Nursery Practitioner
Permanent Pre-School practitioner jobs
Three to five year olds, usually term time, often in a village hall or a charity-run setting with a committee rather than an owner.
£26,900 to £30,000 outside London, usually term time only
Guide band for 2026. See how we work these out.
Pre-schools are a different working life to a day nursery: term time, shorter days, smaller teams, and school readiness as the explicit goal. The pay looks lower until you account for the holidays.
What the role involves
- Sessional work with three to five year olds, usually term time only
- School readiness and transition into reception
- Working in a small team where everyone does a bit of everything
- Often packing the whole setting away at the end of each session
What you will need
- Level 3, or Level 2 with Level 3 in progress
- Independence: pre-school teams are small and cover is thin
- Someone who wants term-time hours as a first choice rather than a compromise
Also advertised as: Preschool Practitioner, Playgroup Practitioner. Settings use these titles more or less interchangeably, so search for all of them.
Where
Where we recruit this role
We place Pre-School practitioner roles across the UK. These are the areas we cover most closely.
Questions
About this role
What does a Pre-School practitioner earn?
Our 2026 guide puts this role at £26,900 to £30,000 outside London, usually term time only. Bands assume a 40-hour week and are built from the National Living Wage floor and the published sector median. The full method is on our salary guide.
Is this a permanent role?
Every role we place is permanent. Tiny Tots Recruitment does not run a temp desk and does not offer agency shifts.
What else is this job called?
You will also see it advertised as Preschool Practitioner, Playgroup Practitioner. The qualification and the ratio requirements are the same whichever title a setting uses.
Related
Other roles we recruit
Nursery Nurse
The Level 3 role at the heart of every nursery. Key person to a group of children, responsible for their day, their development records and their families.
£27,000 to £30,500 outside London
About this roleNursery Assistant
The way into the sector. Level 2 or unqualified, working alongside practitioners, with most settings willing to fund your Level 3.
£26,400 to £28,000 outside London
About this roleMontessori Teacher
Montessori-trained practice in settings that actually run the method, rather than settings that simply own the materials.
£28,000 to £34,000 outside London
About this roleLooking for a Pre-School practitioner role?
Register once and we will come to you when something fits. You will know the setting, the room and the pay before you decide whether to meet them, and your CV goes nowhere without your say-so.