Adviser - Early Years

Leadingnation; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 1,000,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equal opportunities employer

Job summary

ESF is the English Schools Foundation in Hong Kong, seeking an Adviser – Early Years Education to provide strategic leadership and pedagogical guidance for high-quality early years provision grounded in play-based learning and inclusive practice.

The role strengthens coherence across ESF kindergartens and primary schools, aligning early years pedagogy with Vision 2030 and holistic transition pathways into primary school. Collaboration with school leaders and ESF colleagues is essential.

Qualifications

• Recognised teaching qualification with substantial experience in early childhood education.
• Postgraduate qualification in early childhood education or related fields is highly desirable.
• Significant leadership experience in early years education within an international or comparable context.
• Demonstrated expertise in play-based pedagogy, curriculum design and early childhood environments.
• Experience in leading professional learning and system-level initiatives is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the strategic development, implementation and review of ESF early years curriculum frameworks, guidance and policy.
• Ensure alignment between early years pedagogy, Vision 2030 priorities and ESF inclusion principles.
• Support coherence between early years provision, assessment approaches and transition expectations into Year 1.
• Prepare reports, briefings and strategic communications for senior leadership as required.
• Lead and facilitate system-wide professional learning in early years pedagogy and practice.
• Develop and support professional networks for early years leaders and teachers.
• Lead or contribute to cross-foundation initiatives related to early childhood education.
• Build strong partnerships with kindergarten leadership teams, early years leaders and teaching teams.
• Work collaboratively with other phase advisors, Student Support Services and other central teams to ensure aligned and coherent support for schools.
• Communicate pedagogical developments and strategic priorities clearly and effectively.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Play-based pedagogy

Curriculum design

Inclusive education

Professional learning

Education

Teaching qualification

Postgraduate qualification in early childhood education

Job description

The Adviser – Early Years Education champions ESF’s Vision 2030 by advancing Belonging, Engagement and Personalisation across all ESF kindergartens and early years settings in Primary Schools.

Working within the Education team, the Adviser provides strategic leadership and pedagogical guidance to ensure high-quality early years provision grounded in play-based learning, inclusive practice and developmentally appropriate environments.

The role strengthens pedagogical coherence across ESF kindergartens and primary schools and supports alignment between early years pedagogy, inclusive education principles and holistic transition pathways into primary school, with a focus on curriculum, learning and teaching.

The Adviser works in close partnership with school leaders, early years teams and ESFC colleagues to build capacity and ensure excellence in early childhood education across the Foundation.

Main Accountabilities

System Leadership and Strategy

• Contribute to the strategic development, implementation and review of ESF early years curriculum frameworks, guidance and policy.
• Ensure alignment between early years pedagogy, Vision 2030 priorities and ESF inclusion principles.
• Support coherence between early years provision, assessment approaches and transition expectations into Year 1.
• Prepare reports, briefings and strategic communications for senior leadership as required.

Pedagogy, Play, Inclusion and Learning Environments

• Provide expert guidance on play-based pedagogy, inquiry-led learning and developmentally appropriate practice that enables all children to access, participate and thrive.
• Support schools in designing high-quality early years environments that promote agency, curiosity, wellbeing, belonging and engagement for diverse learners.
• Advise on curriculum design, documentation of learning and assessment practices aligned with best practice in early childhood education and responsive to individual developmental pathways.
• Promote inclusive, neuro-affirming early years practice within play-based environments, ensuring that diversity of development, communication and learning profiles is recognised and supported within universal classroom provision.
• Support schools in embedding tiered support approaches within everyday teaching and learning.
• Contribute to guidance related to early identification, responsive planning and personalised pathways, in partnership with Student Support Services colleagues where appropriate.
• Promote reflective practice and professional dialogue within and across early years teams to strengthen coherence, inclusion and quality.

Transition and Continuity of Learning

• Strengthen holistic transition processes from K2 to Year 1 to ensure continuity of curriculum, learning and teaching, leveraging the strength of both phases.
• Support shared understanding between kindergarten and primary leaders regarding curriculum expectations and inclusive practice.
• Contribute to the development of Enhanced Transition guidance where relevant.

Professional Learning and Network Leadership

• Lead and facilitate system-wide professional learning in early years pedagogy and practice.
• Develop and support professional networks for early years leaders and teachers.
• Lead or contribute to cross-foundation initiatives related to early childhood education.

Collaboration and Communication

• Build strong partnerships with kindergarten leadership teams, early years leaders and teaching teams.
• Work collaboratively with other phase advisors, Student Support Services and other central teams to ensure aligned and coherent support for schools.
• Communicate pedagogical developments and strategic priorities clearly and effectively.

Requirements

• Recognised teaching qualification with substantial experience in early childhood education.
• Postgraduate qualification in early childhood education or related fields is highly desirable.
• Significant leadership experience in early years education within an international or comparable context.
• Demonstrated expertise in play-based pedagogy, curriculum design and early childhood environments.
• Experience in leading professional learning and system-level initiatives is desirable.

Knowledge

• Contemporary early childhood education research and practice
• Play-based and inquiry-led pedagogy
• Developmentally appropriate assessment and documentation
• Inclusive early years practice and tiered support approaches
• Transition and continuity frameworks

Abilities

• Strategic thinking and curriculum development
• Facilitation of professional learning
• Designing and evaluating learning environments
• Building system coherence across multiple schools and phases
• Leading change within complex educational settings

Demonstrates the ability to

• Advance high-quality early childhood education with clarity and moral purpose.
• Build collaborative, trust-based relationships across schools.
• Listen, influence and support reflective professional dialogue.
• Balance pedagogical expertise with partnership and humility.
• Navigate complexity with sensitivity and confidence.

ESF is an Equal Opportunities Employer

The English Schools Foundation (ESF) is fully committed to providing equal employment opportunities. ESF will not discriminate on the basis of age, race, colour, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, religion, veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, creed, citizenship or any other status protected by local laws or regulations.

Personal data provided by job applicants will be used strictly in accordance with the ESF's Personal Data Policy, a copy of which will be provided upon request.

ESF is dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of all students in our care and expects all applicants to uphold this commitment. We adhere to rigorous recruitment practices, with all appointments contingent upon an interview, identity verification, criminal background checks (including ICPC, SCRC, and other international background checks as appropriate), assessment of social media presence, and positive references.

In accordance with the Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025 guidelines, ESF may perform online checks for all shortlisted candidates prior to the interview.

About Us

The English Schools Foundation (ESF) is the largest English-medium international school organisation in Hong Kong. Our 22 schools and comprehensive programme of extra-curricular activities bring out the best in every student through a personalised approach to learning and by inspiring curious minds.

There are over 18,000 students from 75 different nationalities in ESF kindergartens, primary, secondary and all-through schools.

www.esf.edu.hk

About The Team

The English Schools Foundation (ESF) is a modern, well-managed educational organisation, committed to offering an international education to students drawn from over 70 countries. We are proud to be at the forefront of the educational hub in Hong Kong. We actively take advantage of the opportunities that Hong Kong offers as Asia’s world city and the principal gate-way to China.

The curriculum, leading to the International Baccalaureate, is adapted to Hong Kong, and the Asia Pacific region. ESF’s 1,100 teachers are highly qualified bringing with them experience from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States, the UK and many other international school systems. All schools offer a broad range of out-of-school activities in Hong Kong and overseas.

ESF has over 18,000 students. Our culture is one of joy in learning and pride in achievement. The great majority of our students study for the IB Diploma and gain entry to universities all over the world. ESF has a long-standing commitment to children with individual needs and is the principal provider for English-speaking children with special educational needs in Hong Kong. For further details about ESF, please visit our website at https://www.esf.edu.hk/.