Early Years Practitioner

Job description

Job Description

Early Years Practitioner.

Salary: £25,949 per annum pro rata.

Contract/Hours: Permanent, Part Time Annualised Hours (working 32.5 hours a week).

Annualised Hours Contract - Consistent Pay All Year.

• You work 48weeks of the year.
• Your salary is paid evenly over 52 weeks, giving you consistent, predictable monthly pay.
• You receive a 4-week block of paid leave in the summer, in addition to annual leave entitlement. (see below).

Benefits:

• Over 7 weeks inclusive paid leave pro rata including bank holidays and the option to buy or sell leave.
• 1 well-being day per year.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Excellent training and the opportunity to undertake professional training for some roles.
• Flexible maternity, paternity and adoption packages.
• Up to 7% employer pension contribution and life assurance cover.
• Blue Light Card eligibility with discounts at 15,000 national retailers.

Location: Ballymena, Northern Ireland.

Specialist Training & Professional Growth

• Ongoing CPD opportunities to develop your skills and confidence.
• Supportive environment focused on reflective and high-quality early years practice.

Vulnerable children in the UK need your help

Wherever you work in the Action for Children family, you'll be helping to change the lives of the most vulnerable children in the UK.

Last year, we helped more than 687,000 children and families across the UK. From direct work in communities to national campaigning, we are focused on making sure every child has a safe and happy childhood, and the foundations they need to thrive.

Why Action for Children?

Working here is more than a job. Everyone in the Action for Children family is passionate about protecting and supporting children. It's the sense of purpose that drives us every single day. Because we know that, when we work together, we can make a huge difference to bring lasting improvements to vulnerable children's lives.

About the Role

Ballymena and Little Steps SureStart are seeking to recruit a dedicated and enthusiastic Early Years Practitioner to join our Play and Learning (Crèche) Team.

The successful candidate will work as part of a committed and supportive team, providing high-quality, child-centred care and play-based learning experiences for children from birth to four years. You will help create a safe, nurturing, inclusive and stimulating environment that supports children's learning, development, wellbeing and emotional needs, while promoting positive outcomes for children and families across the Ballymena and Antrim areas.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about supporting young children's development and committed to delivering high standards of early years practice.

What the Role Involves

This rewarding and varied role includes delivering a range of programmes and services for children aged 0-4 years and their families, including:

Musical Movers
Fun and interactive music and movement sessions, based on Jacqui Maguire's Music in the Early Years programme, which promote physical development, confidence and healthy lifestyles.

Little Learners
Sensory play sessions that encourage learning through play and support positive parent-child interactions.

PEEP Learning Together
Sessions that help parents understand how everyday play supports children's learning, development and wellbeing. The programme includes outdoor play experiences and promotes children's communication, social, emotional, physical and cognitive development.

Sessional and Respite Crèche
Working alongside the Play and Learning Team to provide high-quality play experiences in a safe and nurturing environment, enabling parents to attend programmes and access additional support when needed.

Working with Families and Professionals

The successful candidate will play a key role in planning and delivering engaging activities that support children's communication, social, emotional, physical and cognitive development while building positive relationships with children and families.

You will work closely with Family Support Practitioners, Health Visitor and Speech and Language Therapist, providing a unique opportunity to learn from other disciplines and develop a deeper understanding of children's development and family support.

How you'll help to create brighter futures

As an Early Years Practitioner, you'll be:

• Help create a safe, welcoming and stimulating environment where children can learn, play and thrive.
• Plan and deliver engaging, age-appropriate play experiences as part of a supportive team.
• Lead and support a range of parent-child programmes, including Musical Movers, Little Learners and PEEP Learning Together.
• Encourage positive parent-child interactions and support parents to build their confidence through play.
• Prepare, organise and maintain indoor and outdoor play environments and resources.
• Work in partnership with families and other professionals to support children's learning, development and wellbeing.
• Observe children's interests and emerging skills to help plan meaningful play experiences.
• Promote inclusive practice and ensure all children feel valued, respected and supported.

Let's talk about you

Our job description for the Early Years Practitioner outlines the requirements of the role but the 'must-haves' are:

• Hold Level 3 in Childcare (or equivalent).
• Have relevant paid or voluntary experience in an early years setting.
• Demonstrate knowledge of child development, safeguarding, health & safety, and equality and inclusion.
• Communicate effectively, work as part of a team, and show flexibility to meet service needs.

Closing Date: Monday 2nd November 2026.

Please note: Interviews are planned to be held week commencing 9th November 2026 in Ballymena.

Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

To be eligible for this position you must complete an Access Ni Enhanced Disclosure

Having a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining a position.

A copy of the Access Ni Code of Practice can be found here.

Policies on Recruitment of Ex-Offenders & Access Ni Disclosure Handing Policy are also available on demand.

Our Commitment to Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism

At Action for Children, we are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and able to thrive. We know that racism and discrimination create barriers, and we are taking active steps to challenge these inequalities in our organisation and in the communities we serve.

We strongly welcome applications from people who are Black, Asian, or from other racialised and ethnically marginalised communities, as well as disabled people, who are currently under-represented in our workforce. We are committed to removing barriers in our recruitment processes and ensuring fair access to opportunities.

We also encourage applications from men, who are under-represented in our Children's Services roles. We recognise that people hold multiple identities, and we value the richness this brings to our team.

Don't meet every single requirement?

If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with the job description, we'd love you to apply anyway. You might just be the perfect person for this role, or another role within the Action for Children family.

Want to know more about Action for Children?

Find us on Linkedin, Facebook or YouTube to get to know us better.

Job Description

See below for further information about working with us:

Action for Children Employee Benefits

AfC Commitment Statement

Action for Children Northern Ireland Booklet