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- Tasks: Lead and inspire young learners in a nurturing nursery environment.
- Company: Join the award-winning Erskine Stewart Melville Schools in Edinburgh.
- Benefits: Enjoy free lunches, sports club access, and generous holiday allowances.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Childcare qualification and experience with children required.
- Other info: Part-time, term-time role with excellent career development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 7427 - 8088 £ per year.
The Erskine Stewart Melville Schools are currently recruiting for an Early Years Lead Practitioner to join the Nursery on a temporary basis from 27 February to 26 June 2026 (subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks). This is a part-time, term-time position with the following days and hours of work: Friday 8am to 3:30pm. You will be entitled to an unpaid lunch of 30 minutes each day, a total paid working week of 7.5 hours. Remuneration is dependent on skills and experience, at a pro rata salary of £7,427 - £8,088. Annual leave will be a paid allowance in the annual salary as this is a term-time only contract. All holidays will be taken during the school holidays.
Qualifications
Successful candidates will have an understanding of the Curriculum for Excellence, GIRFEC and the UNCRC Frameworks. They will have experience working with children, possess a recognised childcare qualification, and demonstrate strong organisational skills. The EYLP will also offer exceptional leadership, motivation and management of their room team, support the wellbeing of their colleagues and will support the training and mentoring of staff, daily logistics and room organisation and task delegation.
Eligibility
ESMS is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. International applicants will therefore be unable to apply for and secure a Skilled Worker visa. The successful candidate will only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.
Benefits
- Fee remission from Nursery to S6
- Free school lunches
- Free Sports’ Club membership, including access to pool and fitness suites
- Generous holiday allowance
- Generous pension
- Death in service benefit
- Family friendly policies, including enhanced maternity leave
- Membership of the ESMS Discount and Benefits Scheme, including a range of discounts at 130,000 retail and entertainment locations
- Employee Assistance Service
- Cycle to work scheme
- Car leasing salary sacrifice scheme
- Annual professional review process
- Regular salary reviews
- Funding towards professional qualifications
Values and Culture
We are looking for individuals who can embody and promote ESMS values of Kindness, Confidence, Resilience, Integrity, and Curiosity while role modelling behaviours in line with our school pillars of Ambition, Innovation, and Community.
Safeguarding
ESMS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Applicants must undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and Disclosure Scotland.
Contact Information
Any enquiries about this position should be directed to the HR Team at recruitment@esms.org.uk.
Closing Date
The closing date for the position is Wednesday 4 February 2026 at 12noon. We anticipate interviews will commence the week commencing 9 February 2026.
About ESMS
Welcome to the ESMS, a vibrant family of independent schools, set in beautiful grounds in the heart of Edinburgh. We offer a co-educational nursery and junior school, single-sex but closely twinned secondary education, and a co-educational sixth form. We are a consistently award-winning School, with an educational legacy that stretches back more than 300 years. Our Schools have always been pioneers of rounded education. Children’s education is underpinned by our values: kindness, confidence, resilience, integrity and curiosity. From virtual reality headsets in the classroom to developing one of the first outdoor learning programmes in Scotland, we are always searching for new ways to develop the whole child. The people that work for us are passionate, pioneering and strive for excellence in everything they do. We value the incredible contributions they make to school life, we invest in their careers and we support their ambitions so that they flourish professionally and personally.
EARLY YEARS LEAD PRACTITIONER employer: ESMS: Erskine Stewart's Melville Schools
Contact Detail:
ESMS: Erskine Stewart's Melville Schools Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land EARLY YEARS LEAD PRACTITIONER
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the education sector, especially those who work with early years. They might know about opportunities that aren't advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching ESMS and their values. Show how you embody kindness, confidence, resilience, integrity, and curiosity in your work with children.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice common interview questions related to early years education. Think about your experiences and how they align with the Curriculum for Excellence and GIRFEC frameworks.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed and shows your enthusiasm for joining the ESMS family.
We think you need these skills to ace EARLY YEARS LEAD PRACTITIONER
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the role of Early Years Lead Practitioner. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Qualifications: Don’t forget to mention your recognised childcare qualifications and any relevant experience you have working with children. This is your chance to shine, so let us know how you meet the criteria!
Demonstrate Your Values: We’re all about kindness, confidence, resilience, integrity, and curiosity. Make sure to weave these values into your application to show us you’re a great fit for our ESMS community.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, apply directly through our website. It’s super easy and ensures your application gets to the right place without any hiccups!
How to prepare for a job interview at ESMS: Erskine Stewart's Melville Schools
✨Know Your Frameworks
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the Curriculum for Excellence, GIRFEC, and the UNCRC frameworks. Be prepared to discuss how these frameworks influence your approach to early years education and how you can implement them effectively in the nursery setting.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As an Early Years Lead Practitioner, you'll need to demonstrate strong leadership abilities. Think of examples from your past experiences where you've successfully motivated and managed a team. Be ready to share how you support colleagues' wellbeing and foster a positive team environment.
✨Prepare for Practical Scenarios
Expect to be asked about real-life scenarios you might face in the nursery. Prepare some examples of how you would handle daily logistics, task delegation, and mentoring staff. This will show your practical knowledge and readiness for the role.
✨Embody ESMS Values
Familiarise yourself with the values of Kindness, Confidence, Resilience, Integrity, and Curiosity that ESMS promotes. During the interview, reflect these values in your answers and provide examples of how you've embodied them in your previous roles.
