Advertise early years and childcare jobs

How early years and childcare employers can advertise jobs.

If you are an early years and childcare employer, you can advertise your job vacancies through various platforms.

These include:

  • the jobs in early years and childcare newsletter
  • the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) 'Find a job' platform
  • the apprenticeship service account
  • recruitment support from Jobcentre Plus

We recommend you always use the jobs in early years and childcare newsletter, as the subscriber list will be jobseekers looking for local opportunities.

Advertise jobs in early years and childcare newsletter

The aim of the jobs in early years and childcare newsletter is to provide: 

  • early years and childcare providers a free space to advertise their staff vacancies that has a broad local audience
  • a free subscription service to West Sussex residents who are interested in a career in early years and childcare that connects them to local vacancies across the county

We offer early years and childcare providers this free service on the understanding that the county council is not responsible for any part of the recruitment process for the staff vacancies listed. We need to demonstrate impartiality in our hosting of these vacancies, so it is important that you follow the guidance and only submit the information requested within the template.

There is a controlled word count of approximately 200 words for each advert. This is because:

  • we provide job seekers with enough information to decide whether to follow your instructions on how to find out more and apply
  • we ensure the newsletter is accessible and easy for job seekers to use
  • keeping the adverts short makes the newsletter easier to view and navigate

We reserve the right to edit your content if it exceeds the maximum word count.

When editing the vacancy template, you can include web links for job seekers to access more detailed information. This could include application forms and other supporting documents hosted elsewhere, such as your website or Facebook page. 

In order to meet your duties under the Equality Act 2010 you avoid language that could be considered discriminatory or demonstrate any kind of bias when advertising a job.

Advertise your job vacancy template (Word, 180KB)

Guide to completing the job vacancy template

Follow the steps below to submit your advert for inclusion in the jobs in early years and childcare newsletter.

  • Download a copy of the template and re-name it using your setting name and type. For setting type use one of the following categories:

    • after-school club
    • breakfast club
    • childminder
    • day nursery
    • local authority maintained nursery class or school
    • pre-school (playgroup)

  • Have a look at the example job advert below to give you an idea of size and detail of information required:

    Absolutely excellent pre-school, Arun is looking for a level 3 early years educator

    Contract type: Permanent

    Working hours and pattern: 8.30am to 4.00pm Monday to Friday term-time only

    Salary band: Apprenticeship national minimum wage (negotiable with 2 years or more experience)

    About us: We are a family-owned pre-school in Bognor Regis. Our vision is to support children and staff become the best they can be. Our team are hard-working, supportive and fun!

    Job details: Baby room lead. You’ll supervise your team, lead on the delivery of high-quality care and learning, take the role of key person and develop strong partnerships with parents.

    What you need to succeed: Experience of leading a baby room or 2 years plus working in a baby room and ready to step up into a supervisory role.

    Benefits:

    • birthdays off
    • free training and allotted time to train
    • discounted childcare for staff
    • a culture of appreciation where everyone knows they are valued
    • free meals at work

    How to find out more and apply: For an application form or more information please visit our website, email manager@excellentpreschool.org or call 01234 56789.

    Closing date: add the day, month and year here

  • Add the following information onto the template (remember the 200-word limit):

    Setting name

    Include your provider type if not explicit in your setting name. For example, instead of Absolutely Excellent put:

    • Absolutely Excellent after-school club
    • Absolutely Excellent breakfast club
    • Absolutely Excellent childminder
    • Absolutely Excellent day nursery
    • Absolutely Excellent local authority maintained nursery class or school
    • Absolutely Excellent pre-school (playgroup)

    Setting location

    Choose the district or borough your setting is in from a drop-down list.

    Job title

    If the applicant must have a level 2 or level 3 for compliance, include this in the job title. If you are looking for an apprentice, include this in the job title – for example, Level 3 apprentice (Early Years Educator).

    Contract type

    You will be able to choose the contract type from a drop-down list.

    Working hours and pattern

    The more the more applicants you will attract.

    Salary band

    You can add ‘subject to qualifications and experience’ if this is relevant.

    About us (30-word limit)

    Include a short paragraph that summarises your setting’s unique selling point for job seekers – what positions you as an employer of choice in a competitive market? You can also include the village or town in which you are located if the location picker is too broad.

    Job details (30-word limit)

    Give a brief overview of the role and responsibilities.

    What you need to succeed (30-word limit)

    Give a brief overview of the key skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to be successful in the role. And any qualification requirements.

    Benefits

    What benefits can you offer to make this role attractive to job seekers.

    How to apply

    Provide a link to your website, Facebook page and application form or provide a named contact and email or phone number so applicants can request more information or an application form. If you provide a phone number you may get calls from agencies.

    We advise against requesting CVs and covering letters – an application form will give you all the information you require for short-listing in a standardised format, making it much easier for you to compare candidates. It also highlights gaps in employment that you will need to follow up, strengthening your safer recruitment practice.

    Closing date

    You will be able to choose a date from a drop-down calendar. If you have no closing date, leave this section blank.

  • Read our disclaimer before returning your completed template to jobsineyc@westsussex.gov.uk. In your email, include a contact in case we have any questions about the content before publication. The deadline for submission is 12.00pm on Wednesday for inclusion in the following week’s newsletter, which will be circulated to subscribers every Monday.

    All jobs will be removed after they have been included in 2 consecutive newsletters. If the job is still unfilled, you can resubmit the same vacancy to the shared mailbox. And we will include in a further 2 newsletters.

    For a wider reach we also recommend you use the free find a job platform. If you are advertising an apprenticeship, use the free advertising option offered through your apprenticeship service account.

    You can also advertise your vacancy on West Sussex Early Years and Childcare Training Facebook page.

    Send a link to your website or Facebook page if the job is advertised there, and we can share it. You can also send a brief description of the vacancy and how to apply by emailing early.years.training@westsussex.gov.uk

Advertise job vacancies on the Department for Work and Pensions platform

The Department for Education (DfE) launched the Early Years recruitment campaign in 2024.

The campaign aims to promote early years and childcare careers by highlighting the huge difference early years professionals make to young children and how rewarding working in the sector can be. The campaign has its own dedicated website that directs potential applicants to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Find a job platform.

Early years and childcare providers can advertise job vacancies on the platform. Use the DWP find a job instructions below to create an employer account and post job vacancies on the platform.

It is important to use the term ‘early years’ in the title of job adverts and select ‘education jobs’ for the job category when you post your vacancy.

Apprenticeship service account

If you are recruiting an apprentice, you can create adverts in your apprenticeship service account. These are free and can widen your reach. 

Recruitment support from Jobcentre Plus

Jobcentre Plus (JCP) offer a free recruitment service for employers and can also provide a dedicated local employer advisor who can create a bespoke recruitment package to suit your needs.

JCP can also promote your vacancies, both online and within their Job Centres, identifying suitable candidates to fill your vacancies.

JCP can create work trials and other tailored recruitment packages to suit your specific needs.

You can contact the JCP Employer Services Line by:

You can find more information on how JCP can help your business in the employer pack below.

Contact your local JCP for more targeted support and guidance for your local area:

More information and support is available from GOV.UK: