Early Years Practitioner

Early Years Practitioner (Full-time)

Job Reference: schooltalent/TP/33365/2338

Contract details

• Contract Type:
  Fixed Term, Full Time, Term Time
• Contract Details:
  Temporary, part-time, term-time commencing 23 February to 26 June 2026. The post holder will be working Monday to Friday
• Salary:
  Pro rata £26,964 to £29,353 dependent on skills and experience
• Working Hours:
  
  35.5 hours per week
• Location:
  
  Edinburgh

Closing Date

04/02/2026

Department / Region

• Department:
  Early Years/Nursery
• Region / Division: ESMS

Job Role

• Operational/Professional Services

The Role

The Erskine Stewart Melville Schools are recruiting for an Early Years Practitioner to join the Nursery on a temporary basis from 23 February to 26 June 2026 (subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks). This is a full-time, term-time position with the following days and hours of work:

• Mondays 8:00 am – 3:15 pm
• Tuesdays 8:00 am – 3:45 pm
• Wednesdays 8:00 am – 3:30 pm
• Thursdays 8:00 am – 3:45 pm
• Fridays 8:00 am – 3:30 pm

You will be entitled to an unpaid lunch of 30 minutes each day, with a total paid working week of 35.5 hours. The salary is pro rata £26,964 to £29,353. Annual leave will be a paid allowance in the annual salary as this is a term-time contract; holidays are taken during school holidays.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a high-quality, child-centred service that meets the needs of children and families
• Plan and implement a curricular programme
• Observe and interact with children to support learning
• Participate in team work across the Nursery

Qualifications & attributes

• Experience working with children
• Recognised childcare qualification
• Strong organisational skills; kind, enthusiastic and responsible

To learn more about this role, please access the job description provided.

Eligibility

• ESMS is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers for this role. International applicants require an alternative right to work in the UK.

Benefits

• Generous holiday allowance
• Enhanced sick pay
• Family-friendly policies; use of swimming pool and fitness room outside school hours
• Membership of the ESMS Discount and Benefits Scheme (130,000+ discounts)

Values

• Kindness, Confidence, Resilience, Integrity, Curiosity
• Ambition, Innovation, 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 have direct access to young people; posts are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. For enquiries, contact the HR Team at

Closing date
:
Wednesday 4 February 2026 at 12 noon. Interviews are anticipated to commence the week of 9 February 2026.

About ESMS

Welcome to ESMS, a family of independent schools in Edinburgh. We offer a co-educational nursery and junior school, single-sex but closely twinned secondary education, and a co-educational sixth form. We value kindness, confidence, resilience, integrity and curiosity, and invest in our staff careers.

Attached documents

• Nursery EYP - Jan 26.pdf