Early Years Lead Practitioner

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Description:

The Erskine Stewart Melville Schools are currently recruiting for an Early Years Lead Practitioner to join the Nursery on a temporary basis from the 27 February to 26 June 2026 (subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks). This is a part-time, term-time position with the following days and hours of work:

• Friday 8am to 3:30pm

You will be entitled to an unpaid lunch of 30 minutes each day, a total paid working week of 7.5 hours. Remuneration is dependant on skills and experience, at a pro rata salary of £7,427 - £8,088. Annual leave will be a paid allowance in the annual salary as this is a term time only contract. All holidays will be taken during the school holidays.

The purpose of the Early Years Lead Practitioner (EYLP) is to lead, nurture and support the learning and development of the children in their class, working closely with colleagues, parents and external stakeholders. They are also required to support the school’s Holiday Club provision where necessary. They are responsible for providing and sustaining an environment which is innovative, stimulating, challenging and enabling for nursery staff.

• Lead and manage a classroom of young children, delivering a curriculum based on the Curriculum for Excellence, GIRFEC and the UNCRC Frameworks.

• Support the wellbeing and development of all children, fostering a positive learning environment.

• Provide exceptional leadership, motivation and management of the room team.

• Mentor and train staff, supporting daily logistics, room organisation and task delegation.

• Support the training and mentoring of staff and daily logistics and room organisation and task delegation.

• Provide support to the school’s Holiday Club provision where necessary.

• Work closely with colleagues, parents and external stakeholders to support the learning and development of children.

• Understanding of the Curriculum for Excellence, GIRFEC and the UNCRC Frameworks.

• Experience working with children and possess a recognised childcare qualification.

• Demonstrate strong organisational skills and excellent leadership, motivation and management of the room team.

• Must be able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

ESMS is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. International applicants will therefore be unable to apply for and secure a Skilled Worker visa. The successful candidate will only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right work in the UK.

Staff are offered a range of benefits including: a generous holiday allowance, enhanced sick pay, family friendly policies, use of the Schools’ swimming pool and fitness room outside school hours, membership of the ESMS Discount and Benefits Scheme, including a range of discounts at 130,000 retail and entertainment locations.

We are looking for individuals who can embody and promote ESMS values of Kindness, Confidence, Resilience, Integrity, and Curiosity while role modelling behaviours in line with our school pillars of Ambition, Innovation, and Community.

ESMS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Applicants must undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and Disclosure Scotland.
All staff working at ESMS have direct access to young people therefore all posts within the school are considered exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

The closing date for the position is Wednesday 4 February 2026  anticipate interviews will commence the week commencing 9 February, 2026.

Welcome to the ESMS, a vibrant family of independent schools, set in beautiful grounds in the heart of Edinburgh. We offer a co-educational nursery and junior school, single-sex but closely twinned secondary education, and a co-educational sixth form.
We are a consistently award-winning School, with an educational legacy that stretches back more than 300 years. Our Schools have always been pioneers of rounded education. Children’s education is…