early childhood teacher jobs

Job Description: Nursery Teacher/Early Years Educator

Role Title: Nursery Teacher / Early Years Educator

Age Range: 2–4+ years

Reports to: Head Teacher

Contract: Term-time

Salary: £30,000-£34,000

Role Purpose

To provide a safe, caring, warm and intellectually stimulating learning environment in which young children achieve, belong and thrive.

Teachers play a central role in delivering a coherent, ambitious and developmentally appropriate Early Years curriculum, aligned with the EYFS Statutory Framework, Rocket’s pedagogical approach and Ofsted’s expectations.

The role involves combining intentional teaching, responsive care and strong relationships to support children’s social, emotional, physical and cognitive development, while maintaining the highest standards of safeguarding, wellbeing and professional practice.

Key Responsibilities

Teaching, Learning & Curriculum

• Curate a rich, enabling and thoughtfully organised learning environment that supports play, exploration, interaction and sustained engagement, both indoors and outdoors.
• Deliver high-quality teaching that brings the EYFS curriculum to life through purposeful play, adult interaction and well-planned learning opportunities.
• Understand and articulate the curriculum intent, and translate this into meaningful experiences that build knowledge, skills and dispositions over time.
• Use ongoing observation, assessment and professional judgement to plan next steps, adapt the provision and the teaching and respond to children’s interests, wonderings, needs and stages of development.
• Promote high quality interactions through sustained shared thinking, language development and promoting wondering, curiosity, imagination, problem solving, collaboration and independence.
• Reflect on practice and adapt provision to ensure all children make progress, including those with additional needs or emerging vulnerabilities.
• Support a culture of professional curiosity, reflective practice, support and collaboration

Key Person Responsibilities

• Act as a Key Person, developing secure, responsive and trusting relationships with children and their families.
• Maintain accurate, purposeful observations and assessments for Key Children, contributing to clear and meaningful learning records and termly reports
• Ensure all children are seen, heard, valued and feel represented. Supporting children to make their learning and ideas visible to others, e.g. parents
• Communicate confidently and sensitively with parents/carers about children’s development, wellbeing, and progress.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, senior leaders and external professionals to support inclusion across all aspects of the Pre-Preps and to meet individual children’s needs.
• Ensure children are kept well and safe

Care, Welfare & Safeguarding

• Ensure children’s safety, wellbeing and dignity at all times.
• Supervise children effectively throughout the day, including play, routines, transitions, outdoor learning, mealtimes, toileting and trips.
• Follow all safeguarding, child protection, health and safety, security arrangements, emergencies, illnesses, intimate care and e-safety and other policies consistently.
• Be confident in how to recognise, record and report safeguarding concerns promptly to the DSL in line with policy.
• Maintain a calm, attuned and reassuring presence, supporting children’s emotional regulation, wellbeing and sense of security.

Teamwork & Professional Practice

• Work collaboratively within a team-teaching model, sharing responsibility for curriculum planning, provision and care.
• Engage fully in team meetings, training, supervision, mentoring and reflective practice.
• Contribute positively to the wider life of the Pre-Prep, including termly Rocket themes and action-research, events, projects and cross-setting collaboration.
• Demonstrate initiative, flexibility and professional curiosity in day-to-day practice.
• Carry out reasonable duties as directed by the Head Teacher or the Registered Person to support the effective running of the setting.

Safeguarding Statement

The post holder has a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and must adhere to all safeguarding policies and procedures. Appointment is subject to enhanced DBS clearance, satisfactory references and ongoing suitability checks in line with safer recruitment requirements.

Values & Professional Behaviours – The Rocket Way

The Rocket Pedagogical Approach

At Rocket, Early Years education is intentional, reflective and deeply human. We prioritise depth over speed, creativity over conformity, and fulfilment over pressure, while remaining firmly anchored in the EYFS Statutory Framework.

Our values act as a compass for our practice, guiding how we design environments, shape curriculum experiences and build relationships. Teachers are viewed as curators of learning, using professional judgement to balance freedom and structure, exploration and guidance, care and challenge.

We believe children learn best when they feel safe, curious and deeply engaged. Through thoughtfully designed environments, responsive teaching and meaningful relationships, we prepare children not only for their next schools, but for life — with confidence, empathy and a growing sense of responsibility for themselves, others and the wider world.

All staff are expected to embody Rocket’s values:

Be Imaginative. Be Brave. Be Creative. Be Kind.

This includes:

• Professional curiosity: reflecting, questioning and continually improving practice
• Positivity: being solution-focused and constructive
• Responsibility: acting with integrity and accountability
• Trust: building consistent, respectful relationships
• Ambition: striving for excellence in everyday interactions and teaching
• Professionalism: being a positive role model for children, families and colleagues

Energy, warmth and a hands-on approach are essential. All team members contribute flexibly and collaboratively to the operational and educational success of the Pre-Prep.

Person Specification

Essential

• A full and relevant Early Years qualification (Level 3 or above)
• Secure knowledge of the EYFS Statutory Framework
• Experience working with children aged 2–4+ years
• Strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection
• Ability to build warm, respectful relationships with children, families and colleagues
• Clear written and verbal communication skills
• Commitment to reflective practice and professional development
• Alignment with Rocket’s values and pedagogical ethos

Desirable

• Experience in a high-quality Early Years or Pre-Prep setting
• Experience as a Key Person
• Experience working with external agencies (e.g. SEND professionals)
• Interest in creative, play-based and child-centred pedagogy

Equal Opportunities Statement

Rocket Productions is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and to equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background, protected characteristics or circumstances.

Safeguarding

This is everyone's responsibility, and all employees are required to act in such a way that at all times safeguards the health, safety and well-being of the children in our Pre-Preps. Familiarisation with, and adherence to our Safeguarding, Child Protection and Health & Safety Policies and any associated guidance or legislation is an essential requirement of all employees as is participation in related mandatory/statutory training. It is the obligation of each employee to seek guidance, without delay, where specific requirements, terminology and/or clarification is required.

Pay: £30,000.00-£34,000.00 per year

Application question(s):

• Do you have a full and relevant Early Years qualification?

Work Location: In person