Recruitment for early years and childcare providers - Print version

Advertising your job vacancies

Early Years and childcare providers – do you need to recruit staff?

Why not advertise your job opportunities for free on our Coventry Family Information Directory. [https://cid.coventry.gov.uk/kb5/coventry/directory/family.page?familychannel=0]

Coventry Ofsted registered Early years and childcare providers can submit their job vacancies by completing our online form [https://forms.office.com/e/egJHWhH6RQ]. This service is for Coventry providers only. 

We also share current job vacancies with the Coventry Job Shop, this enables all job vacancies to reach a wider audience.

Advertising your job vacancies

Information required when completing the online job vacancy form:

• job title
• qualifications required
• working hours
• salary - including salary details or hourly rate will ensure that you receive a greater response to your advertisement 
• how to apply
• contact details
• closing date

Make your vacancy sound appealing and explain why job seekers would want to work for your setting.

National Minimum Wage

By law employers must pay a minimum amount on average for the hours you work. This is called the:

• National Living Wage (NLW) if you're aged 21 or over
• National Minimum Wage (NMW) if you're aged under 21 or an apprentice

Further information on National Minimum Wage [https://www.acas.org.uk/national-minimum-wage-entitlement]

Dealing with enquiries and applications to your job adverts 

Consider how you will deal with enquiries regarding your job adverts – ensure all staff that are involved in the recruitment process are briefed and confident in responding to potential job seekers, this also includes any staff that will be responding to telephone calls or emails.

Advertising internally - the benefits  

By also advertising your job vacancy internally your recruitment practice will be seen as transparent and fair and you will also be showing recognition of staff and giving them the chance to develop.

Use of social media as a recruitment tool 

Why not utilise social media to advertise job vacancies?  LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook will allow you to reach a large number of people for little or no cost. 

Disclosure and Barring Checks

When a job vacancy is advertised, reference should be made for the need of the applicant to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring check [https://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check/overview].

References

The Department for Education has published a new early years employment reference template [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-employment-reference-template] to support providers to meet new EYFS safeguarding requirements on references. This form is intended to help support employers provide references for current and former employees, and includes questions about the person’s role, safeguarding history, and suitability to work with children. 

Safer recruitment

• Considerations for Interviews [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/31362/considerations_for_interviews]
• Example Job Advertisement [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/31363/example_job_advertisement]
• Reference Request form [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/31364/reference_request_form]
• Sample Early Years Practitioner Job description [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/31365/sample_early_years_practitioner_job_description]
• Sample Early Years Practitioner Personal Specification [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/31366/sample_early_years_practitioner_personal_specification]
• Sample Interview Questions and Guidance [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/31367/sample_interview_questions_and_guidance]
• Sample job offer letter [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/31368/sample_job_offer_letter]
• Sample letter for applicant who you wish to invite for an interview [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/31369/sample_letter_for_applicant_who_you_wish_to_invite_for_an_interview]
• Sample unsuccessful applicant letter [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/31370/sample_unsuccessful_applicant_letter]
• Shortlisting Sample Record for Manager or Deputy Manager position [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/31371/shortlisting_sample_record_for_manager_or_deputy_manager_position]
• Shortlisting Sample Record for Preschool assistant position [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/31372/shortlisting_sample_record_for_preschool_assistant_position]

Looking for job vacancies in early years or childcare?

Then why not search our jobs for current job vacancies [https://cid.coventry.gov.uk/kb5/coventry/directory/family.page?familychannel=0].  Our jobs site enables job seekers to view current job vacancies and share to various social media platforms and also share via email, text and WhatsApp. 

Are you a job seeker looking for practical support? 

Then why not contact The Job Shop [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/jobshop] which is based in West Orchards Shopping Centre, Coventry City Centre, can help support job seekers with a wide range of services, including 1-1 support to help with preparing a CV and interview skills, interview preparation and signposting to job events that will put you in touch with employers regarding their job opportunities. This is a free service. 

For further information please email  jobshop@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:jobshop@coventry.gov.uk] or telephone 024 7678 5740.

Working in Early Years and Childcare  

To meet the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements, early years providers need to recruit people who comply with the Department for Education qualification list [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/early-years-qualifications-finder]of relevant qualifications. 

Have you achieved your Early Years Qualification outside the UK? 

If you did not achieve your early years qualification in the United Kingdom, you will be required to make an application to work in early years education in the United Kingdom.  Guidance of this and how to apply [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-qualifications-achieved-outside-england] 

Statement of Comparability  

The Statement of Comparability compares overseas qualifications to the UK education system, comparing them to UK qualifications and framework levels. This service does not provide a comment on grades, grade comparisons, or the subjects studied.  Information and how to apply [https://www.enic.org.uk/Qualifications/SOC/Default.aspx]

Disclosure and Barring Service 

To work with children and young people as an employee or as a volunteer you will need to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring check for more information [https://www.gov.uk/dbs-check-applicant-criminal-record/get-a-basic-dbs-check-for-an-employee]

National Minimum Wage entitlement 

Current rates from 1 April 2026

If an employee feels they are not being paid the correct amount they can find advice and support on the ACAS website [https://www.acas.org.uk/national-minimum-wage-entitlement].