How to hire a Nursery Teacher

How to hire a nursery teacher, step by step

Here's a step-by-step nursery teacher hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a nursery teacher job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new nursery teacher
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The nursery teacher hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine Employee vs Contractor Status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A nursery teacher's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, nursery teachers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of nursery teachers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type Of Nursery Teacher	Description	Hourly Rate
   Nursery Teacher	Teacher assistants work under a teacher’s supervision to give students additional attention and instruction.	$11-19
   Teacher Internship	Teaching interns are individuals who assist teachers and educators in the classroom. The interns are instructed to fulfill the tasks set out and provided by the supervisors for them... Show More	$16-32
   Vocational Childcare Teacher	A vocational childcare teacher teaches vocational subjects at a secondary school level, in either public or private schools. Their duties include preparing materials for classroom activities, assigning and grading classwork, and designing assignments... Show More	$11-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common Skills:

   • Child Care
   • Infant Room
   • CPR
   • Social Development
   • Mathematics
   • Child Development
   • Open Communication
   • Learning Environment
   • Diaper Changes
   • Teacher Assistants
   • Parent-Teacher Conferences
   • Clean Environment
   • Church Services
   • Physical Health

   Check All Skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Have training hours available upon request...CPR and first aide certify
   • Complete LAUSD referrals for students needing additional support, particularly in language development and participate in IEP meetings when applicable.
   • Prepare, plan, organize, and instruct interactive classes to engage children in bible and life lessons.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your nursery teacher job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A nursery teacher salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, nursery teachers' average salary in louisiana is 43% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level nursery teachers earn 41% less than senior-level nursery teachers.
   • Certifications. A nursery teacher with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a nursery teacher's salary.

   Average nursery teacher salary

   $15.45hourly

   $32,146 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level nursery teacher salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated February 7, 2025

4. Writing a Nursery Teacher Job Description

   A job description for a nursery teacher role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a nursery teacher job description:

   Nursery Teacher job description example

   Family Building Blocks in Salem, OR is seeking to hire a temporary Relief Nursery Therapeutic Education Teacher who is bilingual English/Spanish. You would typically work Monday-Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.

   As a Relief Nursery Therapeutic Education Teacher, you will earn a competitive starting pay of $17.00-$18.00 per hour depending on experience. English/Spanish bilingual employees will also receive an extra additional rate for language differential pay.

   ABOUT FAMILY BUILDING BLOCKS

   Family Building Blocks is a non-profit organization that serves children and families with the mission to keep children safe and families together. Our values reflect the services we provide and the culture we embrace for our staff. We strive for equity and celebrate diversity. We are collaborative and ambitious. We emphasize strengths and assume positive intent. We honor vulnerability and courage. We respect the unique personhood of each child. We believe in the power of a securely attached family. We are family-centered, caring, and supportive. We express gratitude for our community's generosity. We offer optimism and hope.

   Our Rock Star employees are the most valuable asset we have in supporting our mission. In return for their hard work and dedication, we offer competitive pay and generous benefits. Our dedicated and loving employees also enjoy working and thriving in a positive, collaborative, and supportive work environment where we strongly support work-life balance. We also create opportunities for professional growth and participate in team self-care practices and challenges, plus occasional festive and creative competitions.

   A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A NURSERY THERAPEUTIC EDUCATION TEACHER

   As a Relief Nursery Teacher, you will work and collaborate as a member of a teaching team to provide high-quality, research-based early childhood services to children and families. You will develop, implement, and review activities to provide a developmentally appropriate early childhood program including environment, lesson plans, class schedules, documentation, and referrals to supporting agencies. Teachers use therapeutic and developmentally appropriate approaches to promote skill building and evaluate the progress of all enrolled children. You will provide an ongoing assessment of progress and facilitate transitions into Head Start, community childcare, preschools, or kindergarten as recommended. Through home visits, you will assist families in establishing a positive home environment to promote the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of their children and assist in strengthening the parent-child relationship by improving parenting skills, reducing family stress, and meeting the needs of parents.

   QUALIFICATIONS

   • AA/AS degree from an accredited institution with a major in early childhood education, child development, or related degree OR Step 8 on the Oregon Registry OR Completion of 15 credits (quarter system) OR 10 credits (semester system) of training from an accredited institution in early childhood education OR child development, elementary education, or special education and a commitment to complete a professional development plan within the first year of employment.
   • At least 6 months of qualifying teaching experience in a certified childcare center or comparable group care program, in the care of infant and/or toddlers/preschool-age children.
   • Ability to pass a background check and drug test.
   • Have an Oregon driver's license and acceptable driving record.
   • Bilingual English/Spanish.

   
   

   ARE YOU READY TO JOIN OUR TEAM?

   If you meet the qualifications and are ready to build a better world, apply now with our initial 3-minute, mobile-friendly application .

   
   
   Job Posted by ApplicantPro
   

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right nursery teacher for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your nursery teacher job on Zippia to find and recruit nursery teacher candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit nursery teachers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new nursery teacher

   Once you have selected a candidate for the nursery teacher position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new nursery teacher. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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