Early Years Educator Job Description

Written by:

Claudio Sisera

Early Years Educator Job Description

Written by:

Claudio Sisera

An Early Years Educator is a highly trained professional who plays a key role in ensuring that young children learn and develop well, and are kept healthy and safe.

As an Early Years Educator, you may either be working on your own or supervising others to deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements set by Government for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5 years old.

What are the Duties and Responsibilities of an Early Years Educator?

The duties of an Early Years Educator include, but are not limited to:

Planning and supervising child and adult led activities which are based around the needs and interests of each individual child.
Having key person’s responsibilities to ensure each child learns and develops well in the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Observing children, keeping track of their development and taking notes of any challenging behaviour to shape their learning experience.
Working in partnership with parents to ensure each individual child’s needs are met.
Meeting the care needs of children such as feeding, changing nappies and administering medicine.
Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children at all times.
Supports children to develop communication and language, numeracy and literacy skills through play.

Becoming a qualified Early Years Educator can be the first step in an individual’s career towards a managerial position in childcare and education, such as Nursery Room Leader, Third in Charge, Deputy Manager or Nursery Manager.

What will I be doing as an Early Years Educator?

As an Early Years Educator, you will provide the young children in your care with a safe, stimulating and rewarding environment in which they can develop and grow confidently. Together with other Early Years Educators, Nursery Assistants and your Room Leader, you will provide a high standard of physical, social and personal care.

You will work alongside your team, as well as the parents and carers of your children, external agencies and management team, to deliver high standards of safeguarding, learning and development in accordance with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

You will plan activities based on your key children’s individual interests, learning needs and stages of development. Your tasks as an Early Years Educator will include:

Recording, analysing and planning how your key children are learning and developing within the EYFS, paying particular attention to those with additional needs such as learning English as an Additional Language (EAL) or Special Education Needs (SEN)

Promoting a culture of inclusivity, equality and diversity by ensuring that each child’s individual background is respected, celebrated and embedded into your weekly planning of activities.

Planning and carrying out educational activities that are in line with the learning requirements set in the EYFS.

Ensuring a balance of child-led and adult-led activities are included in your weekly planning.

Ensuring children experience a balance of indoor and outdoor learning activities and play.

Being a role model for children and promoting positive behaviour that is expected of children, such as turn taking, managing feelings appropriately, and adopting good habits.

Supporting children’s group learning and their ability to socialise with others.

Keeping track of children’s development by carrying out formative and summative assessments to plan next steps and shape future learning opportunities.

Engaging in parents evening and regular catch-up meetings with parents and carers to discuss children’s progress and plan consistent next learning steps both at nursery and home.

Planning and carrying out personal care routines which are relevant to the age, stage of development and needs of your children, and promote independence where appropriate.

Carrying out risk assessments and executing risk management measures which are in line with policies and procedures, such as food hygiene, first aid, fire safety, child protection, and many more.

Promoting healthy lifestyles amongst children, such as making appropriate food choices, engaging in physical activities and learning about how our body works.

As a qualified Early Years Educator, you will also be supporting the unqualified Nursery Assistants (if any) within your classroom, answer any questions they might have, and coach them with the support of your Room Leader.

Where could I work as an Early Years Educator?

As an Early Years Educator, you could work for several types of employers, such as nurseries and pre-schools, primary schools, playgroups, crèches and Clych Meithrin. Mudiad Meithrin is the main provider of Welsh-medium early years education and care in the voluntary sector.

Early Years Educators are mostly employed at private nurseries or those attached to schools, but they can also be employed in other institutions such as family centres or hospitals, though no matter the type of organisation, Early Years Educators tend to be still dealing with a lot of the same responsibilities. The positions can either be part time or full time.

Sometimes the position can be specifically hired to focus on children with special educational needs. If a certain specialism is required, employers will include it in the job advert.

If you hold a full and relevant childcare qualification in Early Years, you can also qualify to fill specific vacancies in reception classes as a teaching assistant ones.

What skills do I need to be an Early Years Educator?

Being an early years educator requires a diverse range of skills and qualities that are essential for providing quality care and education to young children. Some of the key skills needed to be an effective early years educator include:

Patience: Working with young children can be challenging and requires a great deal of patience, as young children often need more time and support to complete tasks.

Creativity: Early Years Educators need to be creative and resourceful to come up with engaging and stimulating activities that promote children’s learning and development.

Communication: Effective communication skills are essential for building strong relationships with children, parents, and colleagues, and for ensuring that children feel valued and supported.

Flexibility: The ability to adapt to changing circumstances and be flexible is crucial in an early years setting, where schedules and routines can vary from day to day.

Organisational skills: Early Years Educators must be organised and able to manage their time effectively to ensure that they can provide individualised care and attention to each child.

Emotional intelligence: The ability to understand and respond to the emotional needs of young children is crucial for creating a safe and nurturing environment that supports children’s social and emotional development.

Observation skills: Being able to observe and assess children’s development is essential for identifying their strengths and areas for improvement and for planning appropriate activities that support their learning.

Problem-solving: Early Years Educators need to be able to think creatively and solve problems quickly and effectively, as unexpected challenges can arise in a dynamic and unpredictable setting.

Teamwork: Early Years Educators work closely with other staff members, parents, and other professionals, so the ability to work collaboratively and effectively as part of a team is essential.

Passion and dedication: A genuine passion for working with young children and a strong commitment to their welfare and development are essential qualities for anyone considering a career in early years education.

What are the requirements to be an Early Years Educator?

Unlike an unqualified Nursery Assistant, an Early Years Educator holds a full and relevant childcare qualification in Early Years.

To be an Early Years Educator, you must successfully complete a level 2 or Level 3 Childcare Qualification in Early Years. You can refer to the Department for Education’s list of approved qualifications for additional information.

If you do not hold a GCSE in English and Maths at grade C or above (or a level 2 Functional Skills in English and Maths), you will need to achieve this level prior to taking your end point assessment. You must also successfully complete a first aid qualification in line with the requirements of the EYFS Framework

Moreover, every Early Years Educator should know and understand the following:

The expected patterns of children’s development from birth to 5 years, and have an understanding of further development from age 5 to 7.

The significance of healthy attachment in children and how to promote it effectively.

A range of underpinning theories and philosophical approaches to how children learn and develop, and their influence on practice.

How children’s learning and development can be affected by their stage of development and individual circumstances such as moving school, birth of a sibling, family breakdown and adoption and care.

The importance of promoting diversity, equality and inclusion, fully reflecting cultural differences and family circumstances.

The importance to children’s holistic development of the prime areas of learning and development.

Systematic synthetic phonics in the teaching of reading, and a range of strategies for developing early literacy and mathematics.

The potential effects of, and how to prepare and support children through transitions and significant events in their lives.

The current early education curriculum requirements such as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

When a child is in need of additional support such as where a child’s progress is less than expected, how to assess within the current early education curriculum framework using a range of assessment techniques such as practitioners observing children through their day to day interactions and observations shared by parents and/ or carers.

The importance of undertaking continued professional development to improve own skills and early years practice.

The legal requirements and guidance on health and safety, security, confidentiality of information, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

Why health and well-being is important for babies and children.

How to respond to accidents, injuries and emergency situations.

Safeguarding policies and procedures, including child protection, recognise when a child is in danger or at risk of abuse, and know how to act to protect them. Types of abuse include neglect, physical, emotional and sexual.

How to prevent and control infection through ways such as handwashing, food hygiene practices and dealing with spillages safely.

What is the average salary of an Early Years Educator in the UK?

An Early Years Educator in the UK earns an average salary of £23,022 a year, reaching up to £28,347 per annum depending on their experience, location and the type of setting they work at.