Early years teacher : Employers and vacancy sources

Employment for early years/nursery teachers may be in:

• infant and primary schools, including preparatory schools;
• maintained/independent nurseries (often referred to as pre-prep schools);
• children centres;
• nursery centres;
• early excellence centres.

Private nurseries (often referred to as day nurseries) are less likely to employ early years teachers as they are paid more than nursery nurses. This could change as the sector grows, but it is more likely that there will be an increase in the number of positions for nursery nurses and other staff who are not necessarily graduates, rather than qualified teachers.

The structure of the school system in England and Wales is complicated (it is different in Scotland and Northern Ireland, though not necessarily less complicated). The mainstream state schools are run by the government or the local authority (LA)/unitary authority and are financed by public money. Independent schools are private and financed by fees from parents. There are also voluntary-aided or voluntary-controlled schools, which are under the control of voluntary or charitable bodies (usually religious). You can find out what schools are available in a particular area by contacting the LA.

Sources of vacancies

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• Nursery World  
• Times Educational Supplement (TES)  
• Guardian Jobs  
• Independent Jobs  
• Education Yearbook  
• Eteach  
• Vacancy lists from some local authorities (LAs).
• Local press.
• Religious and ethnic newspapers.

Teacher recruitment agencies offer part and full-time, temporary and permanent contracts, including Protocol Education  and Capita Education Resourcing .

University careers services are useful sources of vacancies, particularly those in universities running teacher training courses.

Get tips on job hunting, CVs and covering letters and interviews.