Early years

Careers in early years

and childcare

Discover our latest vacancies

Fife Council has 107 early years establishments across Fife which include nurseries, early learning and childcare centres and family nurture centres which offer a range of services.

We offer Early Learning and Childcare to all 3 and 4-year-olds and eligible 2-year-olds with various operating models available across Fife.  The session types available are term-time or 49 weeks (morning or afternoon session) with one nursery in each local area offering a 46-week model.

Fife Council have also established three Outdoor Nurseries in Fife which operate on a term-time basis within Pittencrieff Park, Calais Muir Woods and Ravenscraig Park.

To find out more about Early Learning and Childcare in Fife, check out our website Early Learning and Childcare | Fife Council or email earlyyears.manager@fife.gov.uk


All roles require SSSC registration. Successful applicants will have three months to apply for registration.
If appointed, you must start your application as soon as possible so you are registered within the required six months.

Childcare Practitioners are responsible for planning, organising, and taking part in a wide range of play-based leisure activities within our OOSC’s.

To join us, you must have experience of working with children and young people, ideally within a play, care or learning setting. Ideally, you should also hold a relevant qualification at SCQF Level 7, for example SVQ 3 Social Services (Children and Young People) or HNC Social Services.

If you don’t hold a qualification, we can support you to gain this, through Fife Council’s SVQ Assessment Centre.


Childcare Managers are responsible for managing and overseeing a cluster of OOSC’s for school aged children. You will be fully responsible for day-to-day management of your cluster and the direct management of a team of Childcare Practitioners and Senior Childcare Practitioners.

As a minimum, our Childcare Managers must:

  • Hold a relevant professional qualification recognised by the SSSC (Scottish Social Services Council) for the purpose of professional registration at SCQF Level 7 or above. This may include an HNC Childhood Practice, SVQ 3 Social Services (Children and Young People) or equivalent.
  • Be eligible to register with the SSSC in the category of Manager of a Day Care of Children Service and hold or be willing to work towards an SCQF Level 9 qualification such as the PDA 9 Childhood Practice or BA Childhood Practice.
  • Have experience of working with children and young people between the ages of 4 to 19, including the planning, preparation and delivery of activities tailored to the individual needs of children.
  • Have knowledge of key local and national guidance, best practice, and legislation. You must have experience of managing or supervising people.

As an Early Years Lead Officer in Fife, you will provide additional and high-quality support to those children who need it the most in order to close the attainment gap. You will develop high quality relationships and interactions with children that promote wellbeing and extend thinking and concept development.

You will contribute towards the wider programme of work in the ELC setting to reduce inequality and manage ELC services open full year across a locality during school holiday periods.

You are required to be educated to SCQF level 9, which includes a degree or equivalent, e.g., BA Childhood Practice or PDA Childhood Practice or a relevant teaching qualification (SCQF level 9) within the first period of registration alongside one of the following practitioner level qualifications (or equivalent):

  • HNC Childhood Practice/Early Years Education & Childcare OR
  • SVQ Level 3 Social Services, Children and Young People

The role of the Deputy Head of Centre is to develop and lead on services from the Family Nurture Centre through planning and implementing of strategies relative to care and welfare of children and their families within the Centre and wider early years community. Deputise for the Headteacher during school holiday periods and other periods of absence and manage and deliver a high-quality service for children under 3 years as well as provide family support.

You are required to be educated to SCQF level 9, which includes a degree or equivalent, e.g., BA Childhood Practice or PDA Childhood Practice (SCQF level 9) alongside one of the following practitioner level qualifications (or equivalent):

  • HNC Childhood Practice/Early Years Education & Childcare OR
  • SVQ Level 3 Social Services, Children and Young People

The role of the Early Years Development Officer is to support the development of the Early Years' service across a local area by delivering a broad and balanced early years curriculum and ensuring a caring, safe and welcoming environment is achieved by working as a member, and on occasions as a leader, of a nursery-based team. In addition, support the Early Years Officers in a number of nursery settings by promoting examples of good practice, quality improvement and providing guidance and support.

You should have a working knowledge of the Curriculum for Excellence, Realising the Ambition and child development from birth to 5 years and are required to have high levels of interpersonal skills and abilities which will enable you to work as a member of a team to ensure positive outcomes for all children and young people in your setting.

For all of the above roles you are required to be educated to SCQF level 7 which includes HNC or equivalent (for example: HNC Early Years Education and Childcare or HNC Childhood Practice or SVQ3 Social Services Children and Young People or SNNEB) which should include experience within an Early Learning and Childcare setting (extensive experience if applying for a Senior EYO or EYDO role).


As an early years’ practitioner in Fife, you will be responsible for promoting children’s learning through indoor and outdoor play, promoting inclusion, diversity and equality, encouraging independence and confidence building, providing opportunities for children to develop their communication skills and contributing to the wider development within the nursery.

You should have a working knowledge of the Curriculum for Excellence, Realising the Ambition and child development from birth to 5 years and are required to have high levels of interpersonal skills and abilities which will enable you to work as a member of a team to ensure positive outcomes for all children and young people in your setting.


An apprenticeship is a work-based training programme that leads to an industry approved qualification.  The training will be both on and off-the-job, which means apprentices learn the right mix of skills, abilities and knowledge.

You will work alongside Early Years Officers under the leadership of the nursery management team supporting children within a nursery environment, supporting the effective learning and teaching environment through inclusive practice.

As part of this job role the post holder will work towards achieving key milestones to gain a SVQ Level 3 in Social Services Children and Young People.

You are required to hold the following qualifications, or equivalent, for the post:

  • 3 Nat 5s / 3 Standard Grades at 1-3 / 3 O’Grades A-C / 3 Intermediate 2s / Core Skills at SCQF level 5, including English and Maths/Arithmetic OR
  • SVQ 2 Social Services Children & Young People/CCLD OR
  • NC Early Education and Childcare Group Award OR
  • A Group Award ‘Foundation Apprenticeship’ at SCQF Level 6 in a relevant subject

Previous experience can be considered as equivalent see SCQF Framework

These apprenticeships are open to anyone of any age or work background.

You will be required to obtain a PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Groups) Scheme Membership through Disclosure Scotland prior to commencing in the role.


As a Pupil Support Assistant (3), you will work under the direction and supervision of a class teacher or member of the school’s leadership team to assist teaching staff in supporting pupils with significant learning or health needs to access the curriculum and to ensure they participate in an inclusive school experience. You will also support the pupil's associated health and care needs.

The following is an example of suitable qualifications at (SCQF Level 7) for a Pupil Support Assistant Level 3 within Fife Council’s Education and Children’s Services:

  • HNC Childhood Practice;
  • SVQ 3 Social Services (Children and Young People);
  • SVQ 3 Children’s Care Learning and Development; (Some applications may hold the predecessor qualifications – SVQ3 Childcare and Education or SVQ3 Early Education and Childcare);
  • SVQ 3 Health and Social Care (Children and Young People);
  • HNC Additional Support Needs: Supporting the Individual;
  • HNC Early Education and Childcare;
  • A qualification meeting the registration requirements of the General Teaching Council (Scotland).

For some of the above qualifications, in addition to mandatory core units, Fife Council also ask for specific optional units that are related to the duties of the post. If successful and you do not possess these optional units, you may be required to undertake these units as part of your CPD which will be self-funded.

Prior to applying for the post, please visit www.sssc.uk.com to confirm if your practice qualification meets the requirements for registration purposes.


As a Pupil Support Assistant (2), you will work under the direction and supervision of a class teacher or senior member of staff to assist by supporting children and young people who have been identified as requiring additional support. You will also support an effective learning and teaching environment through inclusive practice.

You are required to hold the following qualifications, or equivalent, for the post:

  • 2 National 4s, or 2 Standard Grades General, or 2 O Grades or equivalent (SCQF Level 4 or above).
  • For Early Learning Centres/Primary and Special Schools only - NC in Early Education and Childcare at SCQF Level 6 or SVQ Social Services (Children and Young People) at SCQF Level 6 or Professional Development Award in Education Support Assistance at SCQF Level 6 or equivalent or, a commitment to achieve in the first period of registration as required by the employer.

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