Lecturer/ Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood & Education

Background
The School of Social Work, Education and Teacher Education (SWETE) brings together a diverse and interdisciplinary community of academic and professional expertise, with a shared commitment to education, professional practice and positive social impact.

Within SWETE, the Academic Education and Linguistics subject area brings together colleagues working across Early Childhood, Childhood and Youth, Education, Applied Linguistics and related fields. Our portfolio spans undergraduate, postgraduate, employment-based and international provision, creating opportunities for colleagues to work across disciplinary and professional boundaries.

Our Early Childhood and Education provision prepares students for a range of professional, educational and community contexts, connecting academic study with the realities of working with children, young people, families and communities. We are committed to developing graduates and professionals who are reflective, critically engaged and able to understand and influence the complex contexts in which they work.

Join our interdisciplinary academic community and help shape the next generation of Early Childhood and Education professionals through teaching, scholarship, professional engagement and curriculum development.

Who are we looking for?
As a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood and Education, you will bring expertise in Early Childhood Studies and/or a related area of Education, Childhood and Youth, Special Educational Needs and Inclusion or a related discipline. You will have a strong interest in connecting academic knowledge with professional practice and in helping students develop the critical understanding, confidence and capabilities they need to make a positive contribution to the children, young people, families and communities they will work with.

We welcome applications from experienced higher education academics as well as professionals seeking to develop a career in higher education. You may have substantial experience in Early Childhood or a related professional setting, and we particularly value candidates who can bring current professional knowledge into an academic environment while also engaging fully with the academic expectations of the role. This includes a willingness to develop your teaching, scholarship and/or research, contribute to curriculum development and participate in the wider intellectual life of the subject area.

You will be able to teach and assess effectively at undergraduate level and contribute to curriculum development across our portfolio. Experience of supporting and assessing professional qualifications in the Early Childhood sector, including expectations relating to Full and Relevant, would be particularly welcome. Experience of developing relationships with early years settings, schools, employers or other professional partners, including placement development, would also be advantageous.

You will be collaborative, curious and committed to your own continuing academic and professional development. You will be comfortable working across disciplinary boundaries and able to contribute constructively to a team while developing your own areas of expertise.

For appointment at Senior Lecturer level, you will additionally demonstrate the experience and capacity to provide academic leadership, lead or contribute significantly to subject or course development, and enhance the quality, profile and impact of our provision.

How will you work?
We are committed to supporting flexible methods of working wherever possible and this role is Flexible and connected. Campus attendance will vary on a day-to-day basis and across the year but must purposefully align to the service being delivered and to the needs of our students, staff and stakeholders. It is expected that the majority of your working time will be spent on campus.

The role may also involve activity at partner organisations and other external locations, as appropriate.

Why join us?
At Canterbury Christ Church University, we believe education can make a difference to individuals, professions and communities. Our SWETE courses are closely connected to the professions our students are preparing to enter, while our academic community contributes to research, scholarship, knowledge exchange and wider social impact.

You will join a subject area with an ambitious and developing portfolio and opportunities to contribute to its future direction. We value the knowledge and experience that colleagues bring from different academic, professional and disciplinary backgrounds, and we are committed to creating meaningful connections between research, teaching and professional practice.

Our approach is collaborative and outward-facing. We work with schools, early years settings, employers, local authorities, community organisations and other partners to ensure that our provision remains relevant to the changing needs of the professions and communities we serve. This creates opportunities for colleagues to develop partnerships, contribute to professional learning and knowledge exchange, and extend the impact of their academic and professional expertise beyond the University.

This is an opportunity for someone who wants to make a difference through higher education while developing as an academic and contributing fully to the intellectual, professional and collaborative life of the University.

How to apply
Start date for applications: 12th of October 2026.
Closing date for applications: 2nd of November 2026.
Interviews are to be held: week beginning 9th of November 2026.

If you require further information regarding the post please feel free to contact the Head of Subject, Emily Walker-Smith (Emily.smith@Canterbury.ac.uk) (strictly no agencies, thank you) quoting reference number REQ06378.

Please note, Canterbury Christ Church University reserve the right to bring the closing date of this position forward where a high volume of applications is received.

Additional Information
Canterbury Christ Church University truly welcomes fresh perspectives and new voices. We want you to bring the real you to work, so we are committed to building a genuinely inclusive working environment where everyone is welcomed and where everyone can have a true sense of belonging. Our spirit of community will help us to eliminate discrimination and will enable us all to thrive in a culture that is underpinned by fairness and justice. We therefore seek people to join us who will proactively support and shape this aim and contribute in their own unique way. If this is you, then we are waiting to hear from you. #yourCCCU

Our university is deeply committed to shaping sustainable futures as a key part of its mission and values. If you share this passion, we encourage you to join us in making CCCU a more socially and environmentally conscious, sustainable place to study and work.

Employment Visa Clarification: According to the UK Government Points Based System, this position does not fulfil the requirements for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route application.

Please note applications must be made online via the University website; details sent directly via email cannot be considered.

£38,784 to £56,536. Lecturer scale (£38,784 - £44,746), Senior Lecturer scale (£46,049 - £56,536).