Job description

Level 3 Early Years Practitioner – Full-time maternity cover from April 2026 for the summer term, 8:30 to 3:30

This setting provides a warm, nurturing, and well‑organised early years environment where children benefit from supportive adults, clear routines, and engaging activities. Staff work collaboratively to maintain high expectations, ensuring children feel safe, confident, and ready to explore. Pupils respond well to purposeful experiences that promote communication, independence, and steady early development.

Duties as Level 3 Early Years Practitioner:

Support teaching and learning in a Reception class for the summer term
Deliver engaging early years activities using provided planning and adapt where appropriate
Assist with phonics, early literacy, numeracy, and play‑based learning
Maintain consistent classroom routines and a nurturing environment
Contribute to observations and assessments to support pupil progress
Encourage social, emotional, and physical development
Work collaboratively with teachers and EYFS staff
Uphold safeguarding expectations and prioritise child welfare

Ideal Level 3 Early Years Practitioner:

Level 3 Early Years qualification is essential
Strong experience working within EYFS
Warm, patient, and nurturing approach
Confident supporting early reading, phonics, and play‑based learning
Effective communication and strong teamwork skills
Reliable, proactive, and committed to high‑quality early years provision
Dedicated to safeguarding and promoting child development

Why Step Teachers?

With a rich history spanning over two decades, our teacher recruitment agency proudly serves North London, East London, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, Cornwall, Devon and Greater Manchester. We foster exclusive relationships with schools and academies in these regions. Our dedicated team, stationed in branches across Barnet, Havering, Norwich, Cambridge, Abingdon, and Plymouth, is committed to supporting and nurturing teachers. Explore rewarding opportunities with our trusted education recruitment services.

We are an approved Crown Commercial Service supplier, proud members of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC), and REC Audited in Education, which means we have undergone rigorous external auditing to ensure we consistently meet the highest safeguarding and compliance standing in education recruitment.

Step Teachers is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All candidates registering with Step Teachers are subject to safeguarding checks in line with the DfE’s statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education, including reference checks and an Enhanced DBS check either registered on the Update Service or willingness to obtain one.

Your salary – dependent on experience – is paid weekly through PAYE – that means no self‑employed or umbrella companies. Additionally, you gain access to a range of exclusive deals, including discounted high street shopping, travel offers, gym memberships and more. Moreover, our pay portal offers comprehensive physical and emotional well‑being services as standard, ensuring your overall wellness is taken care of.

Recommend a friend to receive a £100 Amazon voucher for yourself, and a chance for you both to win a holiday worth up to £1000 – If you know anyone who is looking for temporary, permanent or supply work then get in touch with us today!