Employment Opportunities
Working for the Pre-school Learning Alliance
The Pre-school Learning Alliance is a national educational charity representing and supporting 15,000 community-based pre-schools. These pre-schools provide early education and care for more than half a million children under the age of five.
The Alliance is dedicated to supporting community pre-schools; through training courses leading to recognised qualifications at levels 2 and 3. It offers a wide variety of other courses for parents and pre-school staff. It also provides quality assurance systems, local visits by skilled advisers, a range of helpful publications, membership advice and help lines, support with marketing and PR, fundraising, finance and personnel issues.
There are nearly 100 employing sub-committees across the country, many running pre-school settings. Over the next year we will be opening around 25 nurseries to provide full day care and support for young children and their families. Job opportunities are advertised on the website, in nursery related magazines or journals, in local press and Alliance offices. The Alliance also has opportunities for both unqualified and qualified childcare practitioners. Please see the leaflet 'Working in the Childcare Sector' for further information.
Current Vacancies
We have a wide range of opportunities, covering both 'field-based' staff, as well as roles including finance, administration, office services, business and It support and communications. For more information about what's currently available in your area, click on the links below to see current job opportunities by area:
- National Centre (London N7)
- East Division
- Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, Derbyshire, Essex Southend & Thurrock, Hertfordshire, Leicester & Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Milton Keynes, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk
- North Division
- Cheshire, Cleveland, Cumbria, Durham, Greater Manchester, Isle of Man, Lancashire, Merseyside, North Yorkshire, Northumberland, South Yorkshire, The Humber, Tyne & Wear, West Yorkshire
- South Division
- Berkshire, Channel Isles, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent & Medway, London, Surrey, West Sussex
- West Division
- Bath & N E Somerset, Birmingham, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, North Somerset, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Wiltshire, Worcestershire
Criminal Disclosures Checks
Please note that due to the nature of many of our posts (for example, those working within pre-schools), we may seek details about a successful applicants' criminal record from the Criminal Records Bureau before any appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings, as well as convictions.
Having a conviction will not necessarily bar candidates from employment. This will depend on the circumstances and background to the offence(s) disclosed.
The Pre-school Learning Alliance meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Equal Opportunities
The Pre-school Learning Alliance aims to employ the best possible staff and intends to offer equality of opportunity by ensuring that no person is disadvantaged or discriminated against in seeking employment, or for any other reason during their employment with the Pre-school Learning Alliance.
Applicants will be considered on the basis of their suitability for the post, regardless of marital status, age, gender, race, culture, religious belief, ethnic origin or sexual orientation or be placed at a disadvantage by imposing conditions or requirements, which are not justifiable.
We welcome applications from all sections of the community and value the individual differences that people can bring to our organisation. The Pre-school Learning Alliance expects all successful candidates to support our Equal Opportunities Policy.
If you have any special needs or requirements to assist you in making an application and/or attending an interview if short listed, please contact the Personnel Department by e-mail or on 020 7697 2500.
Employee Charter
View our Employee Charter.We Are Always Looking For
Throughout England, we are always looking to recruit to the following posts:
Senior Pre-school and Pre-school Development Workers
The Alliance employs over 400 Senior Pre-school Development Workers (SPDWs) and Pre-school Development Workers (PDWs), many on a part-time basis. They assist local pre-schools to provide a high standard of education and care for all children and support for their families; in addition they play a key role in promoting the aims of the Pre-school Learning Alliance.
They also play an important role in providing support to pre-schools to expand, develop and sustain their provision. Opportunities of this kind are advertised on the website, in the local press and divisional centres will have details of vacancies within their geographical area.
Sessional Tutors
The Alliance is always looking for sessional tutors to join a bank of approved tutors who are contracted on a fixed term basis to plan and deliver courses in accordance with quality assurance standards. A recognised teaching qualification (e.g. Pre-school Learning Alliance Tutor and Fieldwork course, C&G 7323 series, ACSET, Cert.Ed., PGCE) is essential. Knowledge, understanding and experience of teaching adults is also required. For further details or to apply for any of the above positions, please contact the divisional centre nearest to where you are seeking employment.
Nursery Bank Staff
We are looking to establish a list of approved bank staff at many of our nurseries. Bank staff will be called upon to cover staff shortages in the nurseries as they arise. Please see the vacancy lists for the area you live in to see if we are recruiting in your area.