with German - 12 months Maternity Cover - start 21st August 2025

Company Description

The DSL is part of a long-standing tradition of excellence in the world-wide networks of more than 136 schools abroad. All schools are accredited and supported by the Federal Republic of Germany. DSL offers an appealing and challenging educational programme from Kindergarten to Abitur with a specific emphasis on German language and culture in a bi-lingual environment.

The DSL is set in beautiful, extensive grounds next to the river Thames and it is a wonderful environment for staff and children alike.

Position

We are now recruiting a dedicated, Early Years Educator to cover Maternity Leave from 21st August 2025 to 31st July 2026 initially.

This is a role for someone who ideally speaks/ understand some German.

This role supports the Group Leader and adapts to the needs of the group.

Kindergarten Groups at the DSL are bi-lingual, German and an English, so you must be prepared to engage with the language being spoken.

The Group Leader has overall responsibility of the group. There is also close cooperation between the staff, parents and the management.

Key tasks and responsibilities:

- Engaging with goups of children and individual children during play, indoors and outdoors

- Ensuring the safety of all children at all time on the school grounds

- Supporting children with individual needs

- Ensure children are well cared for during lunch time and ensrue meal time standards are followed

- Participation in parents' evenings and parent-teacher conferences

- Participation in general conferences and attending staff meetings

- Participation in further training

- Participation in school events, such as the Lantern Festival, Summer Festival or Open Day

- Participation, planning, exchange of information and preparation for an Ofsted inspection

- Support observation visits and staff meetings

Independent tasks that may arise when you stand in for colleagues:

- Substitution of colleagues in case of illness

- Carrying out and planning group activities

- Carrying out and planning small group activities

- Carrying out and planning afternoon circles

- Carrying out and planning daily routines with the group colleague

- Carrying out and planning group projects and children's house projects

- Carrying out and planning celebrations within the group or the Kinderhaus

- Coordination and exchange with other departments at the school, such as the ‘Beratungsquadrat’, German support teacher, health and safety

- Obtain information independently, keep up to date with regulations for child education, such as Safeguarding or diverse cultures

- Independent work and further training in the ‘Kindergarten App’

- Parent work in the form of weekly reports, development sheets, portfolios

- Provide guidance for trainees

Requirements

- Qualified Early Years Educator NVQ Level 3 or similar qualification

- Excellent command of the English language, oral and written

- Some German would be a distinctive advantage

- A positive attitude to work

- Reliable and committed to the task in hand

- Ability to work under pressure

- Ability to work independently

Other information

What’s on Offer

• Competitive salary depending on experience
• 39 hours week
• Paid DSL school holidays (restrictions apply to some dates and the end and beginning of the school year)
• Be part of a team where you can bring in your ideas
• Beautiful rural setting next to the River Thames
• Cycle to work scheme

Closing date for applications: 10th July 2025

Please upload your Cover Letter and CV to the website and we will contact you.

The German School London is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and will carry out a DBS check and appropriate screening on applicants. The German School Association is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all applicants who meet the requirements for the position. However, we are especially keen to receive applications from those in minority groups for which the School is currently underrepresented.