Principal Early Childhood Educator

Closing Date: 06 September 2026

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: £43,758 - £46,332

Hours: 35 hours per week

Aberfoyle Nursery are recruiting for a full time, permanent Principal Early Childhood Educator, 1.0 FTE.

The successful candidate will be highly qualified with expertise in early childhood learning and development.  As a Principal Early Childhood Educator, your main purpose and objectives are to lead with and deputise for the Head Teacher in the management of the service.  We are looking for someone who is able to enthusiastically lead and support family learning across the nursery. You will take a lead role in the management, planning and implementation of a flexible, high quality early learning and childcare service which is appropriate to the needs of young children and their families in the nursery and the wider community. 

We are looking for a Principal Early Childhood Educator who will confidently lead and support collegiate practice and teamwork across the nursery; facilitating, co-ordinating and leading curriculum planning and curricular developments. You will inspire, motivate, support and challenge colleagues in the development of their own practice. You will lead and support the implementation of suitable programmes of learning opportunities which meet the needs of the individual child in line with Local and National Guidance.  You will hold or be willing to work towards a relevant SCQF Level 9 qualification and will be registered as a Manager with the SSSC (currently or within 3 months of commencing employment). 

Applicants should be explicit in detailing the required skills, experience and attributes that you are able to bring to this post. This is a full time extended year post, the applicant must be able to work between the hours of 8.00am-6.00pm on a rotated shift basis.

The successful candidate will be required to be a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG) for Children.  If your application is progressed after the interview, you will be asked to complete the form and have your details verified.

If you’ve got the right skills for the job we want to hear from you. We encourage applications from the right candidates regardless of age (restrictions apply to Modern Apprenticeships), disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, belief or race. 

Job Description

Additional Salary Information

Stirling Information 

The Benefits 

• 30 days annual leave plus 7 public holidays (rising to 35 after 5 years continuous service) Pro-rated for part time roles.


• Flexible working including hybrid office/work from home arrangements where the role allows. We have a good balance across our teams, retaining the benefits to work/life balance of working from home part of the week, with the collaborative and social benefits of working from the office 2-3 days per week


• Biennial incremental progression until top of your payscale is reached 


• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme. For further details visit https://www.scotlgpsmember.org/about-the-lgps/


• Up to 6 months full sick pay and 6 months half pay dependent on length of service 


• Carers Leave 


• Up to 4 weeks paid Paternity Leave 


• Access to Health & Wellbeing support 


• Ongoing opportunities for Learning & Development 


• Cycle to Work Scheme 


• Lift share Scheme 


• Car Lease Scheme 


• Technology Benefit Scheme