Job descriptions for early years and childcare workers in schools

All job descriptions for early years and childcare staff in schools can be found on the Job Description Matrix.

Please check that the qualifications of staff are full and relevant so you can count them in ratios: Check an early years qualification – GOV.UK

Please note – any changes made to job descriptions may have an impact on the grade of the post. Therefore changes to the job description may result in the need for re-evaluation of the job so you should always consult a HR Adviser if you wish to do so. If you have any queries please email hrdirect@devon.gov.uk

As increasing numbers of schools are setting up early years provision for babies, opening longer hours and across the whole year we are reviewing job descriptions and considering contracts.

We hope to have a Nursery Manager job description, a Deputy Nursery Managers job description and a Baby Room Leaders job description available in the coming weeks.

Please contact fran.butler@devon.gov.uk if there are other job descriptions that you require.

HR has given the following advice for schools:

If the same work is continuing in the school holidays with the same age group and working to the same job description there’s no reason why it can’t be the same contract. You could issue an all year round contract. If hours vary, you could consider an annualised or variable hours contract to manage the fluctuations in working pattern across the school year.

If the role is different during the holidays and the employees are working to a different job description, then you would need to issue a separate contract linked to the different role. The employee will have 2 concurrent contracts for the separate roles.

If the working pattern is different between holiday and term time, you could also have 2 contracts (even if both roles are working to the same JD) if that is easier to manage.