Early Years Teacher

About the School-Paseo de la Habana

1415 students | 56 nationalities | 6 sites | 1 school
Hastings School, founded in 1971, serves students aged 2-18, from a diverse community and is nestled in the heart of Madrid, Spain. We are a prestigious, premium international school, within the Cognita family of schools. Our holistic educational approach delivers outstanding academic results. Graduate destinations include University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, UCL, Duke University, University of Edinburgh, King’s College London, KU Leuven, LSE, University of St Andrews & Delft University of Technology, to name a few.

Cognita is a global leader in independent education. Founded in 2004, we are a growing community of 90 schools in 21 countries – in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East – serving more than 100,000 students. Each of our schools is proudly unique, but our collective purpose is to create an environment where everyone can thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

We protect what’s special about each child while offering them rich knowledge, opportunities and best practices, and they become part of something bigger. We open our classrooms to the collective wisdom of our schools, ensuring every child receives a world‑class education.

We are seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Early Years practitioner to deliver high‑quality education that inspires curiosity, supports individual development, and enables every child to reach their full potential within a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment. The successful candidate will plan, deliver, and evaluate a broad, balanced, and differentiated curriculum in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, creating engaging, play‑based learning experiences that promote exploration, active learning, and critical thinking.

They will adapt teaching to meet the diverse needs of all learners, while fostering a positive, well‑organised classroom that supports independence and wellbeing. Working collaboratively with teaching assistants and support staff, the role also involves observing, assessing, and tracking children’s progress, using assessment data to inform planning and next steps, and providing clear, constructive feedback to parents. A strong focus on pastoral care is essential, including building positive relationships with pupils, supporting their personal, social and emotional development, and promoting positive behaviour in line with school policy.

The successful candidate will contribute to the wider life of the school, engage in continuous professional development, maintain effective communication with colleagues and families, and demonstrate a strong commitment to safeguarding, including adhering to all policies and reporting concerns appropriately.

• Plan, deliver, and evaluate a broad, balanced, and differentiated curriculum for the Early Years Foundation Stage.
• Create engaging, play‑based learning experiences that promote exploration, active learning and critical thinking.
• Adapt teaching to meet the diverse needs of all learners, fostering a positive, well‑organised classroom that supports independence and wellbeing.
• Observe, assess, and track children’s progress, using assessment data to inform planning and next steps.
• Provide clear, constructive feedback to parents and maintain effective communication with families.
• Build positive relationships with pupils, supporting their personal, social and emotional development.
• Promote positive behaviour in line with school policy and a strong pastoral focus.
• Contribute to the wider life of the school, including continuous professional development and collaboration with colleagues.
• Maintain high levels of professionalism and a strong commitment to safeguarding and the welfare of children.

• Experience of working in an Early Years setting.
• A relevant university degree alongside a recognised teaching or Early Years qualification.
• Strong organisational and classroom management skills, with the ability to plan engaging and effective learning experiences that support all learners.
• Excellent communication…