Senior Early Years Officer

Centreforequalities; Kirkcaldy; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused organization in Kirkcaldy is seeking a dedicated Early Years Practitioner to enhance life chances for children. You will be responsible for promoting learning and welfare in a nursery setting, leading teamwork, and ensuring inclusion and equality. Candidates should possess qualifications like HNC in Childhood Practice and have experience with young children. Comprehensive interpersonal skills and knowledge of child development are essential. This role offers part-time hours in a supportive environment.

Benefits

Employee benefits package with discounts

Opportunity for professional development

Qualifications

• Experience of working with young children in a formal setting.
• High levels of interpersonal skills for teamwork leadership.
• Knowledge of the Curriculum for Excellence and child development from birth to 5 years.

Responsibilities

• Promote children's learning, development, and welfare.
• Lead on team development within the nursery.
• Ensure positive outcomes for children and young people.

Skills

Teamwork

Interpersonal skills

Problem-solving

Child development knowledge

Education

HNC Childhood Practice

SVQ Level 3 Social Services, Children and Young People

Job description

Proposed Interview Date

Week Commencing 12 January 2026

Closing Date

Sunday 4 January 2026

Contract Type

Permanent

Salary

FC7 £33,732.26 - £41,972.91 (Pro-Rata)

Working Pattern

18 hours per week (work pattern to be confirmed)

Location

Capshard Nursery, Barry Road, Kirkcaldy

Purpose and Values of Education Directorate

The Education Directorate is committed to Improving Life Chances for All through a wide range of direct services which support our children, young people, families and the wider Fife community. Our approach to improvement is rooted in our core values: Compassion, Ambition, Respect and Equity which reflect the ethos, culture and practice principles of all staff across the directorate. We strive to ensure that our attitudes and behaviour reflect these core values in all our dealings with children, young people, their families, and the wider community in partnership with those who support them.

Supporting Statement

As part of your application, you must provide us with a Supporting Statement which outlines how your skills and experience make you a good candidate for this vacancy. For more information, check out the How to Apply section of our Career Site. Without a Supporting Statement, your application will not be progressed. Please upload your Supporting Statement at the section marked ‘upload resume’. Your Supporting Statement must not be a CV. More information is available on our Career site at www.fife.gov.uk/jobs/supportingstatement.

Please consider and demonstrate the following when completing your Supporting Statement:

• Working Together – Please give examples of when you have worked with others to lead teamwork and how you influenced those you were working with.
• Delivering Results – Please give examples that demonstrate your ability to organise and solve problems to achieve results.
• Personal Ownership – Please give examples of situations in which you have used your initiative to make improvements and used your skills to deal with challenges and change.
• Customer Focus – Please give examples of when your skills and knowledge have helped improve the learning and development of children.

Job Details

We are looking for a highly skilled Early Years Practitioner who is passionate about improving life chances for all through a professional commitment to making a difference for all of our children and young people so that they achieve their full potential. As a Senior Early Years Officer in Fife you will be responsible for promoting children’s learning, development and welfare within a nursery context, promoting inclusion, diversity and equality, communicating with other stakeholders and for contributing to and leading on wider development within the nursery, where appropriate.

Qualification, Registration and Skill Requirements

You are required to hold one of the following practitioner level qualifications (or equivalent):

• HNC Childhood Practice OR
• SVQ Level 3 Social Services, Children and Young People.

Experience of working with young children in a formal setting.

You are also required to register with SSSC at practitioner level within 6 months of taking up employment in this role and must complete the required post registration training and learning (PRTL) over the registration period.

You should have a working knowledge of the Curriculum for Excellence, realising the ambition and child development from birth to 5 years.

You are required to have high levels of interpersonal skills and abilities which will enable you to lead on aspects of team work within the nursery to ensure positive outcomes for all children and young people in your setting.

Before confirming to your appointment, you will be required to obtain Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme membership through Disclosure Scotland and become a member of the relevant PVG scheme.

As this role requires SSSC registration, you will have three months to apply for registration.

If appointed, you must start your application as soon as possible so you are registered within the required six months.

If you need to achieve a qualification to maintain your SSSC membership, information will be provided if you are appointed. You must ensure you complete the qualification within the specified timeframe.

More details are included in the role profile.

We particularly encourage applications from men, who are currently underrepresented within this type of work.

Further Information

• Role Profile – When preparing your supporting statement, review the role profile and think about how you meet the essential criteria (Role Profile).
• How We Work Matters – Our employees are expected to display and promote certain behaviours in the workplace. See our How We Work Matters behaviour framework for more information.
• Employee Benefits – Employees have access to a benefits package that offers discounts on a wide range of products and services.
• Directorate Information – Council Department information (Council Department information).
• Social Media – Search for more 'Fife Council Jobs' on Facebook or follow us on X @ FCJobsOfficial.
• Alternative Formats – Job information can be made available in alternative formats, to make a request please e‑mail [e-mail].

For further information please contact: Lyn Christie – [e-mail]