1. Home: Explore careers
  2. Early years teacher

Early years teacher

Alternative titles for this job include Nursery teacher

Early years teachers are specialists in early childhood development and work with children up to the age of 5.

Average salary (a year)

£25,714 Starter

to

£36,961 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

32 to 37 variable

You could work

between 8am and 6pm on a rota

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become an early years teacher

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • working towards this role

University

You'll need to get early years teacher status (EYTS) and meet the teacher's standards by completing an early years initial teacher training course. There are several ways to do this:

  • do an undergraduate degree in a subject related to early childhood studies or child development, along with course placements
  • take an early years initial teacher training course after you finish your first degree
  • complete teacher training part-time, if you already have a degree and are working in an early years setting

You can also have your teaching skills assessed over 3 months to make sure you meet the teacher's standards. For this route, you must be a graduate with a lot of experience across the 0 to 5 age range, and knowledge of key stage 1 and 2 in schools.

Early years teacher status qualifies you to teach children up to age 5. If you want to teach older children, or teach in a primary school, you'll usually need to get qualified teacher status (QTS).

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

Work

You could work your way into this role by starting as nursery worker or teaching assistant and doing a part-time degree in childhood studies or child development.

Volunteering

You'll usually need experience of working with children and young people through paid work or volunteering at a school, through youth work or on a holiday scheme.

More Information

Career tips

You can search for jobs in schools through the Teaching Vacancies service.

Further information

You can find out more about teaching in early years from Get Into Teaching.

You can also get details through CACHE and the early years career progression map.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • the ability to work well with others
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to understand people’s reactions
  • the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

In this role you would:

  • plan and prepare activities, materials and lessons
  • set out activities before class and tidy up afterwards
  • teach children through learning and play
  • speak to parents and carers about their children’s development
  • make sure children learn in a safe and positive environment
  • monitor children’s progress and report any issues
  • supervise nursery workers, teaching assistants and volunteer helpers
  • contribute to curriculum planning
  • attend staff meetings and training sessions

Working environment

You could work in a nursery or at a school.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

Once qualified, you could move into management of a nursery or group of nurseries.

You could work as a supply teacher or take further training to become a primary school teacher or play therapist. You might also move into teaching early years courses at university.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for an early years teacher right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Access to HE Diploma: Teaching

  • Provider: UNIVERSITY OF DERBY
  • Start date: 05 September 2023
  • Location: Derby

Access to HE - Teaching & Education

  • Provider: UNIFIED SEEVIC PALMER'S COLLEGE
  • Start date: 01 September 2023
  • Location: BENFLEET
Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Search further careers

Related careers

Skills assessment

Take an assessment to learn more about your skills and the careers that might suit you.

Speak to an adviser

You can call 0800 100 900 or use webchat to speak to an adviser.

We're open:

  • 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday
  • 10am to 5pm Saturday and bank holidays

We're closed Sunday, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Is this page useful?

Yes No

Thank you for your feedback.

Thank you for your feedback. Click here if you'd like to let us know how we can improve the service.