Job description

Exciting Opportunity: EYFS Leader (Maternity Cover)

Specialist SEND School

Are you an inspiring early years practitioner with a passion for creating outstanding learning experiences for children with SEND? Are you ready to join a dynamic, highly skilled middle management team, making a real difference every day?

We are seeking a motivated and talented EYFS Leader to join our specialist school on a maternity cover contract. This is a unique opportunity to take on a rewarding leadership role within a nurturing, forward-thinking environment where every child is truly valued.

About the Role

Full time
Start Date: May 2026, may consider flexibility for a September start
Deadline to apply: 9am 1st April 2026

The interview will consist of a formal panel interview, an in-tray task on the interview date, and a 15-minute class observation (no preparation necessary).

This is a non-class-based leadership and management role.

As EYFS Leader, you will:

Provide strong leadership and management across our Early Years department, ensuring high-quality provision tailored to the needs of our learners.
Work closely with a highly specialist and experienced team of middle leaders who are passionate, collaborative, and committed to excellence.
Drive curriculum development, assessment, and pedagogy that reflect best practice in early childhood education and specialist SEND support.
Play a key role in shaping an engaging, safe, and aspirational early years environment.
Share with the SLT a responsibility for providing quality assurance in all the school’s activities.

About You

We are looking for someone who:

Is an experienced EYFS practitioner with a strong understanding of early childhood development.
Has proven leadership skills or is ready to take the next step into a leadership role.
Demonstrates a deep commitment to inclusive practice and supporting children with a wide range of additional needs.
Is enthusiastic, reflective, resilient, and ready to contribute to a vibrant professional community.
Can inspire and motivate others while maintaining high expectations for pupils and staff.

In return for your dedication and enthusiasm, we offer excellent professional development opportunities, supportive colleagues, and a welcoming, collaborative environment that values professional growth and promotes innovation.

How to apply?

Be part of an exceptional specialist team where expertise is shared, celebrated, and continually developed, we invite you to complete a school application form, available to download above. Completed application forms should be sent to recruitment@abbeyschool.com with a covering letter addressed to:

Ms Kelly Holloway, Deputy Principal

Alternatively, application forms with covering letters can be sent by post to Abbey School, 12 Abbey Square, Chester, CH1 2HU.

Please be advised that we only accept fully completed application forms.

Additional notes

The School will complete an online search for all shortlisted candidates. If any incidents or issues have happened that are publicly available online, the school may wish to explore this at interview.

Abbey School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of all pupils and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Child safer recruitment procedures operate and the post is subject to references and an Enhanced DBS disclosure with barred list checks.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are ‘spent’ unless ‘protected’ under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, race, sex, pregnancy and maternity, marriage/civil partnerships, religion/belief, or sexual orientation.

Other vacancies

Learning Mentor

Full-time

Hours: Monday – Friday 08:45 – 16:45, term time only Salary: £24,035 with annual increase Start Date: As soon as possible We encourage early applications! Join Our Gro...

Find out more

School Cleaner - Part Time

Part-time

We have an exciting opportunity for an additional part-time cleaner to become part of our team. This role will be focused on supporting cleaning our school before or after the school day. We...

Find out more