SUPPLY EARLY YEAR PRACTITIONER

The Erskine Stewart Melville Schools are currently recruiting for two Early Years Practitioners to join the Nursery on a casual basis from April 2026 (subject to satisfactory pre‑employment checks). The hours offered will vary from week to week on a supply basis at the sole discretion of the school. This is a term‑time only position with days of work ranging from Monday to Friday. Remuneration is dependent on skills and experience, at an hourly rate ranging from £14.97 to £16.29.

The purpose of this role is to deliver a high quality, child‑centred service which meets the needs of our children and their families. Key duties include:

• Planning and implementation of a curricular programme
• Observing and interacting with children to support their learning
• Participating in team work aspects across the Nursery

Successful candidates will be a kind, enthusiastic, and responsible individual who prioritises the interests of children and works well within a team. They will have experience working with children, possess a recognised childcare qualification, and demonstrate strong organisational skills.

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: Staff are offered a range of benefits including a generous holiday allowance, enhanced sick pay, family friendly policies, use of the Schools’ swimming pool and fitness room outside school hours, membership of the ESMS Discount and Benefits Scheme, including a range of discounts at 130,000 retail and entertainment locations.

Values: We are looking for individuals who can embody and promote ESMS values of Kindness, Confidence, Resilience, Integrity, and Curiosity while role‑modeling behaviours in line with our school pillars of Ambition, Innovation, and Community. 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. All staff working at ESMS have direct access to young people therefore all posts within the school are considered exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Any enquiries about this position should be directed to the HR Team at recruitment@esms.org.uk. The closing date for the position is Wednesday 25 March at 12noon. We anticipate interviews will commence shortly after.

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.