Flexible working in the early years sector: What you need to know
Being an early years educator gives you the chance to make an incredible impact on young lives every day. Working with children is one of the most rewarding jobs out there, and you play a part in shaping the future in ways that truly matter.
Like many jobs, high demands and long hours can be a challenge. Fortunately, flexible working can make all the difference. With adaptable schedules and exciting opportunities, you can make your career more sustainable, enjoyable, and balanced.
Let’s look at the importance of flexible working, its impact on the early years sector, and how N Family helps offer educators the flexibility they deserve.
Why flexible working is important for nursery educators
If you have family responsibilities, further studies, or just need more time for yourself, flexible working opportunities will give you the freedom to balance your career in early years teaching with your personal life.
Rather than feeling stretched too thin, you can adjust your schedule to fit your needs while continuing to make a difference in children’s lives. With flexible working, you’ll:
- Create a better work-life balance: Dedicate more free time to yourself and stay refreshed rather than becoming burnt out. You’ll have a more positive impact on the children you educate when you’re well-rested and feeling your best.
- Reduce stress and increase energy: Prioritising your well-being will reduce your stress, and you’ll have more energy and less ‘mental load’ to fully engage in your work.
- Build a sustainable career: Don’t choose between your job and everything else. As you move through different life stages, flexible working lets you stay in the profession rather than forcing you to quit.
The greater impact of flexible working
Flexible working plays an important role in the sustainability of the early years sector.
The JPMorgan Chase and Trust for London report noted that almost half of nursery survey respondents were considering quitting their jobs in the next 12 months.
These workers, among others in early education and childcare, have been facing increasingly long hours and growing demands. They often work longer hours than those in comparable sectors, such as retail and hospitality, which offer higher pay and less physically and emotionally demanding roles.
When early years jobs become too rigid or demanding, more educators may leave the sector altogether, looking for roles that give them the flexibility they need. This can lead to higher turnover, recruitment challenges, and qualified staff shortages, impacting the quality of care and education children receive.
“There’s no denying that there is difficulty recruiting to the early years sector. The pandemic, the government, the cuts in funding – all that has impacted and people, particularly the qualified people, are leaving the sector in droves. There are not many people coming into the sector.” – Director, Nursery Group.
New opportunities
Many UK employers already offer flexible working to help create a more stable workforce, making it easier to retain skilled staff and support those who require more adaptable schedules.
New laws around flexible working are creating better opportunities for both employers and the team.
Right now, employees can request flexible working from day one and are entitled to make two statutory flexible working requests per year under the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act, which came into force at the beginning of the 2024/2025 tax year.
At N, we know that flexible working is no longer just a luxury. But rather than doing the bare minimum, we choose to go beyond the basics to offer an abundance of options, opportunities, and benefits for staff at all levels.
We want to help normalise flexible working without compromise, making it an everyday part of career growth within the early years sector.
What flexible working looks like in the early years
While flexible working is becoming more common, most nursery staff still work 32 to 37 hours per week, typically from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To make work more manageable, some nurseries in the UK are introducing new options that give educators more say over their schedules. Staff can also request adjustments to their working hours, such as:
- Split shifts: Instead of working straight through the day, educators can split their hours into two shifts, such as morning and late afternoon, allowing for breaks in between to manage other responsibilities.
- Flexible staff scheduling: Some nurseries let staff have more input into their shifts, making it easier to plan around childcare, school runs, or other commitments.
- Flexi bank roles: Staff can pick up shifts they need rather than committing to fixed hours.
These options give educators more control over their time, helping them stay in the sector for longer. If you’re considering a career in early years education, it’s worth exploring which nurseries offer these flexible working arrangements.
Enjoy additional flexibility as an early years educator
N Family values flexible work and knows its importance for creating a sustainable and rewarding career in the early years education.
At our nurseries, you can tailor your work schedule to fit your lifestyle and choose between several options, like:
The standard 5-day, 40-hour week,
Our new 4-day, 36-hour week,
A flexible 36-hour week with the opportunity for additional overtime.
We believe that by offering flexible working opportunities, we can support our educators in maintaining a healthy, low-stress work-life balance, benefiting their well-being and the children they teach.
Explore our available nursery educators jobs and turn a new corner in your career within the early year’s sector.