Early Years Practitioner CV Template (Text Format)
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Diligent and dedicated professional with 6+ years of experience providing learning and development opportunities to children under 5 who have mental and physical disabilities. Expert at maintaining a safe and positive environment and researching advanced methodologies to maximise children’s performance and growth. Skilled at curriculum design, planning daily activities, childcare, monitoring social and emotional growth, and behaviour management.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Tapinoo LLC, Northampton
Early Years Practitioner, Dec 20xx – Present
- Maintain a safe, healthy, and fun environment for groups of up to 20 children
- Develop age-appropriate and play-based Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum to enhance individual growth
- Adhere to guidelines and protocols laid out by statutory framework, completed CPD qualifications including Early Years Foundation Degree
- Improved children’s learning outcomes by planning regular activities and providing continuous mentoring
Teaching Personnel, Loughborough
Early Years Practitioner, Jun 20xx – Nov 20xx
- Managed children of all ages with learning disabilities and mental disabilities
- Created curriculum for preschool-age children and incorporated creative learning activities to improve progress
- Collaborated with doctors to discuss weekly reports and details regarding each child’s condition
- Updated parents on behavioural, physical, and learning growth while providing feedback on home-based activities
- Conducted research on latest methods and strategies to drive innovation in curriculum and learning processes
Childville, Derby
Nursery Assistant, May 20xx – May 20xx
- Consistently monitored student performance and engagement, and provided feedback and daily reports to teachers
- Maintained accurate personal and medical records
- Organised daily story-time sessions for children
- Supported students during arts, crafts, music, cooking, educational games, and sports lessons
EDUCATION
The Open University, UK (20xx – 20xx)
Level 3 – Diploma for the Children and Young People Workforce
King Edward VII – Upper School, Sheffield (20xx – 20xx)
A-levels: Maths (A), Behavioural Science (A), English Literature (A)
GCSEs: 10 A*-C including Maths, English, Combined Science and Geography
KEY SKILLS
- Lesson and activity planning
- Health and safety standards compliance
- Student engagement
- Performance improvement
- Progress monitoring and reporting
HOBBIES & INTERESTS
- Avid cyclist, regularly participate in regional races
- Amateur viola player
- Enjoy socialising with friends
How to write an Early Years Practitioner CV
How’s a full guide on writing a CV for UK-based Early Years Practitioner jobs:
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1. Showcase your Early Years Practitioner qualifications
To work as an Early Years Practitioner in the UK, you’ll typically need a recognised Level 3 childcare qualification, but the exact requirements vary by nation:
🏴 England: You must hold a qualification recognised as full and relevant by the Department for Education (e.g., NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for Working in the Early Years Sector (Early Years Educator))
🏴 Scotland: Qualifications must be approved by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), such as the SVQ Level 3 Social Services (Children and Young People)
🏴 Wales: Qualifications must be listed on the Social Care Wales approved list (e.g., Level 3 Diploma in Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development)
Northern Ireland: Qualifications must meet standards set by the Northern Ireland Executive’s Department of Health, such as the QCF Level 3 Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Development
Include these qualifications in either your CV’s education section (or qualifications section if you have one), and make sure this section is prominently displayed so employers can immediately see you’re qualified. For example, place it at the top of the first page of your CV.
Here’s how:
Education
SVQ Level 3 Social Services (Children and Young People)
Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) — Dingwall, Ross-shire, Scotland
Completed: July 20XX
2. Highlight your understanding of national early years frameworks
No matter where you’re applying for a nursery job in the Home Nations, employers want to see that you understand and can apply the relevant national curriculum for early childhood education.
- 🏴 In England, that means the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
- 🏴 In Scotland, it’s the Curriculum for Excellence (especially the early level)
- 🏴 In Wales, the Curriculum for Wales and Foundation Phase framework apply
- In Northern Ireland, it’s the Early Years Foundation Stage under the Northern Ireland Curriculum
Tailor your CV to your specific national framework by showing how you support learning and development — whether that’s developing literacy skills, supporting emotional wellbeing, or encouraging physical play.
And, make sure to include references to key EYFS principles in your CV. This helps you stand out as a well-informed, compliant, and capable practitioner who hiring managers will want to interview.
Here’s a work experience bullet point that shows you understand the early years framework of the country you’re applying for (this example is for England):
- Planned and delivered activities supporting all seven areas of learning within the EYFS framework, leading to measurable improvements in communication and literacy skills
You can also list skills like EYFS curriculum planning, developmental observation, and early learning assessment in your CV’s skills section.
3. Emphasise experience with safeguarding and child protection
Safeguarding is essential in any childcare role. Employers need to know you’re not only DBS-checked but also able to recognise and respond to concerns about a child’s welfare.
However, don’t just list ‘safeguarding’ under your skills. Since this is such a vital element of the job, go further: Highlight any training you’ve done like this:
Education
- Level 2 Safeguarding and Child Protection, EduCare (20XX)
You’ll impress employers if you show practical awareness of safeguarding policies, knowledge of referral procedures, and experience handling sensitive situations with discretion.
4. Show how you support learning through play
Play is central to early childhood education. The best Early Years Practitioners know how to use play not just to entertain, but to teach.
Employers want to see that you can create purposeful, age-appropriate play activities that help children build confidence, explore the world, and reach developmental milestones.
Rather than simply stating that you ‘played with children’ on your CV, explain how you linked those activities to learning outcomes.
Here’s a CV personal statement that highlights your ability to both play and teach children simultaneously:
CV personal statement
Combine child-led and structured play to create joyful, curiosity-driven learning experiences. Support key early skills in communication, literacy, numeracy, and social development. Aim to foster a safe, inclusive environment where children feel confident, independent, and eager to learn.
Support the claims you make here with a bullet point in your experience section:
- Designed sensory play stations that encouraged exploration and supported early maths and language development
5. Reference Ofsted-ready documentation and record-keeping
Ofsted inspectors — and nursery managers — will expect you to keep accurate, up-to-date records, including learning journals, accident forms, nappy charts, or safeguarding logs.
Use your CV to show you’ve taken ownership of documentation responsibilities and understand how these records support children’s learning, safety, and compliance to prove to headteachers you’d be prepared and reflect well on your school at an unannounced Ofsted inspection.
Here’s a bullet point that shows you’ve effectively maintained Ofsted readiness at all times:
- Maintained detailed, GDPR-compliant learning journals for a key group of children, contributing to a successful Ofsted inspection in March 20XX
And here are some skills you can add to your key skills section to show that Ofsted readiness is something you’re competent at:
KEY SKILLS
- Observation and assessment
- Learning journal management
- Ofsted compliance
Early Years Practitioner job outlook in 2025 — things to know
According to the UK Earnings Explorer provided by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Early Years Practitioners in the UK earn an average annual salary of £16,276.
You can find information about the gender pay gap for Early Years Practitioners on the ONS’ website.