Insights from conversations with childcare professionals and private nursery providers across the UK.
The Early Years sector has always been about people.
Every day, children thrive because of passionate Nursery Practitioners, Room Leaders, Deputy Managers, Nursery Managers and support teams who dedicate themselves to giving every child the very best start in life.
At Recruit by Nature, we’re privileged to speak with childcare professionals and private nursery providers across the UK every single day. While every conversation is different, one message comes through time and time again:
The best recruitment decisions happen when both sides feel understood.
Whether you’re a childcare professional considering your next career move or a nursery owner looking to grow your team, successful recruitment isn’t simply about filling vacancies. It’s about finding the right fit.
One of the biggest misconceptions about childcare recruitment is that professionals only change jobs for a higher salary.
In reality, the conversations we’re having tell a very different story.
Many of the childcare professionals we speak with aren’t actively searching for a new role—they’re simply open to understanding what the future could look like.
When we ask what would encourage them to make a move, the answers are often surprisingly consistent.
They’re looking for things like:
At the same time, we’ve spoken with many professionals who have no desire to move at all.
Why?
Because they’ve found a nursery that works for them.
Perhaps they benefit from discounted childcare, flexible hours around school runs, supportive leadership or simply enjoy working alongside a team they genuinely care about.
Every person’s reason for staying—or leaving—is different.
Understanding those reasons is the first step towards making the right career move.
For private nursery owners and managers, recruitment continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing the sector.
But the most successful nurseries aren’t simply focused on filling vacancies.
They’re focused on creating an environment where talented people want to join—and stay.
The settings that consistently attract quality childcare professionals often have a few things in common:
Today’s candidates are doing far more research before applying for roles.
They’re asking questions like:
Your reputation as an employer has become just as important as the vacancy itself.
One of the things we enjoy most about specialising in childcare recruitment is seeing the variety of private nursery settings across the UK.
Family-run nurseries often provide a close-knit team environment where relationships are at the heart of everything they do.
Independent nurseries frequently have their own unique educational philosophy and approach to learning.
Larger nursery groups can offer structured career pathways, additional training and opportunities to progress across multiple settings.
None of these environments are better than the others.
They’re simply different.
And that’s why recruitment should never be about finding the best nursery.
It’s about finding the right nursery for each individual.
At Recruit by Nature, we don’t believe every conversation should end with a job application.
Sometimes we’re speaking to someone who’s perfectly happy where they are.
Sometimes it’s a Nursery Manager looking to understand the current market.
Sometimes it’s a practitioner exploring future career progression.
Sometimes it’s a nursery owner discussing recruitment challenges or staff retention.
Every conversation helps us understand the childcare sector better.
That knowledge enables us to make stronger, more informed introductions when the timing is right.
Because recruitment isn’t simply about vacancies.
It’s about people.
And when you truly understand people, better recruitment naturally follows.
As the Early Years sector continues to evolve, we believe recruitment must evolve with it.
The best recruitment partners don’t simply send CVs.
They understand careers.
They understand nursery cultures.
They understand safeguarding, leadership, progression and the day-to-day realities of working within Early Years.
Most importantly, they invest time in building relationships long before a vacancy exists.
That’s the approach we believe creates the best outcomes for childcare professionals, nursery providers and, most importantly, the children they care for every day.
Whether you’re actively searching for your next opportunity or simply interested in seeing what’s available, we’d love to help.
We recruit for a wide range of positions across private nursery settings, including:
Browse our latest childcare vacancies here:
If you don’t see the right opportunity today, we’d still love to hear from you. Building relationships is at the heart of what we do, and we’re always happy to have a confidential conversation about your career.
Recruiting the right people isn’t just about filling a vacancy—it’s about finding professionals who will strengthen your team, support your nursery’s values and make a lasting difference to the children in your care.
At Recruit by Nature, we partner with private nurseries across the UK, taking the time to understand your setting, your culture and exactly what you’re looking for before beginning the recruitment process.
Whether you’re recruiting a Nursery Practitioner, Room Leader, Deputy Manager, Nursery Manager or building an entire team, we’re here to help you find people who are the right fit for your nursery.
Get in touch with our specialist childcare recruitment team today:
We’d love to learn more about your nursery and discuss how we can support your recruitment needs.
Recruit by Nature is a specialist recruitment consultancy supporting the private childcare sector across the UK.
We partner with independent nurseries, family-run settings and nursery groups to connect talented Early Years professionals with environments where they can thrive.
Our approach is built on one simple belief:
People first. Relationships always.
By taking the time to understand both childcare professionals and nursery providers, we create lasting partnerships—not just placements.
Whether you’re searching for your next role or looking to grow your nursery team, we’re here to help you make the right connection.
At Recruit by Nature, we believe great recruitment doesn’t start with a vacancy—it starts with a conversation.
