Crafting a CV that effectively highlights your experience in early childhood education and management of a lively classroom can be daunting. Our guide offers tailor-made advice to showcase your unique skill set and capture the essence of your dedication to fostering young learners' growth.
- Design and format your professional preschool teacher CV;
- Curate your key contact information, skills, and achievements throughout your CV sections;
- Ensure your profile stays competitive by studying other industry-leading preschool teacher CVs;
- Create a great CV even if you happen to have less professional experience, or switching fields.
When writing your preschool teacher CV, you may need plenty of insights from hiring managers. We have prepared industry-leading advice in the form of our relevant CV guides.
Formatting your preschool teacher CV to meet the role expectations
Staring at the blank page for hours on end, you still have no idea how you should start your professional preschool teacher CV. Should you include more colours, two columns, and which sections? What you should remember about your CV format is this - ensure it's minimalistic and doesn't go over the top with fancy fonts and many colours. Instead, focus on writing consistent content that actually answers the job requirements. But, how about the design itself :- Use the reverse chronological order to showcase your experience, starting with your most recent role;
- Include your contact details (email address, phone number, and location) - and potentially your professional photo - in the header;
- Must-have CV sections include summary or objective, experience, education, and skills: curate the ones that fit your profile;
- Your professional preschool teacher CV should be between one-to-two pages long: select the longer format if you have more experience.
A little bit more about your actual CV design, ensure you're using:
- plenty of serif or sans serif font (e.g. Montserrat, Exo 2, Volkhov) as they are Applicant Tracker System (ATS) compliant. Avoid the likes of Arial and Times New Roman because most candidates' CVs are in this typography.
When submitting your CV, are you still not sure what format it should be? Despite the myth that has been circling around, most modern ATS systems are perfectly capable of reading PDFs. This format is an excellent choice as it keeps all of your information intact.
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Incorporate a touch of colour in headers or section breaks, but keep it professional and ensure it doesn’t detract from readability, especially in more conservative industries.
The top sections on a preschool teacher CV
- Personal Profile includes a brief introduction to showcase personality and passion for teaching children, which is vital for a preschool teacher to establish rapport with prospective employers.
- Education and Qualifications section displays relevant early childhood education degrees or certifications, crucial for meeting job and regulatory standards.
- Teaching Experience showcases direct work with children that emphasizes practical skills and successful teaching strategies, demonstrating capability in the classroom.
- Key Skills and Competencies highlight abilities like classroom management and child development knowledge, showing aptness for the unique demands of preschool education.
- Referees and References provide credible contacts who can testify to the candidate's teaching abilities and character, reinforcing the trustworthiness necessary for a preschool teacher's role.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Emphasise your understanding of early childhood development, showcasing any qualifications or continuous professional development courses you've undertaken that are specific to teaching 3-5-year-olds.
- Highlight your experience with classroom management and curriculum design tailored to preschool-aged children, detailing the pedagogies you're familiar with, such as Montessori or Reggio Emilia.
- Demonstrate your communication skills by discussing how you engage with parents and caregivers to support children's learning and development at home as well as at school.
- Showcase any special skills relevant to a preschool environment, such as the ability to organise and lead creative activities (art, music, dance) or fluency in a second language that may be beneficial for language development.
- Include any examples where you have contributed to a safe, nurturing environment that supports the social and emotional well-being of young learners.
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Tips and tricks on writing a job-winning preschool teacher CV header
The CV header is the space which most recruiters would be referring most often to, in the beginning and end of your application. That is as the CV header includes your contact details, but also a headline and a professional photo. When writing your CV header:
- Double-check your contact details for spelling errors or if you've missed any digits. Also, ensure you've provided your personal details, and not your current work email or telephone number;
- Include your location in the form of the city and country you live in. If you want to be more detailed, you can list your full address to show proximity to your potential work place;
- Don't include your CV photo, if you're applying for roles in the UK or US, as this may bias initial recruiters' assessments;
- Write a professional headline that either integrates the job title, some relevant industry keywords, or your most noteworthy achievement.
In the next part of our guide, we'll provide you with professional CVs that showcase some of the best practices when it comes to writing your headline.
Examples of good CV headlines for preschool teacher:
- Early Years Educator | CACHE Level 3 | SEN Experience | 5+ Years in Creative Learning Environments
- Preschool Teacher | EYFS Specialist | Behaviour Management | B.Ed. in Early Childhood Education | 7 Years' Experience
- Nursery Room Leader | Montessori Trained | Inclusive Education Advocate | 3 Years of Leadership
- Child Development Enthusiast | NVQ Level 4 | Bilingual Learning | 9 Years' Progressive Teaching Roles
- Creative Play Coordinator | Early Literacy Champion | CACHE Level 5 | Over 10 Years' Dedication
- Senior Preschool Practitioner | EYTS Certified | STEAM Curriculum Developer | 12 Years in Early Education
Catching recruiters' attention with your preschool teacher CV summary or objective
Located closer to the top of your CV, both the summary and objective are no more than five sentences long and serve as an introduction to your experience. What is more, you could use either to entice recruiters to read on. Select the:
- Summary, if you happen to have plenty of relevant experience. Feature your most impressive accomplishments and up to three skills that are relevant to the job you're applying for;
- Objective, if you're just starting your career off. Provide your career goals and answer how you see the role you are applying for will match your professional growth.
Judging which one you need to add to your preschool teacher CV may at times seem difficult. That’s why you need to check out how professionals, with similar to your experience, have written their summary or objective, in the examples below:
CV summaries for a preschool teacher job:
- With over 5 years of dedicated experience in early childhood education, this applicant has a proven track record of fostering child-centric learning and growth. Skilled in creating stimulating environments, they’ve successfully introduced a bilingual curriculum which enhanced cognitive development and language skills in preschoolers.
- A passionate educator with 7 years of experience in a vibrant preschool setting, adept at integrating technology into the classroom to enhance learning experiences. This candidate has been recognised for designing an acclaimed literacy program that resulted in a 30% improvement in reading skills among pupils.
- Transitioning from a distinguished 10-year career in children’s publishing, this individual seeks to bring their extensive knowledge of children’s literature and literacy development into a new chapter as a preschool teacher, following their recent Level 4 Certificate in Early Years Practice.
- After a rewarding tenure in pediatric nursing spanning over a decade, this candidate is eager to shift their career to focus on early childhood education, aiming to channel their acute understanding of child health and developmental milestones into fostering a nurturing learning environment.
- Seeking to launch a career in preschool education, this fresh graduate is equipped with a BA in Early Childhood Studies and a passion for interactive learning. Eager to apply their knowledge of child psychology and development, they aim to contribute to a thriving classroom where every child feels valued and supported.
- As a newcomer to teaching with a background in child-focused social work, this individual is driven to create a positive impact on young minds. They are committed to leveraging their understanding of child welfare and family dynamics to build a compassionate and inclusive classroom atmosphere.
More detailed look into your work history: best advice on writing your preschool teacher CV experience section
The CV experience is a space not just to merely list your past roles and responsibilities. It is the CV real estate within which you could detail your greatest accomplishments and skills, while matching the job requirements. Here's what to have in your experience section:
- Prove you have what the job wants with your unique skill set and past successes;
- Start each bullet with a strong, action verb, and continue with the outcome of your responsibility;
- Use any awards, nominations, and recognitions you've received as solid proof of your skill set and expertise;
- align your experience with the role responsibilities and duties.
For more help on how to write your CV experience section, check out the next section of our guide:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Developed and implemented a creative curriculum tailored to the needs of children aged 3-5 years, fostering an environment of learning through play.
- Utilised a variety of teaching methods including storytelling, educational games, and interactive activities to engage children and support diverse learning styles.
- Conducted regular assessments of children's progress and adapted lesson plans to meet the developmental needs of each individual child.
- Collaborated with parents and caregivers to establish effective communication channels and provide updates on children's daily activities and developmental milestones.
- Managed a safe and tidy classroom environment, ensuring all play materials and educational resources were hygienic and in good condition.
- Organised and led outdoor activities that promoted physical health and social skills, such as group sports and nature explorations.
- Attached importance to cultural sensitivity and inclusion by incorporating a wide range of cultural traditions into the curriculum to enhance global awareness.
- Handled challenging behaviour with positive reinforcement and conflict resolution strategies to maintain a respectful and supportive classroom dynamic.
- Participated in ongoing professional development and teacher training to stay abreast of early childhood educational trends and best practices.
- Led the implementation of a Montessori-inspired curriculum, tailoring individual learning plans for a diverse class of 20 children aged 3-4, enhancing cognitive and social skills.
- Successfully steered a literacy program that improved the reading levels of students by 30% within the academic year through innovative storytelling and phonics workshops.
- Forged strong partnerships with parents through monthly newsletters and parent-teacher meetings, achieving a 95% satisfaction rate and enhancing community involvement.
- Pioneered a cross-cultural exchange program with a partner preschool in Spain, integrating language lessons which increased Spanish language uptake by 40% among pupils.
- Initiated a school garden project which not only taught children about environmental sustainability, but also provided 50% of the vegetables used in school meals.
- Coordinated with a team of 5 educators to integrate technology in the classroom, introducing smart boards and educational apps which enhanced interactive learning.
- Redesigned the classroom layout to better suit active learning, resulting in a 15% increase in student engagement as measured by participation and time on task.
- Authored and received a grant for £4,000 to develop a sensory integration room for children with special educational needs, promoting inclusive education.
- Managed the assessment and progress tracking of 25 children, providing detailed reporting to parents and leadership that informed personalised support strategies.
- Developed an art-based learning program that increased children's creative expression skills by 50% as evidenced by pre- and post-program assessments.
- Orchestrated a collaborative effort to revamp the outdoor play area, leading to a 25% increase in physical activity among the children.
- Leveraged digital record-keeping tools to streamline administrative tasks by 20%, reallocating more time for instructional activities.
- Initiated a 'Parent as Partners' program which led to a 70% rise in family engagement in school activities, boosting children's social development and community spirit.
- Implemented a STEAM-focused curriculum that saw a 25% increase in children's understanding of basic science and math concepts.
- Cultivated a culture of continuous improvement by leading monthly professional development sessions for a team of 10 staff members.
- Oversaw a team of early years practitioners, increasing team efficiency by creating collaborative planning templates and reflective practice sessions.
- Directed a summer literacy camp for pre-readers which resulted in 90% of attendees demonstrating readiness for the transition to primary school reading levels.
- Implemented mindfulness and yoga sessions for preschoolers, contributing to a 40% reduction in behavioural incidents over a 6-month period.
- Piloted a digital learning initiative, integrating iPads into the curriculum and enhancing technological literacy among students by 100%.
- Cultivated a bilingual classroom environment by introducing French as a second language to a class of 30 students, 80% of whom achieved basic communication ability within a year.
- Led a school-wide music and movement program benefiting over 100 students, which promoted motor skills development and rhythmic awareness.
- Trialled an eco-consciousness program for 3-to-5-year-olds, which resulted in the preschool receiving an ‘Eco-Schools Green Flag’ award for environmental education.
- Conducted individual educational planning sessions for 15 children with diverse learning requirements, ensuring tailored support and academic progression.
- Co-created a community art exhibition showcasing children's work, enhancing school visibility and attracting 10% more enrollments for the subsequent year.
How to ensure your preschool teacher CV stands out when you have no experience
This part of our step-by-step guide will help you substitute your experience section by helping you spotlight your skill set. First off, your ability to land your first job will depend on the time you take to assess precisely how you match the job requirements. Whether that's via your relevant education and courses, skill set, or any potential extracurricular activities. Next:
- Systematise your CV so that it spotlights your most relevant experience (whether that's your education or volunteer work) towards the top;
- Focus recruiters' attention to your transferrable skill set and in particular how your personality would be the perfect fit for the role;
- Consider how your current background has helped you build your technological understanding - whether you've created projects in your free time or as part of your uni degree;
- Ensure you've expanded on your teamwork capabilities with any relevant internships, part-time roles, or projects you've participated in the past.
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Include examples of how you adapted to new tools, environments, or work cultures, showing your flexibility.
Hard skills and soft skills to showcase your unique skill set on your preschool teacher CV
Did you know that your CV will mostly likely be assessed by recruiters based on skill alignment? And that means that the way you feature your key skills across different CV sections will play a crucial role in landing you that first interview. We recommend you add your:
- technical capabilities or hard skills in your CV experience, certificates, projects, etc. Use your past accomplishments to prove your technical capabilities. List up to a dozen different software or hardware in your dedicated skills section to match the job keywords;
- personal and communication skills or soft skills in your CV strengths, achievements, summary/ objective, etc. Soft skills are a bit more difficult to prove. How do you define your aptitude in active listening? So, instead of just listing the skill name, include a tangible metric to show your success.
On a final note, when you're in a hurry to create your profile, you may misspell a particular technology or soft skill. That's why we suggest you copy and paste the particular skill name (or keyword), directly from the job advert. This would also help you to pass any initial Applicant Tracker System (ATS) tests.
Top skills for your preschool teacher CV:
Early Childhood Education
Lesson Planning
Classroom Management
Child Development Knowledge
Curriculum Design
Special Education
Safety Procedures
First Aid and CPR Certified
Language and Literacy Education
Educational Technology
Communication
Patience
Creativity
Empathy
Interpersonal Skills
Organisation
Adaptability
Problem-Solving
Conflict Resolution
Positive Discipline
PRO TIP
Order your skills based on the relevance to the role you're applying for, ensuring the most pertinent skills catch the employer's attention first.
Listing your university education and certificates on your preschool teacher CV
The best proof of your technical capabilities would be your education and certifications sections. Your education should list all of your relevant university degrees, followed up by their start and completion dates. Make sure to also include the name of the university/-ies you graduated from. If you happen to have less professional experience (or you deem it would be impressive and relevant to your application), spotlight in the education section:
- that you were awarded a "First" degree;
- industry-specific coursework and projects;
- extracurricular clubs, societies, and activities.
When selecting your certificates, first ask yourself how applicable they'd be to the role. Ater your initial assessment, write the certificate and institution name. Don't miss out on including the completion date. In the below panel, we've curated relevant examples of industry-leading certificates.
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Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
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Key takeaways
Impressing recruiters with your experience, skill set, and values starts with your professional preschool teacher CV. Write concisely and always aim to answer job requirements with what you've achieved; furthermore:
- Select a simple design that complements your experience and ensures your profile is presentable;
- Include an opening statement that either spotlights your key achievements (summary) or showcases your career ambitions (objective);
- Curate your experience bullets, so that each one commences with a strong, action verb and is followed up by your skill and accomplishment;
- List your hard and soft skills all across different sections of your CV to ensure your application meets the requirements;
- Dedicate space to your relevant higher education diplomas and your certificates to show recruiters you have the necessary industry background.
