"Early Years Practitioner"

Join Our Team at the University of Southampton’s - Early Years Centre Creating calm, curiosity-filled spaces where children, and practitioners, truly thrive.

We are excited to invite passionate and motivated Early Years Practitioners to join our dedicated team. This is a role for someone who brings commitment, flexibility, and a genuine desire to nurture young children through the earliest and most important stage of their development.

About the Role:

As an Early Years Practitioner at our Centre, you will play a key part in providing high-quality care and education, supporting children across every stage of their early learning journey. You’ll help to create a calm, tranquil environment where children and staff feel safe, secure, and content in a place where families instantly feel welcomed and reassured.

Our approach is deeply reflective and child-centred. Together, we always ask “why?”, ensuring that every interaction, resource, and environment we offer has purpose and meaning. We focus on open-ended opportunities and children’s individual interests, extending their play through thoughtful modelling, communication, and encouragement.

We believe children learn best when they are happy, relaxed, and having fun. By nurturing their natural curiosity, we help them build confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning.

What We’re Looking For:

We want practitioners who are proud of the care they provide and individuals who bring compassion, kindness, and creativity to their work every day. Our team is united, supportive, and committed to creating a setting where children, families, and staff alike can express their curiosity, individuality, and nurturing personalities.

Applicants must have one of the following qualifications (or equivalent):

• NVQ Level 3 in Early Years and Education
• CACHE Diploma
• NNEB

A satisfactory Enhanced DBS check is required.

For more information: We’d love to hear from you. For an informal discussion with a member of our management team, call (023) 8059 3465 or email your CV to eycentre@soton.ac.uk

Become part of a centre where your passion is valued, your ideas matter, and your work truly makes a difference every single day.