This year's Stars in Our Schools will include a special focus on support staff working in early years settings. These staff members are vital in children’s learning and development right from the very beginning. Get involved on Friday 29 November 2024 to celebrate and say thank you for the amazing work they do. 

Early years staff keep young children safe, healthy and happy

Early years staff work with young children and their parents/carers in nurseries, schools and children’s centres, creating the welcoming, happy and safe environment children need to grow and learn.  All kinds of staff contribute to this: nursery nurses; early years practitioners; wellbeing facilitators; cooks and kitchen assistants; mealtime assistants; and cleaners.

Early years staff help young children learn

Children in early years settings are at a crucial stage of their development with their whole learning journey ahead of them.  Early years staff engage children in learning from the start, so they can flourish in the future.  Many people help children learn: early years educators; playworkers; nursery assistants; support workers; and teaching assistants.

Early years staff keep nurseries and children’s centres running smoothly

There are many different elements involved in running a safe and efficient nursery or children’s centre.  Early years staff work together to keep things running, with vital input from nursery managers; operations managers; room leaders; administrators; secretaries; and financial officers.