Primary Cover Teacher

Rijnlands Lyceum; Den Haag; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday allowance (8%)

End-of-year allowance (8.33%)

ABP pension contribution

Commuting allowance

Job summary

International School of The Hague is seeking a warm, relational Early Years Cover Teacher to join ISH Primary in Kijkduin, The Hague. You will teach within our Early Years team, fostering curiosity, independence and a love of learning for 4–7 year olds.

Role starts 1 November 2026, full-time for one year. Candidates should have a recognised teaching qualification and experience in Early Years, with excellent English and collaborative spirit.

Qualifications

• EU living/working permission (EU passport or Dutch work visa).
• Recognised teaching qualification (Bachelor in Primary Education or PGCE with QTS).
• Experience in Early Years or early primary education.
• Strong understanding of early childhood development and developmentally appropriate teaching.
• Experience with inquiry-based learning; IB PYP is an advantage.
• Ability to observe, assess and identify next steps in learning.
• Inclusive and differentiated practices for multilingual learners.
• Relational, patient and responsive approach; collaborative teamwork.
• Excellent spoken and written English.

Responsibilities

• Create a safe, stimulating and nurturing learning environment for young children.
• Plan developmentally appropriate learning experiences responding to interests and needs.
• Use purposeful play, exploration and inquiry to support development.
• Provide a balance of child-initiated and teacher-guided learning.
• Foster independence, curiosity and positive dispositions toward learning.
• Design indoor and outdoor learning spaces that promote collaboration and discovery.
• Use observation and assessment to inform next steps in teaching and learning.
• Support early literacy, numeracy and ATL skills in meaningful contexts.
• Build strong relationships with families and the school community.
• Collaborate with Early Years colleagues and teaching teams.

Skills

Excellent spoken English

Relational teaching style

Collaborative teamwork

Play-based learning

Observation & assessment

Education

Bachelor in Primary Education

PGCE/QTS

Job description

International School of The Hague – Primary (ISHp)

Are you the colleague we are seeking to join ISH Primary?

The International School of The Hague (ISH) is a diverse and internationally minded learning community of approximately 550 students aged 4–11. As part of the Rijnlands Lyceum Foundation, ISH Primary shares a beautiful campus with ISH Secondary in Kijkduin, The Hague.

We are seeking a warm, relational and reflective Early Years Teacher to join our Primary team from 1 November 2026.

Cover teacher

• Start Date: 1/11/2026
• Contract Type: Full-time (5 days a week) – 0ne year contract
• Salary: Dutch collective labour agreement for primary education (CAO PO), scale LB

This is an exciting opportunity for an educator who understands how young children learn and is passionate about creating engaging, nurturing and purposeful learning environments. Working within our Early Years team, you will support children at the beginning of their primary school journey, fostering curiosity, independence, confidence and a lifelong love of learning.

Our approach values learning through play, inquiry, exploration and meaningful relationships. As an IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) candidate school, we seek an educator who can create developmentally appropriate learning experiences that encourage children to wonder, investigate, communicate and make connections with the world around them.

Requirements

The successful candidate will have:

• Permission to live and work in the European Union (EU passport or valid Dutch work visa)
• A recognised teaching qualification (Bachelor in Primary Education or PGCE with Qualified Teacher Status)
• Experience teaching in Early Years or the early stages of primary education
• A strong understanding of early childhood development and developmentally appropriate teaching and learning
• Experience creating engaging, purposeful and play-based learning environments
• Experience with, or a good understanding of, inquiry-based and concept-driven learning; experience with the IB PYP framework is an advantage
• An understanding of how observation and assessment can be used to identify children’s interests, development and next steps in learning
• Experience using inclusive and differentiated practices to support multilingual learners and children with diverse learning needs
• A relational, patient and responsive approach to working with young children
• A collaborative approach and the ability to work effectively within a teaching team
• Excellent spoken and written English

Key Responsibilities

Early Years Teaching & Learning

• Create a safe, stimulating and nurturing learning environment in which young children feel confident to explore, play, inquire and take appropriate risks in their learning
• Plan and facilitate developmentally appropriate learning experiences that respond to children’s interests, questions and needs
• Use purposeful play, exploration and inquiry to support children’s cognitive, physical, social, emotional and language development
• Provide a balance of child-initiated and teacher-guided learning experiences
• Foster student agency, independence, curiosity, creativity and a positive disposition towards learning
• Design and adapt indoor and outdoor learning environments to encourage exploration, collaboration and discovery
• Use observation, documentation and assessment to understand each child’s development and inform next steps in teaching and learning
• Support the development of early literacy, numeracy, communication and Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills in meaningful and age-appropriate contexts
• Build warm, trusting and positive relationships with children, creating a strong sense of belonging and emotional security
• Support children’s social and emotional development, including self-regulation, independence, resilience and positive relationships with others
• Use inclusive and differentiated practices to support multilingual learners and children with diverse learning needs
• Recognise and respond appropriately to the individual developmental needs, strengths and interests of each child
• Establish consistent, positive and developmentally appropriate expectations and routines
• Work closely with families to support children’s learning, development and wellbeing
• Promote multilingualism, intercultural understanding and respect for the diverse identities and experiences represented within our international community
• Support children as they transition into school and develop confidence within their learning community

Inquiry & Curriculum

• Deliver engaging, inquiry-driven learning experiences aligned with the IB PYP framework and the school’s curriculum standards
• Encourage children to ask questions, investigate ideas, make connections and reflect on their learning
• Collaboratively plan, assess and reflect with Early Years colleagues to ensure coherent and engaging learning experiences
• Support the development of the attributes of the ISH community profile and Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills in age-appropriate ways
• Use children’s interests, experiences and prior knowledge as meaningful starting points for learning

Professional Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with Early Years colleagues, teaching assistants, specialist teachers and student support colleagues
• Contribute actively to collaborative planning, assessment and reflection
• Communicate effectively and sensitively with parents and caregivers about children’s learning, development and wellbeing
• Engage actively in professional learning, reflection and collaborative inquiry
• Contribute positively to the wider school community through events and activities
• Demonstrate flexibility, initiative and a willingness to contribute to the evolving needs of the Early Years and wider Primary School

What We Offer

• A rewarding opportunity to support children at the beginning of their learning journey
• A welcoming, inclusive and internationally minded school community
• A collaborative and supportive Early Years team
• Ongoing professional learning focused on inquiry, inclusion and wellbeing
• Dedicated collaborative planning time with teaching teams and the PYP Coordinator
• A supportive professional environment that values reflection, collaboration and continuous learning
• Competitive CAO PO benefits package including:
  • Holiday allowance (8%)
  • End-of-year allowance (8.33% of the gross annual salary)
  • ABP pension contribution
  • Commuting allowance
  • Tax benefit schemes and insurance discounts
  • Collective occupational disability insurance (IPAP) and discounts on corporate healthcare/home policies

Safeguarding & Child Protection

All applicants are subject to a rigorous screening process that includes verification of qualifications, obtaining two supervisory references (including current employers), and obtaining current and previous police checks/certificates of good conduct.

Aligned with the recommendations of the International Task Force on Child Protection, we hold ourselves to a high standard of effective recruiting practices with specific attention to child protection. To this end, all new hires must obtain a Dutch certificate of good conduct (VOG) prior to the start of employment.

To find further information about the school, please visit our website: www.ishthehague.nl .

We ask that you please refrain from placing this advert on recruiting websites without our permission or using it for acquisition purposes.