Early Years Practitioner

Action-For-Children; Ballymena; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

29 days leave + bank holidays

Training and development opportunities

Pension with up to 7% employer contrib

Staff discounts and Blue Light Card

Job summary

Action for Children is seeking a dedicated Early Years Practitioner in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, to join the Sure Start Developmental Programme for 2–3-year-olds. You’ll support high‑quality, play‑based learning for children aged 2–3, collaborating with health visitors, therapists and play specialists.

Your role requires QCF Level 2 in Childcare (or equivalent), plus experience in an early years setting.

Qualifications

• Hold QCF Level 2 in Childcare (or equivalent).
• Have paid or voluntary experience in an early years setting.
• Demonstrate knowledge of child development, safeguarding, health & safety, and equality practices.
• Communicate effectively, work as part of a team, and show flexibility to meet service needs.

Responsibilities

• Help create a safe, welcoming, and stimulating play environment.
• Plan and deliver age‑appropriate play opportunities as part of a team.
• Encourage positive parental engagement.
• Prepare and maintain indoor and outdoor play areas.
• Act as a key worker, completing observations, developmental records and home visits.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Flexibility

Safeguarding knowledge

Education

QCF Level 2 in Childcare

Job description

Early Years Practitioner.

Salary: £25,949 per annum pro rata.

Contract/Hours: Temporary Part Time maternity cover from Dec 26 for 12 months. working 30 hrs a week Mon 9-4.30pm, Tuesday 9-4pm Wednesday 9-5pm, Thursday 9-2.30pm and Friday 9-1pm.

Annualised Hours Contract – Consistent Pay All Year.

• You work 48 weeks of the year.
• Your salary is paid evenly over 52 weeks, giving you consistent, predictable monthly pay.
• You receive a 4‑week block of paid leave in the summer, in addition to annual leave entitlement.

Location : Ballymena, Northern Ireland

Benefits:

• A generous annual leave entitlement of 29 days PLUS bank holidays.
• Gain professional qualifications and excellent training/development opportunities.
• Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages
• Pension with up to 7% employer contribution with included life assurance cover
• Staff discount portal and Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 national retailers discounts.

Specialist Training & Professional Growth

• Access to training tailored specifically to the Sure Start Developmental Programme.
• Ongoing CPD opportunities to develop your skills and confidence.
• Supportive environment focused on reflective and high‑quality early years practice.

Vulnerable children in the UK need your help

Wherever you work in the Action for Children family, you'll be helping to change the lives of the most vulnerable children in the UK.

Last year, we helped more than 687,000 children and families across the UK. From direct work in communities to national campaigning, we are focused on making sure every child has a safe and happy childhood, and the foundations they need to thrive.

Why Action for Children?

Working here is more than a job. Everyone in the Action for Children family is passionate about protecting and supporting children. It's the sense of purpose that drives us every single day. Because we know that, when we work together, we can make a huge difference to bring lasting improvements to vulnerable children's lives.

About the role

We are recruiting a dedicated Early Years Practitioner to join our Sure Start Developmental Programme for 2–3-year-olds, supporting the delivery of a high‑quality, play‑based learning experience for children aged 2&3 in the Ballymena and Antrim area.

You will collaborate closely with Family Support Practitioners, Health Visitor, Speech and Language Therapist and Play Specialists. This offers a unique opportunity to learn from other disciplines and deepen your understanding of children’s development.

Applicants must hold a QCF Level 2 in Childcare (or equivalent), have voluntary or paid experience within an Early Years setting and demonstrate strong knowledge of child development, safeguarding, health and safety, and equality practices. The role requires excellent communication skills, the ability to work both independently and as part of a team, and flexibility to meet service needs.

How you'll help to create brighter futures

As an Early Years Practitioner, you'll be:

• Help create a safe, welcoming, and stimulating play environment.
• Plan and deliver age‑appropriate play opportunities as part of a team.
• Encourage positive parental engagement.
• Prepare and maintain indoor and outdoor play areas.
• Act as a key worker, completing observations, developmental records and home visits.

Let's talk about you

Our job description for the Early Years Practitioner outlines the requirements of the role but the ‘must-haves' are:

• Hold QCF Level 2 in Childcare (or equivalent).
• Have paid or voluntary experience in an early years setting.
• Demonstrate knowledge of child development, safeguarding, health & safety, and equality and inclusion.
• Communicate effectively, work as part of a team, and show flexibility to meet service needs.

Closing Date: Sunday the 1st Of November 2026

Please note: Interviews are planned to be held on the 9th of November 2026 in person in Ballymena.

Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

Diversity, equality and inclusion

At Action for Children, we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic and disabled candidates as they are under-represented within Action for Children. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups in society and for Action for Children.

Male staff are under-represented within our Children Service roles. We would like to encourage more male applicants for our Children Service roles.

Don't meet every single requirement?

If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with the job description, we'd love you to apply anyway. You might just be the perfect person for this role, or another role within the Action for Children family.

Want to know more about Action for Children?

Find us on Linkedin, Facebook or YouTube to get to know us better.

Job Description

See below for further information about working with us:

Action for Children Employee Benefits

AfC Commitment Statement

Action for Children Northern Ireland Booklet

Make a Difference - A Career in Residential Services