Early years teacher

Early years teachers work with children up to the age of five. They use structured play with younger children to teach them skills such as telling the time and how to share.

Also known as

• Early years educator
• Nursery school teacher

Work activities

Early years teachers help children to learn through structured play rather than formal lessons. This could take place indoors or outdoors. They plan activities to allow children to express themselves creatively, while learning about everyday things such as colours, days of the week and how to tell the time. They can also use play to teach the basic principles of social behaviour, such as sharing or waiting for a turn. Younger children might need practical help with tasks like dressing, washing and using cutlery.

Teachers observe children to identify their abilities, strengths and interests. They might use audio-visual materials and computers to stimulate interest and learning. Teachers discuss their progress at parents’ evenings. They need to take into account children whose first language isn’t English.

Early years teachers might supervise the work of one or more teaching assistants, as well as write reports and keep pupil records. They might be responsible for buying and maintaining equipment used by the children. They might also supervise the children on visits of educational interest.

Personal qualities and skills

As an early years teacher, you’ll need:

• The ability to encourage, motivate and inspire the children.
• Good listening and observation skills.
• To maintain discipline.
• To work well under pressure.
• Creative and practical skills, to find activities that interest and stimulate learning in the children.

Pay and opportunities

Early years teachers in the state education sector are paid on a scale according to their qualifications, experience and responsibilities. The highest salaries are available in inner London schools. The lowest salary a qualified early years teacher can earn is £30,000 (for the academic year 2023/24). Salaries rise to just under £47,000.

Teachers normally work from around 8:30am or to 4pm, Monday to Friday. However, most teachers work extra hours - marking work, preparing lessons and going to meetings.

Employers include:

• Nurseries.
• State and private primary schools.
• Early excellence and children’s centres.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised by local authorities and in the local and national press, including The Guardian and The Times Educational Supplement (TES). There are also job boards, for example, eTeach and the Teaching Vacancies service.

Entry routes and training

Early years’ teachers status (EYTS) qualifies you to teach children up to age 5. If you wish to teach older pupils, you will need to apply for qualified teacher status (QTS).

You will need to complete early years teacher training by:

• Taking an early childhood-related degree while working in an early years setting.
• By graduate entry – for example if you already have a degree but are not working in an early years setting and/or have limited experience with working with children.
• By graduate employment – for example if you already have a degree and are working in an early years setting.
• By assessment – if you already have a degree and have a lot of experience working with children.

There are opportunities for teachers to move into teacher training, advisory work, educational research or schools’ inspection. Teachers can become heads of department, heads of year, or co-ordinators of, for example, special educational needs.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: This career is an exception to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.

Qualifications

All candidates for early years training need GCSEs (or recognised equivalent qualifications) at grades 9-4 in English, mathematics and a science subject.

If you don’t have the GCSEs that are usually needed, you might be able to sit a pre-entry equivalency test; you should contact individual course providers to discuss your situation before making your application.

To enter a degree, you’ll usually need two to three A-levels and five GCSEs at grades 9-4. The subjects you’ll need will depend on what the degree subject is. Equivalent qualifications, such as Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 Nationals and the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, might be acceptable for entry – please check prospectuses carefully.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

To enter teacher training courses, you’ll usually need to have at least observed some early years teaching. For some courses, you’ll need paid or voluntary work experience in an early years setting, or other relevant experience with children.

If you don’t have the qualifications you need to enter a degree course, you might be able to start one after completing a college or university Access course. You don’t usually need any qualifications to start an Access course, although you should check this with the course provider. If you have credits from some higher education study, you might be able to take a shortened course.

The Montessori Centre International offer courses including certificates, diplomas, and a foundation degree by distance learning, with some attendance. The courses are aimed at students wishing to become teachers of the Montessori Method.

Related careers

• Care assistant - children
• Childminder
• Nanny
• Nursery nurse
• Primary teacher
• Teacher
• Welsh teacher