Erskine Stewart's Melville Schools - Early Years Practitioner and Early Birds Assistant

Scotland
Erskine Stewart's Melville Schools
Part-time | Fixed Term | Term Time

Summary

We are currently seeking to fill the position of Early Years Practitioner and Early Birds Assistant.

Detail

The Nursery at ESMS are currently recruiting for an Early Years Practitioner and Early Birds Assistant to join the Nursery on a part-time, temporary basis from August 2025 (subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks) until 26 June 2026. The hours of work will be Monday and Tuesday from 7:30am to 8:15am as an Early Birds Assistant, Monday 8:15am to 3:15pm as an Early Years Practitioner and Tuesday 8:15am to 3:45pm as an Early Years Practitioner during term time. The Early Years Practitioner and Early Birds Assistant will be placed on the ESMS Support Staff Salary Scales and the salary range for this role is £9,627 to £10,479 per annum. Remuneration is dependant on skills and experience.

The purpose of this role is to delivery 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 program, observing and interacting with children to support their learning and participating in team work aspects across the Nursery.

The successful candidate 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.

To learn more about this role, please access the job description provided.

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 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 modelling 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 Morven Wrinn, at recruitment@esms.org.uk.

The closing date for the position is 31 July at 12noon. We anticipate interviews will be week commencing 11 August.

About ESMS

Welcome to the ESMS, a vibrant, family of independent schools, for 3-18 year olds, 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. At the ESMS family of schools we pride ourselves on our holistic approach to education which means that we place as much emphasis on opportunities and activities outside of the classroom as we do on what happens in class. We offer over 300 clubs and societies as well as wide-ranging opportunities in sport, music and drama, outdoor education, trips and community involvement, all with the intention of helping your child discover their talents, learn or explore something new, have fun and make new friends.

Our Vision is to empower learners within our community through innovative approaches and transformative experiences, cultivating creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. Through a dynamic education and a culture of determination, we inspire students to dream big, set ambitious goals, and surpass their own expectations, ensuring every child has the opportunity to excel and achieve a fulfilling, successful life, whatever path they choose.

Our Mission is to develop resilient, accomplished, and values-driven students equipped with the knowledge, skills, and mindset to lead full, happy lives and shape a better world.

Aims

We offer an outstanding, well-rounded education, to a diverse group of children
We take time to build strong relationships and to help our children feel happy, safe and secure so that they thrive emotionally and socially and academically
We provide an unrivalled range of activities outside the classroom, enabling our children to discover and develop their natural talents
We inspire children to aim high and achieve strong academic results
We give children every opportunity to seize and embrace every challenge that life throws at them
Our teachers inspire innovative thinkers with a love of learning that will last a lifetime
Our children develop the confidence to use their voices
Our five values embed character, inspiring children to develop good hearts, make good decisions and improve the world around them.