Education and training · Entry level · UK conventions

Early years practitioner (nursery): resume example, explained

This fictional example shows a newly qualified Level 3 early years educator, currently a Level 2 nursery assistant, applying for a Level 3 post in the toddler room of a fictional day nursery: the full and relevant qualification stated the way a manager checks it, the key person role shown with the number of children and what the observations led to, and safeguarding and first aid training dated. Each decision is explained, three weak bullets are rewritten from their evidence, and the editable download lets you replace every detail with your own. Nothing here describes a real person, child or setting.

Illustrative example. An illustrative, invented practitioner who completed a Level 3 Early Years Educator diploma at a fictional college while working as a Level 2 nursery assistant in a fictional 48-place day nursery, now applying for a first Level 3 room post elsewhere. Every setting, child, date and figure is fictional.

Editable version of this example (.docx)

Priya Lonsdale

Early Years Practitioner · Level 3 Early Years Educator (full and relevant) · toddler room key person

Bristol · 07700 900 345 · priya.lonsdale@example.com

Profile

Early years practitioner with a full and relevant Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification (2026) and 14 months in the toddler room of a 48-place day nursery, currently key person for five children aged two to three. Plans from observations against the EYFS areas of learning, completed three progress checks at age two this year and holds a current paediatric first aid certificate. Seeking a Level 3 post in a two-to-three room.

Experience

Nursery Assistant (Level 2), Toddler Room — Fictional Little Acorns Day Nursery, a fictional 48-place private day nursery

September 2025 – present · Room of 12 children aged two to three with three staff.

Act as key person for five children aged two to three, completing a settling-in plan with each family, recording observations against the EYFS prime and specific areas each week and sharing a summary at the three parent meetings held each year.
Completed the progress check at age two for three key children in 2026 with the room leader, identifying one child for a speech and language referral that the setting's SENCo took forward with the family.
Plan and lead the room's daily story and song session for 12 children, adapting it for two children learning English as an additional language with picture cards agreed with their parents.
Carry out the room's daily risk assessment and garden check before children arrive, logging two faults in 2026 that were fixed the same week.

Early Years Placement Student — Fictional Bramble Lane Pre-school, a fictional sessional pre-school

September 2024 – July 2025 · Level 3 placement, three days a week in a pre-school of 24 children aged two to four.

Supported free-flow play, snack time and small-group activities for 24 children aged two to four across the diploma's placement hours.
Planned and delivered six adult-led activities assessed by the college tutor, each with next steps recorded for the children involved.

Education

Level 3 Early Years Educator diploma (full and relevant) — Fictional College, 2026
Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner — Fictional College, 2024
GCSEs including English (grade 5) and maths (grade 4) — Fictional Academy, 2022

Checks

Enhanced DBS check with children's barred list held for the current role; registered with the DBS Update Service
Level 2 food hygiene, 2025

Skills

EYFS areas of learning; observation, assessment and planning · Key person approach and settling-in · Progress check at age two · Paediatric first aid (current certificate, 2026) · Safeguarding and Prevent training (2025); risk assessments

Why it is written this way

The qualification is stated the way a manager checks it

A nursery manager needs to know whether a new practitioner can be counted at Level 3 in the room's ratios; in England that depends on the qualification being 'full and relevant' on the Department for Education's early years qualifications list. The headline and education give the title, level and year, so the manager can check the list rather than ask.

Key person work is shown with numbers and what the observations led to

'Carried out observations' is what every early years practitioner does. This resume says five key children, weekly observations against the prime and specific areas, three progress checks at age two and the one referral that followed, which is how a room leader judges whether someone can be trusted with the key person role.

The current Level 2 post is written as Level 3 practice

The applicant is applying up a level without having held it, so each bullet picks the Level 3 responsibilities she already carries in the nursery (the progress check, planning the daily session, the risk assessment) and keeps routine care to a clause. The reader sees readiness for the room practitioner role rather than a list of duties.

Safeguarding and first aid are dated, not declared

Nurseries in England must have a current paediatric first aid certificate holder on the premises whenever children are present, so a practitioner's own certificate with its year is worth more to a manager than 'passionate about keeping children safe'. Safeguarding, Prevent and food hygiene training carry years for the same reason, and the DBS line says what is held, never a number.

Bullet rewrites, and the evidence behind them

Each rewrite was produced by asking an evidence question and using only the (fictional) answer. No number appears in a rewrite that is not in its evidence.

Before
Key worker for a group of children.
Evidence question
How many children, what did you record, and what did it lead to?
Evidence (fictional)
Key person for five children aged two to three; weekly observations against the EYFS prime and specific areas; a settling-in plan with each family; summaries at the three parent meetings a year.
After
Act as key person for five children aged two to three, completing a settling-in plan with each family, recording observations against the EYFS prime and specific areas each week and sharing a summary at the three parent meetings held each year.
Before
Did two-year checks.
Evidence question
How many, with whom, and did anything come of them?
Evidence (fictional)
Three progress checks at age two completed in 2026 with the room leader; one child identified for a speech and language referral, which the setting's SENCo took forward with the family.
After
Completed the progress check at age two for three key children in 2026 with the room leader, identifying one child for a speech and language referral that the setting's SENCo took forward with the family.
Before
Responsible for health and safety in the room.
Evidence question
Which checks, how often, and what happened when you found something?
Evidence (fictional)
Daily room risk assessment and garden check before children arrive; two faults logged in 2026, both fixed the same week.
After
Carry out the room's daily risk assessment and garden check before children arrive, logging two faults in 2026 that were fixed the same week.

Try it on your own bullets with the bullet workbench, which asks the same questions and never adds a figure you did not supply.

Transferable skills in this example

Observing, recording and acting on what you see
Evidence: Weekly observations for five key children, three progress checks at age two, one referral followed through.
Where it helps: Teaching assistant and SEND support roles, family support work, any role built on structured observation.
Working with families on sensitive matters
Evidence: Settling-in plans, daily diaries, parent meetings and a referral conversation handled with the SENCo.
Where it helps: Care, health and social support roles, and customer roles where difficult news must be delivered kindly.
Routine safety checks that are actually done
Evidence: Daily risk assessments and garden checks, with faults logged and chased to a fix.
Where it helps: Any regulated environment: care homes, kitchens, warehouses, hospitality, schools.
Leading a group activity for an audience that cannot sit still
Evidence: Daily story and song session for 12 toddlers, adapted for children learning English as an additional language.
Where it helps: Playwork, activity leading, teaching assistant roles, children's library programmes.

Occupation notes

Hard requirements

To be counted in staff:child ratios at Level 2 or Level 3 in England, a qualification must be approved by the Department for Education as 'full and relevant' (listed on the DfE's early years qualifications list); state the exact title, level and year, and say 'full and relevant' only if it is.
The EYFS statutory framework for England requires at least one person with a current paediatric first aid certificate on the premises whenever children are present, so a current certificate with its date belongs in training. An enhanced DBS check with children's barred list information and a childcare disqualification check are conditions of the offer; state what is held, never a certificate number.

Vocabulary that belongs on the page

EYFS statutory framework; the seven areas of learning, prime and specific
Key person, settling-in, transitions, daily diary
Observation, assessment and planning; next steps; learning journey
Progress check at age two; the integrated review with the health visitor
Full and relevant qualification; Level 2 Early Years Practitioner; Level 3 Early Years Educator; counting in ratios
Paediatric first aid (PFA); risk assessment; designated safeguarding lead; intimate care policy; Ofsted registration (the setting, not the practitioner); early years SENCo

Pitfalls specific to this occupation

Writing 'Level 3 qualified' without the title: a nursery manager cannot tell whether it is full and relevant for ratios, and will either ask or move on.
Describing the day as care tasks ('nappies, meals, sleeps') with no sign of the observation, planning and key person work that distinguishes an early years practitioner from an assistant.
Including children's names, details of safeguarding concerns or a DBS certificate number on the resume.
Claiming sole charge of the room as a Level 2 assistant: say 'with the room leader' where that is true, because nurseries check references closely.

UK and US differences

UK: This example is written for England, where the EYFS and the DfE qualifications list apply; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own early years frameworks and regulators, so check the advert for the nation you are applying in.
UK: Settings usually ask for an application form and a safeguarding self-declaration, want to see certificates at interview, and ask which age group and ratio level you have been counted at.

US: US early childhood educator resumes state the state licensing requirement met (often a Child Development Associate credential or state training hours) and the age group; 'EYFS', 'key person' and 'progress check at age two' have no meaning there, so describe the curriculum framework and screening tool you used.

Common questions

What does 'full and relevant' mean on an early years resume?

It is the Department for Education's term for a qualification approved to count in staff:child ratios in England at a given level. Give the exact title and level; a manager can then check it on the DfE's early years qualifications list rather than guess.

I am Level 2 now; how do I apply for a Level 3 post?

Show the Level 3 responsibilities you already carry, such as key person work, the progress check at age two, adult-led activities and risk assessments, each with numbers and outcomes, then state the Level 3 qualification plainly with its completion date.

Sources

Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory frameworkDepartment for Education · England · checked 3 November 2026
Early years qualification requirements and standardsDepartment for Education · England · checked 3 November 2026
Early years qualifications listDepartment for Education · England · checked 6 November 2026

Published 6 November 2026 · Every person, employer and figure in this example is fictional. Drafted with AI assistance and checked against Luceria’s editorial standards.