Teaching Assistant and Early Years Educator CV Example
Schools and nurseries hiring a teaching assistant or an early years educator read a CV with one question in mind: can this person be trusted with children, and will they make the teacher's or room leader's job easier? Warmth matters, but on paper it has to be shown through evidence: the qualifications you hold, the checks you've passed, the age groups you've worked with and what changed because you were there. This example shows how to build that case on one or two pages.
What schools and nurseries look for
Head teachers, nursery managers and room leaders scan for the same few things:
- Relevant qualifications for the role and the country, and whether they are complete or in progress
- Safeguarding: a valid background check and child-protection training
- Experience with the right age group, from babies and toddlers to primary pupils
- Support for children with additional needs, if the role involves it
- Reliability and teamwork with teachers, colleagues and parents
Put the strongest of these in the top third of page one, so the reader sees them without searching.
Teacher CV example, if you're applying for a lead roleThe structure that works
Keep the order simple and the page easy to scan:
- Header: name, town, phone, email
- Profile: three or four lines on your experience, age groups and approach
- Qualifications and checks: childcare or education qualifications, background check, first aid, safeguarding training
- Experience: newest job first, with the setting, the age group and three to five concrete bullets
- Education
- Skills: languages, special educational needs support, activities you can lead
- Optional: volunteering, relevant interests such as music, sport or art
Moving qualifications and checks above experience is a deliberate choice in this sector: they are often a legal requirement, so the reader looks for them first.
How to write a CV step by stepThe profile: show your approach with children
Avoid generic lines like 'caring and patient'. Name the setting, the age group and one thing you're good at:
- 'Teaching assistant with three years in a Year 2 class of 28, supporting phonics groups and two pupils with additional needs. Calm, organised and confident leading small-group reading sessions.'
- 'Qualified early years educator with five years in a 60-place nursery, mostly with toddlers aged 2–3. Experienced key person for up to 8 children and keen on outdoor and sensory play.'
- 'Career changer with a childcare qualification completed this year and two placements in reception classes, looking for a first teaching assistant role in a primary school.'
Three or four lines are enough. The rest of the CV should prove what the profile claims.
How to write a CV summary that people actually readQualifications, checks and training
In education and childcare, these are often the first thing checked, so list them clearly:
- Childcare or education qualifications, with the level and the year, or 'in progress, expected June 2026'
- A valid criminal-record or background check for work with children, with the year
- Paediatric or general first aid certificate and its date
- Safeguarding or child-protection training
- Extra training: special educational needs, speech and language support, behaviour management, food hygiene
Names of qualifications and checks differ by country; use the official name the employer will recognise.
Experience bullets that show impact
Turn duties into results. Each bullet should say what you did, with whom, and what changed:
- 'Ran daily phonics catch-up groups for 6 pupils; 5 of them reached the expected level by the end of the year'
- 'Supported a pupil with autism one-to-one, using a visual timetable that cut classroom exits from daily to once a week'
- 'Planned and led weekly outdoor sessions for 12 toddlers, linked to the setting's learning goals'
- 'Acted as key person for 8 children, writing observations and sharing progress with parents each term'
- 'Prepared materials and displays, freeing about an hour of the teacher's time each week'
Numbers don't have to be large. Group sizes, ages and frequencies already make a bullet concrete.
How to quantify achievements on a CVSkills that matter in classrooms and nurseries
Pick skills you can back up with an example:
- Supporting reading, writing and early maths in small groups
- Special educational needs support, including communication tools such as visual aids or signing
- Behaviour management and calm de-escalation
- Observation and record-keeping
- Creative activities: music, arts and crafts, storytelling, outdoor play
- Communication with parents and colleagues; additional languages spoken by families in the setting
A language spoken by many families in the setting is a real advantage; list it with your level.
How to choose the skills that belong on your CVIf you're new to the sector
Many teaching assistants and early years educators start after another career or after raising their own children. Show transferable evidence:
- Placements done during your training, with the setting and age group
- Volunteering: reading support, after-school clubs, scouts or guides, sports coaching
- Babysitting or au pair work, described like a job
- Skills from previous work: organisation, communication, customer care
- The qualification you're working towards, with the expected date
A short, honest line about why you're moving into this work often helps, as long as the rest of the CV shows evidence.
How to write a CV for a career changeCommon mistakes
These are the problems that most often cost interviews:
- Leaving out the background check or first aid certificate, or not saying they are current
- Listing duties with no age group, class size or setting
- Using children's names or details that could identify them
- Generic soft skills with no example behind them
- Spelling mistakes, which stand out in a job that involves supporting reading and writing
Before sending, check that a reader can find your qualifications, checks and age-group experience in under ten seconds.
The most common CV mistakes and how to avoid themFrequently asked questions
What should I put on a teaching assistant CV?
A short profile, your qualifications and background check, experience with the age groups you've worked with, concrete examples of supporting pupils, relevant skills such as special educational needs support, and your education.
How do I write a teaching assistant CV with no experience?
Lead with your qualification or the course you're taking, then use placements, volunteering, babysitting or au pair work and skills from previous jobs as evidence. Describe each one with the age group and what you did.
Should I put my background check on my CV?
Yes. Say that you hold a valid check for work with children and the year it was issued, or that you're happy to apply for one. Don't include certificate numbers.
How long should a teaching assistant CV be?
One to two pages. Use the second page only if you have several years of relevant experience or a list of training worth showing.
What skills are most important for an early years educator?
Observation and record-keeping, planning age-appropriate activities, communication with parents, safeguarding awareness, and support for children with additional needs.