TL;DR
- A preschool teacher, called an early years or nursery teacher in the UK and a kindergarten teacher in some countries, is a specialist in early childhood development who works with children up to the age of five in nurseries, preschools and school reception classes.
- The job has seven duties: plan and prepare activities, teach through play in a safe and positive environment, support personal, social, language and physical development, observe, assess and record progress, work with parents and carers, keep children healthy and safe, and lead and work with the team.
- In England, settings must follow the EYFS statutory framework, and a preschool teacher needs early years teacher status (EYTS) or another early years qualification plus enhanced background checks. A job description should say which qualification level the post requires.
A preschool classroom looks like play, because it is. What a visitor does not see is the planning behind the sand tray, the observation notes taken while a child builds a tower, and the conversation with a parent at pick-up about a word their child said for the first time. A preschool teacher job description has to describe the work behind the play.
This article explains what a preschool teacher is and what the role is called in different places, sets out seven duties, lists the skills employers look for, covers training and qualifications in the UK and the framework that governs early years settings in England, and gives a template and wording for a CV.
Early years teams are developed through observation, feedback and regular conversation, much like the children. See how New Dynamics continuous feedback supports check-ins between managers and their teams.
What is a preschool teacher?
Titles vary by country and setting. Preschool teacher is the usual American term for a teacher of children before school age, and kindergarten teacher for the year before first grade. In the UK the equivalent is the early years teacher, sometimes called a nursery teacher, working in day nurseries, preschools, playgroups and the reception year of schools.
The UK National Careers Service describes the role in its early years teacher profile: “Early years teachers are specialists in early childhood development and work with children up to the age of 5.” Typical hours are 32 to 40 a week in term time, between 8am and 6pm on a rota.
Prospects, the UK graduate careers service, adds the purpose in its early years teacher profile: as an early years teacher, “you'll work with children aged 0-5 years, nurturing and supporting their learning and development”, aiming “to provide a safe and secure environment for children, in which you'll use resources to plan activities and help them to meet early learning goals”.
Preschool teacher duties: seven responsibilities
- Plan and prepare. Plan activities, materials and lessons, and develop and produce visual aids and teaching resources, indoors and outdoors, to the relevant framework.
- Teach through play. Motivate and stimulate children in their learning in a safe and positive environment, encouraging mathematical and creative development “through stories, songs, games, drawing and imaginative play”, as Prospects puts it, and helping children “develop curiosity and knowledge”.
- Support development. Aid a child's personal, social, language and physical coordination abilities, and provide pastoral care and support within a secure learning environment.
- Observe, assess and record. Observe, assess and record each child's progress, summarise achievements and report any issues.
- Work with parents and carers. Speak to parents and carers about their children's development, build and maintain relationships and share knowledge with other practitioners.
- Keep children healthy and safe. Ensure the health and safety of children and staff during all activities, inside and outside the setting, and follow safeguarding procedures.
- Lead and work with the team. Work with colleagues on curriculum planning, and, as the NCS lists, supervise nursery workers, teaching assistants and volunteer helpers; attend staff meetings and training and keep up with changes in the curriculum and best practice.
Skills employers look for
Prospects lists excellent communication and listening, organisation to plan the day and respond to different needs, “the ability to inspire and enthuse young children”, resourcefulness, patience and a caring nature, an understanding of children's needs and feelings, the ability to work independently and in the wider team, “a sense of humour and the ability to keep things in perspective”, ideas and creativity for dance, drama, music, arts and crafts, stamina “to keep up with the needs and energy of a large group of lively children” and attention to detail for observations and reporting. The NCS adds knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses, sensitivity and understanding, calm under pressure, flexibility and openness to change.
For an advert, six things: warmth with children, planning, observation and recording, communication with parents, calm and stamina, and teamwork.
The framework: EYFS in England
Early years settings in England work to a statutory framework. GOV.UK's page on the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework, published by the Department for Education, describes it as “The standards that school and childcare providers must meet for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5.” The framework “sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure children learn and develop well”, “ensures children are kept healthy and safe” and “ensures children have the knowledge and skills they need to start school”. There are separate versions for childminders and for group and school-based providers, and the page notes that providers are responsible for following the current version.
Prospects notes the equivalents elsewhere in the UK: the Curriculum for Excellence early level in Scotland, the Curriculum for Wales early years, and early years education in Northern Ireland. A job description should name the framework the post works to.
Qualifications, status and checks in the UK
Early years teacher status. The NCS says you need to get early years teacher status (EYTS) and meet the teachers' standards by completing early years initial teacher training, through an undergraduate degree in early childhood studies or child development with placements, a postgraduate course, part-time training while working in a setting, or an assessment-only route for experienced graduates. EYTS qualifies you to teach children up to age 5.
EYTS is not QTS. Prospects is clear: EYTS “is different from qualified teacher status (QTS), which is a legal requirement for teaching in primary and secondary maintained schools”, so you cannot work as a class teacher in a maintained school with EYTS alone. The NCS says the same: to teach older children or in a primary school you will usually need QTS. Our teacher job description covers that route.
Other early years qualifications. Many nursery and preschool posts are filled by early years educators and practitioners with level 2 or 3 qualifications, and the EYFS framework includes qualification requirements for staff ratios. Say in the advert which level the post requires and whether EYTS is essential or desirable.
Checks. The NCS says you will need to pass enhanced background checks as you may work with children and vulnerable adults.
Progression. The NCS says a qualified early years teacher could move into management of a nursery or group of nurseries, supply teaching, further training to become a primary teacher or play therapist, or teaching early years courses at university.
Requirements differ in other countries and in the other UK nations. Check the rules where you work.
Preschool teacher job description template
Adapt the template to your setting. Keep every line true.
Job title: Preschool teacher [UK: Early years teacher]
Reports to: Nursery manager or head of early years
Hours: [36] hours a week on a rota between [8am and 6pm], [term time / all year]
Purpose of the role: To plan and lead learning through play for children aged [2 to 5], so that every child is safe, happy and developing well against the [EYFS] framework, and every parent knows how their child is doing.
Main duties:
- Plan activities, resources and the learning environment indoors and outdoors to the [EYFS] framework
- Lead play-based learning across personal, social, language, physical, mathematical and creative development
- Observe, assess and record each child's progress and complete required assessments
- Build relationships with parents and carers and share children's progress regularly
- Keep children healthy and safe, follow safeguarding procedures and report concerns
- Supervise and support early years educators, assistants and volunteers in the room
- Take part in planning meetings, training and curriculum updates
Requirements:
- [Early years teacher status] [or: Level 3 early years qualification, with EYTS desirable]
- Enhanced background check and safeguarding training
- Paediatric first aid [or willingness to complete]
- Experience with children aged [0 to 5] in a setting
We provide: Planning time, safeguarding and first aid training, support towards [EYTS / level 5], and a route to room leader and deputy manager.
State the age range, the ratio, the hours and whether the post is term time only. Our job description template explains the overall structure, and our teaching assistant job description covers the supporting role.
How to describe preschool teaching on a CV
Write what you did and what it produced. The lines below are our own examples.
- “Early years teacher leading a room of [n] children aged 3 to 4 with two educators, planning to the EYFS framework.”
- “Completed observations and assessments for [n] key children each term and led parent meetings.”
- “Introduced an outdoor learning programme that increased time outside to [n] hours a week.”
- “Designated safeguarding deputy; completed safeguarding and paediatric first aid training.”
- “Mentored two apprentices through their level 3 qualification.”
Common mistakes in preschool teacher adverts
Qualification level unclear. EYTS, level 3 and level 2 posts are different jobs with different pay. Say which.
Framework unnamed. EYFS or the equivalent belongs in the purpose statement.
Ratios and ages missing. A room of 2-year-olds and a reception class are different days.
Safeguarding as a footnote. It is a core duty; write it as one.
No planning time. Candidates know that planning done at home is unpaid. Say what time you give.
Frequently asked questions
What does a preschool teacher do?
A preschool teacher plans and leads learning through play for children up to age five: preparing activities and resources, supporting personal, social, language, physical and creative development, observing and recording progress, working with parents, keeping children healthy and safe, and leading the room team. In the UK the role is called early years or nursery teacher.
What are the duties and responsibilities of a preschool teacher?
Seven core duties: plan and prepare, teach through play, support development, observe, assess and record, work with parents and carers, keep children healthy and safe, and lead and work with the team.
What is the difference between a preschool teacher and a kindergarten teacher?
In the United States, preschool usually means children aged around three to four and kindergarten the year before first grade, often at age five. The duties overlap almost entirely. In the UK both fall within early years, covering birth to five, and the reception year of primary school.
What qualifications does a preschool teacher need in the UK?
Early years teacher status, gained through early years initial teacher training, qualifies you to teach children up to age five. Many nursery posts require a level 2 or 3 early years qualification instead. EYTS is not the same as qualified teacher status, which is needed to be a class teacher in a maintained primary school. Enhanced background checks are required.
What is the EYFS?
The early years foundation stage is the statutory framework in England, published by the Department for Education, setting the standards that all early years providers must meet for the learning, development and care of children from birth to five. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own early years curricula.
What skills does a preschool teacher need?
Warmth and the ability to inspire young children, planning and organisation, observation and attention to detail for assessments, communication and listening with children and parents, patience, calm and stamina, creativity, and teamwork with educators and assistants.
Your next step
- Write the purpose statement with the age range, framework and ratio in it.
- State the qualification level required and whether EYTS is essential or desirable.
- Put safeguarding, observation and parent communication in the duties with the time you give for them.
- Plan the first term: induction, safeguarding training, a mentor and a review.
For that first term, read and download our employee onboarding guide. The guide is free to read, and the PDF uses our short download form.
Want observations of staff, feedback and development for the whole early years team in one place? Book a New Dynamics demo and bring your current job description. You can also email contact@new-dynamics.com.
