Professional Summary
Dedicated preschool teacher with extensive experience delivering play-based, child-centred early education across Edinburgh nursery settings.
Grounded in Curriculum for Excellence Early Level and Realising the Ambition frameworks, with proven ability to support diverse developmental needs, foster outdoor learning, and establish trusting family partnerships.
Professional Experience
Pentland View Early Learning Centre
Edinburgh
Preschool Teacher
Aug 2020 – Present
- Lead daily early learning provision for 28 preschool children aged 3 to 5, implementing Curriculum for Excellence Early Level outcomes and child-led inquiry.
- Facilitate responsive floorbook planning and observational documentation, ensuring individual learning journeys are updated weekly and shared with families.
- Coordinate with local authority speech and language therapists and educational psychologists to implement individualised support plans for children with additional support needs.
- Mentor two early years practitioners and supervise apprentice placement students through structured developmental feedback and reflective practice meetings.
Stanebridge Nursery & Kindergarten
Edinburgh
Early Years Practitioner
Aug 2016 – Jul 2020
- Delivered daily core learning experiences focusing on early numeracy, phonological awareness, and expressive arts for 24 preschool children.
- Designed and launched an outdoor forest-kindergarten initiative in adjacent parklands, increasing weekly outdoor activity time by 6 hours.
- Maintained accurate observational assessments and prepared summative transition profiles to support smooth progression into primary school.
- Organised termly family engagement sessions and parent-teacher consultations to reinforce home-nursery learning continuity.
Braehead Community Childcare Trust
Edinburgh
Nursery Assistant
Sept 2013 – Jul 2016
- Supported keyworker duties for a group of 8 children aged 2 to 4, monitoring personal care routines and emotional wellbeing.
- Assisted senior staff with sensory play setups, gross-motor obstacle courses, and communal story sessions.
Education
The University of Edinburgh
BA (Hons) · Childhood Practice · Edinburgh, United Kingdom · First Class Honours · Sept 2012 – Jun 2016
Specialised in emergent literacy, relational pedagogy, and outdoors-focused learning environments under Curriculum for Excellence.
Edinburgh College
Higher National Certificate · Childhood Practice · Edinburgh, United Kingdom · Pass with Merit · Sept 2011 – Jun 2012
Completed foundational coursework in child development theory, observational assessment, and safe working practices.
Projects
Loose Parts Learning Environment Redesign
Sept 2023 – Mar 2024
- Researched and integrated natural loose-parts materials across three learning rooms to replace single-use plastic toys.
- Tracked improvements in collaborative child-led problem solving and documented the approach in a staff development guide.
Areas of Expertise
Curriculum for Excellence (Early Level)
Child-Led Inquiry & Floorbooks
Observational Assessment
Outdoor & Forest Kindergarten Learning
Additional Support Needs (ASN) Coordination
Parental Partnership & Family Engagement
Emergent Literacy & Numeracy
Child Protection & Safeguarding
Team Supervision & Mentoring
Languages
English
C2
French
B1
Certifications & Registrations
Paediatric First Aid at Work
Scottish Ambulance Service · Apr 2025
SSSC Lead Practitioner Registration
Scottish Social Services Council · Sept 2016
Volunteering
Edinburgh Community Library Service
Edinburgh · Oct 2021 – Present
- Volunteer Storytime Reader
- Deliver interactive bilingual story sessions and sensory rhyme circles for families with toddlers and preschool-age children.